Discipline: Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine

Many female-specific issues remain concealed or taboo in workforce planning, policies, and procedures, including challenges faced by women in relation to menstruation and hormonal contraception when they are working in a shiftwork or operational (i.e. EMS, Defence, etc) environment. This project will take the form of a systematic review of the literature pertaining to menstruation and hormonal contraception in the shiftwork and/or operational environment. This project will help the student to develop their research and academic writing skills. At the completion of the project, the manuscript will be submitted for publication.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Lisa Hobbs lisa.hobbs@acu.edu.au ; Prof Scott Devenish scott.devenish@acu.edu.au ; Dr Brianna Larsen (external supervisor from UniSQ) Brianna.larsen@unisq.edu.au

Campus where the project is available: Brisbane

Non-pharmacotherapy, such as acupuncture and acupressure, has gained recognition in global pain management guidelines. Despite its growing use and rebates in private health, integrating these therapies into hospital settings with Medicare coverage remains challenging. Recent studies reveal positive attitudes among healthcare professionals towards these therapies, but patient perspectives are limited. This review examines patient perceptions within the nursing paradigm of holistic care, aiming to inform the integration of non-pharmacological pain management strategies in hospital environments. Engaging in this review will develop vital research and manuscript writing skills essential for pursuing a PhD in an innovative field.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Dr Nancy Zhang (nancy.zhang@acu.edu.au) 

Campus: Melbourne

Casual nurses or bank nurses, pool nurses (permanent contract nurses without a specific unit or specialty), and agency nurses are important parts of the nursing workforce. They cover various nursing specialties, often working in different units, clinical settings, and locations in different shifts. Nurses with permanent contracts in a specialty have targeted specialty support for professional development, skills, and career advancement. This also includes any contemporary specialty-related nursing and workplace issues. However, this is not the same for bank, pool, and agency nurses. The constant change of clinical settings and working environments oppose challenges for them to receive support including professional development, specialty up-to-date knowledge and skills.

This project aims to identify challenges for bank, pool and agency nurses and support that can be provided specifically to them. This will be a systematic review to identify current literature to inform further research in this area. Prospective honours students will learn to conduct a systematic literature review to comprehensively search databases, and evaluate, synthesise, and appraise evidence to develop a scholarly paper.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Mr. Thomas Ricks, thomas.ricks@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available: Any campus as this will be a literature review.

Virtual reality activities are currently being piloted in multiple different health disciplines. Each program across disciplines is evaluating the activity using consistent evaluation questions.

Student opportunities include:

• Apply for ethics (low risk/exemption) [evaluation has been approved by CEI]
• Collate data from across disciplines and analyse
• Opportunity to co-author a paper on pilot process and data
• Review literature and existing tools on evaluating student experience and learning outcomes within virtual reality simulation. Along with pilot data, this will inform formal research proposal for subsequent VR activities.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Dr Melanie Barlow: Mel.Barlow@acu.edu.au

Campus where the project is available: Melbourne campus and may be available for other campuses

The aim of the systematic review is to determine the reliability and validity of pressure injury risk assessment tools designed specifically for use in intensive care populations.

RQ1: Which 'non-standard' pressure injury risk assessment scales have been tested, in terms of psychometric properties, with adults admitted to the intensive care setting?

RQ2: What are the psychometric properties of these scales tested with adults in the intensive care setting?

Student Role: A student will be able to undertake several activities to contribute to the research project and enable them to learn more about the process of research. Specifically, the student/s will be able to:

• update a systematic literature search
• contribute to systematic literature review processes
• contribute to publication draft.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Adam Burston adam.burston@acu.edu.au; Professor Paul Fulbrook

Campus: Brisbane

The aim of the systematic review is to summarise nurses' experiences using pressure injury risk assessment tools in the acute care setting.

RQ1: What are the facilitators, barriers, and overall experiences of nurses' in conducting pressure injury risk assessment within the acute care setting?

RQ2: How can the process of conducting pressure injury risk assessment be improved for nurses in the acute care setting?

Student Role: A student will be able to undertake several activities to contribute to the research project and enable them to learn more about the process of research. Specifically, the student/s will be able to:

• update a systematic literature search
• contribute to systematic literature review processes
• contribute to publication draft.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Adam Burston adam.burston@acu.edu.au; Professor Paul Fulbrook

Campus: Brisbane

Quality Simulation Assurance Framework (QSAFe) is an evidenced based self- assessment tool to help academics/educators and organisations benchmark the quality of their simulation activities to industry and accreditation standards.

This is an existing project that will initially pilot the tool within higher education nursing programs.

Student opportunities include:

• Review literature on non-statistical tool validation
• Review feedback from the QSAFE tool pilot and inform recommendations for improvement
• Opportunity to co-author a paper of the pilot results

Other opportunities:

• Apply the tool to the midwifery accreditation standards
• Apply the tool to paramedicine accreditation standards

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Dr Melanie Barlow: Mel.Barlow@acu.edu.au

Campus where the project is available: Melbourne campus and may be available for other campuses

Application of SimCapture® in a teaching and learning environment to encourage development and mastering of practical and professional skills.

Student opportunities include:

• Explore the nature and characteristics of a simulated learning experience, including the application of technology to enhance learning. The learning platform, SimCapture®, will provide educators and learners with measurable learning outcomes and the opportunity to identify further learning needs and celebrate success.
• Review literature on simulation design, peer-to-peer learning, applying technology to enhance learning, and evaluating student performance and learning experience.
• Design and run a learning experience, collect, and interpret data using SimCapture, and present the results.
• Opportunity for students to write a research project and be a coauthor in a paper.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address: Dr Melanie Barlow: Mel.Barlow@acu.edu.au

Campus where the project is available: Melbourne campus and may be available for other campuses

The main aim of this project is to describe the incidence of perioperative hospital-acquired pressure injury in cardiac surgical patients. Secondary aims are to describe the characteristics of perioperative PI and identify common factors associated with their development. This study will use retrospective data from incident reporting and audit databases and chart reviews. The student/s will be able to:

• check, clean and code data in Excel
• export data from Excel into SPSS
• analyse baseline demographic and audit data
• complete a report of results for a thesis
• contribute to publication of result

Supervisors: Associate Professor Adam Burston adam.burston@acu.edu.au; Professor Paul Fulbrook

Campus: Brisbane

The aim of this project is to help measure nurses' wellbeing and satisfaction at work. This is a fantastic project for a motivated student looking for an applied project working with many stakeholders. An ACU cross-disciplinary research team (psychology and nursing) are looking to develop and test a measurement instrument for aged care staff. You will learn about how best to measure wellbeing and mental health. This project will suit a student who likes structure and support and is good with detailed information.

The student/s will be able to:

• conduct a literature review
• review and critique existing measurement instruments
• co-develop and pilot test a new/revised instrument
• contribute to publication of result.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Adam Burston adam.burston@acu.edu.au; Dr Kirsten Challinor

Campus: Brisbane

Collaborating with Safer Care Victoria and Ambulance Victoria's Clinical Practice Guideline team, the student will undertake a scoping literature review to evaluate the best evidence which informs current practice relating to the recognition and care for the deteriorating patient using early warning scores.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Louise Reynolds - Louise.Reynolds@acu.edu.au
Jessica Molhuysen - Jessica.Molhuysen@acu.edu.au
Michelle Price - Michelle.Price@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne

The student will undertake a literature review focussing on Solution Focussed Brief Therapy (SFBT) which is used in a variety of settings to guide an individual's existing strength, future focused, goal setting, partitioning and relationship focused. What remains unresolved is the application and efficacy of paramedics in using SFBT with patients experiencing mental-ill health.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Louise Reynolds - Louise.Reynolds@acu.edu.au
Michelle Price - Michelle.Price@acu.edu.au
Lisa Hobbs - Lisa.Hobbs@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne

Collaborating with Ambulance Victoria's Clinical Practice Guideline team, the student will undertake a scoping literature review to evaluate the best evidence which informs current practice relating to cardiac care.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Scott Devenish - Scott.Devenish@acu.edu.au
Cristina Courtney - Cristina.Courtney@acu.edu.au
Andrew Van Noordenburg - Andrew.VanNoordenburg@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne

Collaborating with Ambulance Victoria's Clinical Practice Guideline team, the student will undertake a scoping literature review to evaluate the best evidence which informs current practice relating to efficacy of including droperidol as a second agent in the treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Louise Reynolds - Louise.Reynolds@acu.edu.au
Jessica Molhuysen - Jessica.Molhuysen@acu.edu.au
Michelle Price - Michelle.Price@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne

Collaborating with Ambulance Victoria's Clinical Practice Guideline team, the student will undertake a scoping literature review to evaluate the best evidence which informs current practice relating to maternity care.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Amanda Hlushak - Amanda.Hlushak@acu.edu.au
Jason Betson - Jason.Betson@acu.edu.au
Ashleigh Finn - Ashleigh.Finn@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne

In collaboration with Safer Care Victoria, the student will undertake a scoping review of the literature looking at the efficacy of clinical governance models for newly graduated paramedics into primary care roles. This is due to the recent Unleashing the Potential for the Health Workforce Scope of Practice review which has signalled the increasing support for paramedics in community primary care roles.

Project supervisor(s) and contact email address:
Louise Reynolds - Louise.Reynolds@acu.edu.au
Andrew Van Noordenburg - Andrew.VanNoordenburg@acu.edu.au
Cristina Courtney - Cristina.Courtney@acu.edu.au

Campus where your project is available:
Hybrid, Brisbane and/or Melbourne