Programs of Research
Research in the Department of Clinical Nursing is now being developed and
expanded through programs of research. Each program is led by a postdoctoral member
of the staff. Members of the core research team for each program include other
staff members; students enrolled with the department (particularly those undertaking
higher research degrees) who are undertaking research in or related to that area;
and also clinical nursing colleagues and other collaborators are actively involved
through or associated Nursing Research Forums. There are currently 4 research
programs under development.
Gerontological Nursing Research
Care of older people in acute care settings is the main (but not sole) focus of
this program. With population ageing accelerating, older people are fast becoming
the single largest group of users of acute hospital services. Current projects
in the program include an investigation of what older patients and their families
consider needs to be done to make the acute hospital setting a more ‘senior
friendly’ environment, and a study of the factors impacting on nutritional
intake of elderly patients in hospital.
Program Coordinator: TBA
Cardiac Nursing Research
The emphasis of the cardiac research program is on nursing interventions aimed
at improving quality, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of care for patients with
acute coronary syndrome being treated in the acute hospital setting. Studies will
extend into the community setting when evaluation of outcomes of acute care requires
follow up after discharge from hospital (such as secondary prevention programs).
This program, therefore, focuses on nurse-led interventions, education and rehabilitation
of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the acute hospital setting.
Program Coordinator: TBA
Intensive Care Nursing Research
Although patient care in ICU is managed by a multidisciplinary team, most research
has been medically-led and many of the nurse-managed interventions in ICUs that
impact on patient outcomes have not been well described or systematically investigated.
Projects in this program will study various aspects of ICU nursing, for example
administration and titration of sedation, management of weaning from ventilation
and psychosocial aspects of patient care and family support.
Program Coordinator: Dr Judy Magarey
Safety and Quality
The past few decades has seen a growing awareness of the importance of the safety
and quality of health care. As part of this awareness, there has been recognition
of the risk associated with health care delivery. These risks may relate to the
nature of the treatment and care, or as a consequence of environmental factors
of the health care facility. Nurses play an important role in ensuring care delivery
is both safe and of high quality. However, many of these nurses-led initiatives
have not been subject to rigorous evaluation. This program of research is focused
on the evaluation of interventions and strategies that aim to improve safety and
quality.
Program Coordinator: Dr David Evans
Research Training
The Department provides research training for nurses through two doctoral programs
– PhD and DNurs – and details of these programs are provided in this
publication and also on the department’s website. Doctoral students are
individually supervised and the University of Adelaide has rigorous processes
to ensure that the supervision and support of postgraduate research students is
of a very high standard. There are currently 20 students undertaking PhD or DNurs
in the Department, some being nurses who are employed locally and others who are
inter-state or international.
Applicants should be intending to pursue research that is in some way related
to clinical nursing and, ideally, to one of the departmental research programs
(see above). For information on higher degrees by research contact the Postgraduate
Coordinator: Dr David Evans by email: d.evans@adelaide.edu.au or telephone +61
8 8 302 6288
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