51²è¹Ý

November 8, 2024

Five outstanding nursing PhD recipients celebrate graduation together

On a mission to improve the lives of people through their passion for research

At the Spring graduation ceremonies, the 51²è¹Ý (UOW) celebrated the achievements of five nursing academics, each awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for their impactful research across diverse fields in healthcare.

The Head of the School of Nursing Professor Yenna Salamonson said it was a first the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health had seen so many PhD candidates from a single school graduating together – a remarkable achievement for the School of Nursing.

“Amy Montgomery, Elizabeth Curtis, Grant Kinghorn, Lorraine Fields, and Catherine Stephen have each made significant contributions to nursing research, addressing vital topics such as mental health, patient safety, sustainable healthcare and nurse-led hypertension management,” Professor Salamonson said.

“Each of these graduates has paved the way for improvements in nursing practice, patient outcomes, and healthcare education.

“It’s rewarding to see these accomplished researchers, who are also experienced educators within the school, guide and mentor the next generation of nurses.”

Amy Montgomery: Revolutionising delirium care education

Dr Montgomery’s research, The Delirium Puzzle: Piecing Best Practice to Clinical Care, focused on addressing the challenges of detecting and managing delirium—a common but often undetected condition affecting older patients in hospital settings.

Dr Montgomery developed the Delirium OSCE Education Package, which has been shown to dramatically enhance the knowledge, communication, and clinical reasoning skills of both medical students and nurses.

This program is now being implemented nationally, helping healthcare professionals deliver high-quality delirium care and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Elizabeth Curtis: Improving cardiac procedure safety

Dr Curtis’ work, Understanding the Prevention and Management of Radial Artery Spasm during Transradial Cardiac Catheterisation tackled the issue of radial artery spasm (RAS), a complication in cardiac catheterization procedures.

Her research revealed the need for stronger clinical guidelines and highlighted the role nurses play in improving patient safety and procedural success.

By identifying key gaps in the evidence, Dr Curtis’ study underscores the potential for nursing-led research to enhance cardiovascular care and outcomes.

Grant Kinghorn: Supporting nurses in forensic mental health

Dr Kinghorn’s research, Understanding the Transition of Registered Nurses Moving into Forensic Mental Health Employment, examined the unique challenges nurses face when transitioning to forensic mental health roles.

His findings emphasised the importance of supportive leadership, a positive workplace culture, and well-structured orientation programs to help nurses succeed in this demanding field.

Dr Kinghorn’s insights offer a pathway to better retention, job satisfaction, and mental health care for nurses in this complex specialty.

Lorraine Fields: Embedding sustainability in nursing education

Dr Fields’ study, The Impact of Education on the Sustainable Development Goals through Critical Pedagogy on Nursing Graduates, explored how educating nursing students about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can empower them to address global health challenges.

While her research highlighted barriers such as limited resources and organisational constraints, it also demonstrated the strong desire among nurses to contribute to sustainability in healthcare.

Dr Fields’ work advocates for the integration of SDGs into nursing curricula, helping prepare future nurses to champion sustainable practices in clinical settings.

Catherine Stephen: Nurse-led intervention in blood pressure management

Dr Stephen’s research on Improving Blood Pressure Control in Primary Care: The ImPress Study evaluated the effectiveness of a general practice nurse-led intervention for managing hypertension in Australian general practice.

Combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches, her research explored the impact of the intervention on blood pressure control and lifestyle risk factors, as well as the experiences of nurses, general practitioners, and patients participating in the intervention.

Overall, Dr Stephen’s work contributes to the understanding of nurse-led care in primary healthcare and provides evidence supporting the potential of this approach to improve hypertension management and cardiovascular disease prevention.