Our people

Fiona McDermid

Associate Professor
Deputy Head of School (Blacktown)

Associate Professor Fiona McDermid is the Deputy Head of School (Blacktown) and a Lecturer in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Fiona has a clinical background in emergency, flight nursing and midwifery. Fiona’s main area of research is focused on women’s health, workforce and resilience. Fiona completed her PhD in 2017 which focused on transitioning into academia for new nurse academics. Following on from her doctoral work, Fiona is focusing on workforce issues, including resilience and retention. Fiona is also passionate about women’s health and is currently exploring women’s knowledge and experiences of perimenopause and menopause.

Qualifications

• PhD Western Sydney University
• Grad Cert Business with Distinction
• MN Nursing (Clinical Leadership) University of Western Sydney
• Grad Dip Mid University of Western Sydney
• GradCert Emergency College of Nursing
• B.Nursing University of Western Sydney

Select publications

Alsababha, R., McDermid, F., O’Reilly, R, Mannix, J., & Peters, K. (In Press). Losing my femininity: sexual health experiences of Arabic women after mastectomy. Journal of Transcultural Nursing

Alsababha, R., McDermid, F., O’Reilly, R., Mannix, J., & Peters, K. (2024). Broken yet Brave: Arabic Women’s Experience of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 35(6), 436-442.

Luck, L., Kaczorowski, K., White, M., Dickens, G., & McDermid, F. (2024). Medical and surgical nurses' experiences of modifying and implementing contextually suitable Safewards interventions into medical and surgical hospital wards. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1-15

O'Reilly, K., McDermid, F., McInnes, S., & Peters, K. (2023). “I was just a shell”: Mental health concerns for women in perimenopause and menopause. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 1-10

Weston, E. J., Jefferies, D., Stulz, V., Glew, P., & McDermid, F. (2023). A global exploration of palliative community care literature: An integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(17-18), 5855-5864

O'Reilly, K., McDermid, F., McInnes, S., & Peters, K. (2023). An exploration of women's knowledge and experience of perimenopause and menopause: An integrative literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(15-16), 4528-4540.

McDermid, F., Mannix, J., & Peters, K. (2020). Factors contributing to high turnover rates of emergency nurses: A review of the literature. Australian Critical Care, 33(4), 390-396.

McDermid, F., Mannix, J., Jackson, D., Daly, J., & Peters, K. (2018). Factors influencing progress through the liminal phase: A model to assist transition into nurse academic life. Nurse Education Today, 61, 269-272.

McDermid, F., Peters, K., Daly, J. and Jackson, D., 2016. Developing resilience: Stories from novice nurse academics. Nurse Education Today, 38, pp.29-35.

McDermid, F., Peters, K., Jackson, D., & Daly, J. (2014). Conducting qualitative research in the context of pre-existing peer and collegial relationships. Nurse researcher, 21(5).

McDermid, F., Peters, K., John Daly, J., & Jackson, D. (2013). ‘I thought I was just going to teach’: Stories of new nurse academics on transitioning from sessional teaching to continuing academic positions. Contemporary nurse, 45(1), 46-55.

McDermid, F., Peters, K., Jackson, D., & Daly, J. (2012). Factors contributing to the shortage of nurse faculty: A review of the literature. Nurse Education Today, 32(5), 565-569.

Projects

Developing a resilient workforce: An exploration of the experiences of emergency nurses. Completed. Early Career Research Fellowship $19,576

Program for Developing a primary prevention program for intimate partner violence in African community: A Primary Health Care Approach. Completed. International Research Collaboration Grant (IRC) $10000.

‘Sexual health after mastectomy: Experiences of Arabic women – A qualitative study – completed 2024
 
Project title: The unmet healthcare needs of patients in Greater Western Sydney from the perspective of nursing professionals. Withdrew from panel after commencing at ACU.

Project title: Intensive Care Nurses [ICNs’] understanding of echocardiography [ECHO] and the implications for nursing practice: An instrumental case study. Due for completion June 2025

Project title: Breast feeding experiences of first-time mothers in rural New South Wales. Due November 2025.
 
Project title: Family carers' perspectives on the challenges and support needs of managing sternal precautions in cardiac surgery patients. Due 2026
 
Project title: For the voiceless: An exploration of decision making for infants in the child protection setting – Due for submission November 2024. Withdrew from panel after commencing at ACU.
 
Australian women’s experiences and knowledge related to menopause – due to be completed 2025
Research Intern Program funding ($2,100).

Safewards. Implementation of a program to reduce violence in hospital settings – ongoing since 2023. Rosemary Bryant Grants $24,273. SoNM Partnership Grant $10,000. HCF Research Development Grant submitted for 2025 - 2026

Reducing Intergenerational Violence (RIV) – ongoing since 2024 

Safe Housing for domestic violence (VanLife) – Ongoing since 2025

Awards

2023 – Australian College of Nursing National Nursing Forum – Best Poster

2022 – Vice-Chancellor Professional Development Scholarship $3000 Western Sydney University

2021 – Postgraduate staff Scholarship – Graduate Certificate in Business Western Sydney University

2021 – Senior Fellowship Higher Education Academy

2020 – Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Academic Award. Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning $1000. Western Sydney University

2020 – Vice Chancellor’s Professional Development Scholarship $3000. Western Sydney University

2018 – School of Nursing and Midwifery. Outstanding recognition of contribution to student teaching and learning and mentoring of colleagues. Western Sydney University

2017 – Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award – Excellence in Professional Services – Highly Commended. Western Sydney University

2017 – School of Nursing and Midwifery – Blended Learning Award for Best Undergraduate vUWS site. Western Sydney University

2016 – School of Nursing and Midwifery – Best presentation in senior category – Research Futures Forum. Western Sydney University

Appointments and Affiliations

Adjunct Associate Professor Western Sydney University
College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA)
Australian College of Nurses (MACN)