Curriculum Vitae

Susan qualified as a State Registered Nurse in 1978 having trained at Torbay School of Nursing, South Devon. During her training years she received three awards of merit from Torbay Hospital for excellence in Medical & Surgical nursing and best final examination result.

She continued her interest in nursing whilst working as clinical nurse specialist and undertaking a Master of Science in Healthcare and Professional Issues at Exeter University (1997). She was later awarded the Joint Winner of the Outstanding Achievements section of the Professional Nurse of the Year in 2000 based upon her work running nurse led clinics and developing a framework for assessing patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

She has continued to develop her expertise and interest over the years whilst working in specialist areas that included renal, respiratory and ultimately rheumatology where she has dedicated her interest and enthusiasm in the last ten years. As a nurse specialist her extended role included running nurse led clinics using a holistic patient centred approach to care, undertaking joint injections, and more recently achieving an independent nurse prescribing qualification (2006).

Susan left the NHS in 2003 and started working as an independent nurse consultant, providing advice and support for patients with arthritis. Apart from her clinical work in Devon, she takes an active role in supporting rheumatology services and worked strategically to support initiatives that set out to improve patient outcomes.

Susan was chief nurse advisor for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society for seven years.

This has involved working with organisations such as the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society which was launched in 2001 to ensure patients with rheumatoid arthritis to had a strong voice. She is their chief nurse adviser

(NRAS. www.rheumatoid.org.uk) and has been actively involved in patient training programmes and projects such as exploring the real experiences of patients using a Mapping process (publication at www.rheumatoid.org.uk mapping the patient journey).

In 2006 she also undertook a Department of Health endorsed Social Enterprise course for nurses and allied healthcare professionals.
A significant proportion of her time is donated voluntarily to working with patient and professional groups to raise awareness of the needs of people with different musculoskeletal conditions and supporting educational opportunities to develop nursing expertise in the field of rheumatology both in the UK and internationally.

She has been increasingly employed to provide a consultancy role in strategic roles that involve healthcare delivery, service redesign and the development of guidelines, standards and competencies. She has been a member of a number of Department of Health working groups (including the Musculoskeletal Strategy Framework, 2006) and was a member of the working group of the published National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the management of Osteoarthritis Care (2008).  Other working groups include; The expert panel for the National Audit Office project exploring services for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the NHS, Department of Health [report] Musculoskeletal co-ordinating group, and a member of the American College of Rheumatology Allied Healthcare Professionals conference planning committee.[www.rheumatology.org]

In 2004 Susan edited her first book on chronic disease nursing (Chronic Disease Nursing: A rheumatology example) followed by a musculoskeletal handbook for nurses (2009) Oxford University Press. 

As a member of the editorial board of Musculoskeletal Care Journal she is actively involved in writing articles and reviewing work for publication. She has also contributed to other nursing journals.  Publications

Susan has worked since 2003 as an independent nurse specialist in rheumatology running a private clinic in London and North Devon.

During her six year period as chair of the Royal College of Nursing Rheumatology Forum (term of office ended Autumn 2009) she was lead author for of guidance documents for nurses on; Assessment and management of patients receiving biologic therapies [pdf 556kb][pdf biologics 2009], patient self administration of subcutaneous methotrexate [pdf 603kb] and telephone support for long term conditions [pdf 293kb]. She has also supported the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance Standards of Care for Inflammatory Arthritis [pdf 379kb], Back Pain [pdf 89kb] and Osteoarthritis [pdf 91kb]

In 2006 the British Healthcare Professionals in Rheumatology awarded Susan an Honorary membership for contributing to ‘promotion of high standards of care for people with rheumatic disease’. In 2009 she was awarded a Fellowship from the Royal College of Nursing for her contribution to rheumatology nursing.

Susan has worked as an honorary nurse consultant in rheumatology for Southampton University NHS Hospital (2008-2009) and continues clinical work in the Pennine Musculoskeletal Partnership in Oldham both roles are part time.(last updated February 09).

As joint chair of the Rheumatology Futures Project Group with Ailsa Bosworth (Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society) the futures group commissioned a report published by the Kings Fund in January 2009 [report]. Currently Susan is a member of the National Audit Office Project expert panel exploring services and support for Rheumatoid Arthritis in the NHS.

[last updated March 2010]

Susan Oliver Associates

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