Bogdan Ciovina, critical care practice educator

Tell us about your nursing career path

Before starting at Royal Brompton, I worked in many other London hospitals. I began my nursing career in neurosurgery but I have also worked in cardiothoracic and trauma units. Whilst working in cardiothoracics, I learnt a lot about cardiac surgery and critical care and I was involved in setting up a critical care follow‑up clinic. This helped me develop my clinical knowledge and broaden my understanding of recovery once patients leave the intensive care unit (ICU). I enrolled on an intensive care adult practice course to further my experience and knowledge. This is where I met my mentor Ian who, at the time, was a practice educator in Royal Brompton’s ICU and led the in-house intensive care course in partnership with the University of West London. This meeting would go on to have a big impact on my career. 

After working in cardiothoracics, I moved to a critical care trauma unit where I progressed to nurse in charge. It was probably one of the most intense yet formative settings of my career where I learnt some valuable skills. It required me to work efficiently under pressure and rapidly build new skills. I was there during the pandemic which, while difficult, clearly demonstrated how pivotal nursing is, but also, how underprepared all of us were for the psychological and physical trauma we all experienced through the pandemic years. 

During the second or third wave of the pandemic, I decided to move to Royal Brompton after encouragement from Ian as I had also completed a PG Certificate in Higher Education to gain teaching experience. Moving to the Brompton reinforced to me how important structure and staff support are—not just for patient safety, but for staff sustainability. It was at the Brompton that I fully stepped into nursing education as a career path.

Describe your role day to day

As practice educators, we provide clinical education, support and mentorship to nursing staff and students in workplace settings. Initially, my role involved supporting the in‑house critical care course at both Royal Brompton and Harefield but then in 2022 I took over as course lead, and now I also work two days a week at the University of West London teaching the same course across north- west and west London. I also maintain a weekly clinical day on the ICU, allowing me to remain grounded in practice. This day is split between patient care, staff support, teaching, training, and policy development—ensuring my work in education remains closely linked to real‑world clinical challenges.

What do you enjoy the most about nursing?

Although I originally considered medicine, nursing appealed to me because of its autonomy, patient‑centred focus, and the depth of involvement nurses have in patient care. I’ve always been drawn to acute and critical care—the complexity, the fast decision‑making, and the responsibility nurses hold. Working in critical care provides a very clear personal development pathway which helps build clear development goals. Over the last five years, becoming an educator has been the most fulfilling part of my career. It has allowed me to support nurses on their most challenging days, help them find their voice, and bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, improving communication between the multi-disciplinary team. It’s a unique position, and one that allows me to contribute not just to individual development, but to the future of critical care nursing. Lastly, I believe one person is not a team and it is only through collaborative working that education can lead to high quality evidence-based care.