Investigating consumer partnerships in the context of complex health service delivery. Whilst increased consumer participation has been demonstrated to improve health outcomes, there has been no translation to people with chronic illness using acute care services. People with chronic conditions represent an increasing proportion of health care consumers and due to the existence of co-morbidities their needs are usually complex. Despite this, they have been marginalised in the current development ....Investigating consumer partnerships in the context of complex health service delivery. Whilst increased consumer participation has been demonstrated to improve health outcomes, there has been no translation to people with chronic illness using acute care services. People with chronic conditions represent an increasing proportion of health care consumers and due to the existence of co-morbidities their needs are usually complex. Despite this, they have been marginalised in the current development of participatory models of service delivery. This project will investigate the determinants of participation for consumers during episodes of acute health care, identify barriers to their participation, and develop testable strategies for increasing effective consumer participation in acute health care services.Read moreRead less
Patient and nurse outcomes and the cost of nurses' turnover in Australian hospitals. An adequate supply of nurses is fundamental to all of the National Health Priority disease areas where quality care cannot be delivered without an adequate number of motivated nurses. Designing cost-effective methods of retaining nurses requires understanding reasons why they leave the workforce and the impact this has on patient care and system costs. The findings will assist policy makers and workforce planner ....Patient and nurse outcomes and the cost of nurses' turnover in Australian hospitals. An adequate supply of nurses is fundamental to all of the National Health Priority disease areas where quality care cannot be delivered without an adequate number of motivated nurses. Designing cost-effective methods of retaining nurses requires understanding reasons why they leave the workforce and the impact this has on patient care and system costs. The findings will assist policy makers and workforce planners at both local and national levels, to design strategies to effectively recruit and retain nurses as demands for health care and market competition for staff both increase.Read moreRead less
The impact of adding nursing support workers (assistants in nursing) to patient, nurse and system (ward) level outcomes. This project will identify the impact of adding nursing support workers on outcomes for patients (morbidity, mortality, quality of emotional care); staff (job satisfaction, intention to remain in the job); and the work environment (time spent in patient care, relationships with medical staff, staff experiences, leadership and support of workers).
Building an ethical and sustainable model for health professional recruitment to Australia: A case study of the Philippines. This study will lead to an evidence-based ethical workforce plan for the recruitment of nurses from the Philippines to work in Queensland Health to improve access to health services. The model will be embedded in an integrity system that will ensure transparency and accountability in the employment of overseas-trained health professionals. This will strengthen the governan ....Building an ethical and sustainable model for health professional recruitment to Australia: A case study of the Philippines. This study will lead to an evidence-based ethical workforce plan for the recruitment of nurses from the Philippines to work in Queensland Health to improve access to health services. The model will be embedded in an integrity system that will ensure transparency and accountability in the employment of overseas-trained health professionals. This will strengthen the governance of the health care systems and nursing professions of both countries.Read moreRead less
Developing a Model of ICU Transition Care; Enhancing Services, Enabling Nurses, Empowering Patients. The transition from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the ward is traumatic for patients and families and difficult for ward nurses. Using focus groups and an intervention study, this research will develop and evaluate a model of ICU transition care and demonstrate the extent to which appropriate transition care improves a variety of outcomes for patients, families and staff. We anticipate that t ....Developing a Model of ICU Transition Care; Enhancing Services, Enabling Nurses, Empowering Patients. The transition from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the ward is traumatic for patients and families and difficult for ward nurses. Using focus groups and an intervention study, this research will develop and evaluate a model of ICU transition care and demonstrate the extent to which appropriate transition care improves a variety of outcomes for patients, families and staff. We anticipate that this model will influence practice and policy decisions and be useful in other setting and with other groups who face life transitions such as the military, corrective care and rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
Reforming healthcare: Nurse Practitioners and workforce redesign. This unique national study investigates the progress, process and outcomes of nurse practitioner service. It brings together peak national nursing organisations and state Chief Nursing Officers and researchers who are known both nationally and internationally for innovative research into nurse practitioner service. It has widespread significance for health service providing an operational platform to implement and evaluate new rol ....Reforming healthcare: Nurse Practitioners and workforce redesign. This unique national study investigates the progress, process and outcomes of nurse practitioner service. It brings together peak national nursing organisations and state Chief Nursing Officers and researchers who are known both nationally and internationally for innovative research into nurse practitioner service. It has widespread significance for health service providing an operational platform to implement and evaluate new roles in health service delivery. It will inform health service modelling, theory building and national strategies to achieve promotion and maintenance of good health. For the first time in the history of Australian health service a new level of provider will be examined close to the point of its inception.Read moreRead less
Optimising the residential and community aged care workforce: the evidence-based development of clinical leadership in middle managers in aged care. 1.4% of the Australian workforce is employed in the aged care sector, making a significant contribution to the economy. This study provides evidence-based tools to build management capacity and leadership in aged care, which in turn will improve the quality and effectiveness of the care that has a crucial bearing on the lives of vulnerable older peo ....Optimising the residential and community aged care workforce: the evidence-based development of clinical leadership in middle managers in aged care. 1.4% of the Australian workforce is employed in the aged care sector, making a significant contribution to the economy. This study provides evidence-based tools to build management capacity and leadership in aged care, which in turn will improve the quality and effectiveness of the care that has a crucial bearing on the lives of vulnerable older people in community and residential care. The findings will identify ways to improve aged care workforce retention; and enhance key factors leading to quality care and improved well being of care staff and recipients. This knowledge will contribute to improving the status of aged care related employment; and yield future policy directions that promote effective clinical leadership in aged care. Read moreRead less