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Nicola Ward studied pharmacy at Cardiff before working for the next 18 years as a hospital pharmacist in the East Midlands. Whilst in clinical practice she undertook an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy before specialising as a surgical pharmacist, with a particular interest in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery and the management of patients on Parenteral Nutrition. She pursued this interest further by undertaking a part-time Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm) degree with the University of Derby, with her main focus being the absorption of medication in patients with intestinal failure. She has been a member of the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) Surgery and Theatres’ Pharmacists Group committee for 10 years, organising and speaking at national conferences and masterclasses for other pharmacists in this specialty.

She moved to academia in 2013, still maintaining some limited clinical practice input. She maintains her research interests in managing medication in patients that have undergone gastrointestinal surgery, particularly those with a stoma or those that have had bariatric (weight loss) surgery. She is particularly interested in research focussed on patient experience and how pharmacists can improve this.

Nicola is currently developing a programme to develop emotional resilience and improve wellbeing in MPharm students, based on some work undertaken as part of the PGCertHE programme. She is also the school lead on developing Patient, Service User and carer involvement within the MPharm programme.

Pharmacy Practice

Ward N, Morris D. The management of stomas. Pharmacy Magazine 2014; 20: 40

Ward N. Which preoperative skin preparation? Hospital Pharmacy Europe 2014; 73: 55-57

Ward N. Crystalloids: pros and cons. Hospital Pharmacy Europe 2013; Albumin Handbook (special supplement):3-5

Ward N. Challenges in managing post-operative pain. Hospital Pharmacy Europe 2012; 63: 323-325

Darwich AS, Henderson K, Burgin A, Ward N, Whittam J, Ammori BJ, Ashcroft DM, Rostami-Hodjegan A. Trends in oral drug bioavailability following bariatric surgery: examining the variable extent of impact on exposure of different drug classes. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2012; 74:774-787.

Ward N. Learning @ lunch: Surgical Challenges 2012. CPPE, Manchester

Ward N. The impact of intestinal failure on drug absorption: A review. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2010 Jun;14:1045-51

Ward N. Facilitating an informed approach to prescribing for intestinal failure patients: DPharm thesis. 2008, University of Derby.

Ward N. Clinical Nutrition- Physiology and treatment of intestinal failure. Clinical Pharmacist 2005; 12: 9-12

Ward N. Nutrition Support referrals for gastrointestinal surgery patients- timely and appropriate? Proceed Nutr Soc 2005; 64(1a): 11A

Ward N. Nutrition support to patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Nutrition Journal 2003; 2: 18

• Medication absorption after gastrointestinal surgery, particularly those with a stoma or after bariatric surgery.
• The role of the pharmacist in nutrition support.
• Patient perceptions of medication-related problems.
• Emotional resilience and stress/anxiety in pharmacy students.

Nicola teaches across years 2-4 of the MPharm programme and also at a postgraduate level. Main areas of teaching include:

• Psychosocial science
• Health inequality and inequity
• Medication concordance and adherence
• Skills for Practice
• Collaborating with Patients
• Nutrition Support
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Interprofessional Education (IPE)

PGCertHE (pending 2015)

DPharm (2008)

MSc Clinical Pharmacy (1998)

BPharm (Hons) (1995)

MPharm

Diploma/MSc Clinical Pharmacy (Hospital)

Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists/ Antigen Intravenous therapy award (1999)

United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) Surgery and Theatres’ Pharmacists Group: Committee member.

• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Member of United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association

• Ward N, Matin S. Medication-related issues in intestinal stoma patients: A survey of patient experience. [Poster presented at UKCPA Symposium, Nottingham 2014]
• Ward N. Challenges in bariatric surgery patients [Workshop at UKCPA Symposium, Leicester 2011]
• Ward N. Managing nutrition and medication in the perioperative period [Workshop at UKCPA Symposium, Chester 2010]
• Ward N. Management of pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting in the surgical patient [Workshop at UKCPA Symposium, Leicester 2009]
• Ward N. Nutrition Support referrals for gastrointestinal surgery patients- timely and appropriate? [e-poster presented at BAPEN Conference, Telford 2004]
• Ward N. Satellite Pharmacies: Improving standards of intravenous drug preparation in operating theatres [Poster presented at EAHP Conference, Madrid 1999].

Peer reviewing of manuscript submissions for European Journal of Nutrition, European Journal of Surgical Research and SPARKS research fund.