My name is Minne and I am a second year learning disability student at Edinburgh Napier University. I have recently completed the #150Leaders programme, a programme that promotes leadership skills among nursing and allied healthcare professionals.
In my #150Leaders application, I wrote about my desire to continue developing my advocacy and public speaking skills to become a better advocate for patients.
“Discovering my authentic self has been the most challenging part of being a student nurse”
Minnie Christensen
As a learning disability (LD) nursing student, I have learned about the health disparities and inequalities that people with LD face.
My studies have made me increasingly passionate about advocating for the rights of people with LD. I am committed to ensuring that people can access healthcare services and have equal opportunities within our society.
I am a shy person, and social confidence does not come naturally to me. However, my passion for learning disability nursing has encouraged me to seek opportunities where I can develop my public speaking skills.
I have always been a determined person and have never let any barriers stand in the way of achieving my goals.
The #150Leaders programme has provided empowerment, enrichment, and inspiration to me as a student nurse and allowed me to develop both personally and professionally as I have progressed in my studies.
The programme, run by the Council of Deans of Health and previously funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, launched with a two-day residential conference in Manchester.
This was a fantastic opportunity to network with students from different fields and represent our field of practice.
We participated in various workshops including a ‘dragon’s den’, where we had to produce a healthcare initiative project that would improve the mental health of students at a university.
We also listened to speeches from alumni and senior healthcare leaders. The presentations were on compassionate leadership, inclusive leadership, and resilience and leadership.
It was great hearing about people’s leadership journeys, as they had had all been on completely different paths to get to where they are now.
It had taught me a great deal about authenticity and leadership and the importance this has when leading others
Discovering my authentic self has been the most challenging part of being a student nurse. Being a neurodivergent student, I put on a ‘mask’ so I could fit in with others. I realised I was not always being true to who I really was.
I later read books on masking in autistic individuals and autism in women after listening to an inspiration lecture on autism spectrum disorders.
As a #150Leader, we had the opportunity to undertake a personal project of our choosing. I helped start a neurodiversity peer support steering group at my university with the student experience team.
The challenges I experienced as a neurodivergent student has made me increasingly passionate about creating a space where neurodivergent students could connect with each other and share experiences.
I presented my project at the #150Leaders closing conference to help raise more awareness around neurodiversity. Though the programme ended in March 2025, I feel I have only just begun my leadership journey.
The programme has taught me invaluable skills that will serve me well in the years ahead, taking my leadership abilities far beyond where they are now. I have always had a curious mind and am excited to see where my learning journey will take me next.
Even though the nursing journey is not always easy, I have learnt more than I have ever done in my life. The 6Cs of nursing (commitment, courage, competent, communication, compassion, and care) have shaped my journey of being a student.
The journey has required; commitment to keep going through the toughest of times, courage to get back on my feet when I have fallen, hard work to learn all the skills I will need to be a competent healthcare professional and effectively communicate with others, not only when asking for support but also when celebrating the successes of being a student.
The compassion and care I have for learning and for the patients I care for as motivated me to continue my path. Being a student nurse is fantastic journey to be on.
Minnie Christensen, second year learning disability nursing student, Edinburgh Napier University
