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Staff profile

Craig Gunton-Day


He/Him

Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing

Subject

Nursing

Academic unit

College of Health and Humanities

Department

School of Health and Social Care

Email

C.Gunton-Day@derby.ac.uk

About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and a Registered Nurse who continues to maintain active clinical practice.

Throughout my nursing career, I have gained extensive experience across a range of healthcare settings, including Emergency Medicine (A&E), the Ambulance Service, specialist nursing roles, and ward leadership positions. These diverse experiences have provided me with a broad understanding of contemporary healthcare delivery and the challenges facing both patients and healthcare professionals.

My academic interests focus on law, ethics, professional values, leadership, and the development of safe and effective nursing practice. I am particularly interested in preparing future nurses to navigate the complex clinical, legal, and ethical challenges encountered within modern healthcare environments.

Prior to entering the nursing profession, I studied law and worked in politics, experiences that continue to inform my teaching, research interests, and approach to healthcare leadership.

Teaching responsibilities

I am currently the Module Lead for 3.1 Leadership for Nursing Practice and previously served as Module Lead for 1.1 Introduction to Nursing. In addition to my module leadership responsibilities, I contribute to teaching across undergraduate nursing programmes in Years 1, 2, and 3, as well as on the MSc Nursing programme.

As a Module Lead, I work collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver learning experiences that equip students with the knowledge, skills, values, and evidence-based understanding required to become safe, effective, and compassionate registered nurses.

Alongside my teaching responsibilities, I act as a Personal Tutor and Academic Assessor for a number of student nurses, providing academic guidance, pastoral support, and professional development throughout their studies at the University of Derby. I am also a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, supporting the development of an open and inclusive culture in which concerns can be raised and addressed appropriately.

Professional interests

My professional interests include law and ethics, healthcare of older adults, Parkinson’s disease, and leading and innovating change within healthcare settings.

I also have a particular interest in the application of artificial intelligence to bridge the gap between theory and practice in nursing education. Within my module, AI is integrated into realistic clinical scenarios to enhance learning and support the application of theoretical concepts to practice. We have deliberately moved away from traditional lecture-based approaches, instead prioritising interactive and experiential learning opportunities. These include tabletop exercises, debates, scenario-based discussions, and immersive simulations that reflect the complexities and challenges of contemporary nursing practice. This approach aims to develop students' critical thinking, clinical decision-making, leadership skills, and preparedness for professional practice.

Research interests

Authenticity of work in an age of AI usage

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Recent conferences

Royal College of Nurse Congress

Experience in industry

I am a Registered Nurse with extensive experience across a variety of clinical, leadership, operational, and educational roles within the NHS and higher education.

My clinical career has included roles in Patient Flow Co-ordination, where I supported the safe and effective movement of patients through healthcare services to optimise capacity and patient outcomes. I have worked as an Emergency Department Nurse, caring for patients presenting with a wide range of acute and complex conditions within a fast-paced and dynamic environment. I have also worked as a Clinical Assessor within the Ambulance Service, undertaking clinical assessments, supporting urgent care pathways, and contributing to timely decision-making for patients requiring emergency and unscheduled care.

In addition, I have held a Specialist Nurse role focused on Complex Discharges, coordinating multidisciplinary care and facilitating safe transitions between hospital and community settings. As a Ward Leader on a Parkinson’s Disease and Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Ward, I was responsible for leading clinical teams, managing patient care, supporting service delivery, and promoting high standards of patient safety and quality of care.

Alongside my clinical practice, I have developed a successful career in higher education and currently work as a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing. I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes and have held Module Leadership responsibilities for both introductory and leadership-focused nursing modules. My role includes curriculum design, assessment, academic quality assurance, student support, and the development of innovative teaching approaches that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

These diverse experiences have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare delivery across acute, community, rehabilitation, leadership, and educational settings, enabling me to contribute to the development of future nurses and the ongoing improvement of healthcare services.

Additional interests and activities

Outside of my professional role, I have a keen interest in photography, running, cycling, and paddleboarding. These activities provide an important balance to the demands of nursing and higher education, supporting both my physical wellbeing and mental resilience.

Running, cycling, and paddleboarding encourage discipline, perseverance, adaptability, and self-reflection, qualities that are equally important within nursing practice and leadership. They also help me maintain a healthy work-life balance, manage stress effectively, and promote the importance of wellbeing, which is essential for sustaining compassionate and effective patient care.

Photography allows me to engage creatively and develop a greater appreciation for observation and attention to detail, skills that are also valuable within clinical practice. Collectively, these interests contribute to my personal wellbeing and support my ability to remain resilient, focused, and effective in both clinical and academic environments.