Colin Baptie

BSc (Hons) Nursing, 1998

Tell me more about your job and what it involves?

I’m now working as a Senior Charge Nurse for the South East of Scotland Forensic Medical Examiner and Custody Healthcare service which a wee of bit long winded job title! I manage a team of nurses who provide healthcare input to people who’ve been arrested and are in police custody.

I provide input to make sure people are fit to go through the legal process and are not unnecessarily detained, so if they have mental health problems we make sure they’re directed to the appropriate services. If they’re unwell or if they have physical health problems we make sure they’re not detained in the cells.

We also gather evidence from the victims of a crime to give to police for court, and we also gather evidence used for the pursuit of justice, for example, blood from drink drivers.

It sounds like a very full-on job?

It is. No two days are the same. You can’t predict how your shift’s going to go. Sometimes you’ll go in and see one or two patients, other days you’ll see 13 or 14 within your first five or six hours!

How did your time at Abertay help you get to where you are now?

The training I received at Abertay was very well-rounded. I did quite a lot of general nurse training and mental health nurse training. The robust nature of the degree gave me a good grounding for my career going forward.

You started at Abertay when it first became a university in 1994, what do you make of what it’s become now?

It’s fantastic. I’ve had family members that have gone there and I’m still in touch with Robin Ion, who started as a lecturer while I was a student there.

I look back with fondness and it’s great to see how it’s developed as a university.

Do you have any advice for our current students?

Enjoy your time, but study hard so it’s all worth it in the end. Dundee’s a great city to be a student in and all the experiences you have will stand you in good stead for the future.