Sue was awarded her doctorate in 2017 and she is now an early career researcher and lecturer in the School of Nursing at the University of Wollongong. As an active early career researcher, Sue has multiple peer-reviewed publications in high impact national and international journals. Each publication reports research in Primary Health Care (PHC) and in particular to exploring workforce issues and the role of nurses working in general practice.
Sues’ research has had significant impact on policy and clinical practice. Most recently, she has been involved in the development of mental health standards for nurses in Australian general practice. These standards have informed the development of a mental health education program designed specifically for registered nurses working in general practice to consolidate and enhance their skills around mental health care. This workforce development is likely to improve outcomes around mental health for patients and their communities.
Developing Mental Health Practice Standards for Australian General Practice Nurses
<p>General practice nurses (GPN) have a key front line role to play in providing integrated healthcare. It was identified that many GPN encounter people with mental health issues in their daily practice, however, the role of a general nurse in mental health was unclear. Providing role clarity by defining the GPNs scope of practice is a powerful tool to reduce role confusion and ambiguity, and optimize GPNs role in improving service delivery to patients. A team of primary care and mental health nurse academics from UOW was funded by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, through the Department of Health, to develop mental health practice standards for GPNs. <br />In addition to communicating the role that general nurses can play in mental health within primary care to others, including General Practitioners, policy makers and other health professionals, the Standards provide an important framework for GPNs to assess their individual learning needs in terms of their knowledge and confidence to undertake the identified aspects of the nurses' role. The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses used the Standards to develop CPD eLearning modules and workshops specifically for primary care nurses. These professional development opportunities are targeted to build capacity in areas of practice that have been identified by the Standards as being appropriate for a general nurse in the primary care setting. Each activity empowers GPNs to develop knowledge, skills and confidence about mental health and incorporate these into their day-to-day practice. This has the potential to improve health outcomes as GPNs are empowered to intervene positively when people present to general practice with mental health issues.</p>
These Standards (accessed >8500 times) support GPNs to deliver stepped mental health care by defining their potential scope of practice. Through self-assessment against the Standards, nurses can identify individual learning needs and engage in eLearning modules and workshops developed by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses based on the Standards. This empowers GPNs to build knowledge, skills and confidence about mental health and incorporate these into their daily practice. 2458 GPNs have commenced and 1873 completed modules, leading directly to improved mental health support for the community. The Standards have informed policy with inclusion in several submissions to the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry.
Developing Mental Health Practice Standards for Australian General Practice Nurses
<p>General practice nurses (GPN) have a key front line role to play in providing integrated healthcare. It was identified that many GPN encounter people with mental health issues in their daily practice, however, the role of a general nurse in mental health was unclear. Providing role clarity by defining the GPNs scope of practice is a powerful tool to reduce role confusion and ambiguity, and optimize GPNs role in improving service delivery to patients. A team of primary care and mental health nurse academics from UOW was funded by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, through the Department of Health, to develop mental health practice standards for GPNs. <br />In addition to communicating the role that general nurses can play in mental health within primary care to others, including General Practitioners, policy makers and other health professionals, the Standards provide an important framework for GPNs to assess their individual learning needs in terms of their knowledge and confidence to undertake the identified aspects of the nurses' role. The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses used the Standards to develop CPD eLearning modules and workshops specifically for primary care nurses. These professional development opportunities are targeted to build capacity in areas of practice that have been identified by the Standards as being appropriate for a general nurse in the primary care setting. Each activity empowers GPNs to develop knowledge, skills and confidence about mental health and incorporate these into their day-to-day practice. This has the potential to improve health outcomes as GPNs are empowered to intervene positively when people present to general practice with mental health issues.</p>
These Standards (accessed >8500 times) support GPNs to deliver stepped mental health care by defining their potential scope of practice. Through self-assessment against the Standards, nurses can identify individual learning needs and engage in eLearning modules and workshops developed by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses based on the Standards. This empowers GPNs to build knowledge, skills and confidence about mental health and incorporate these into their daily practice. 2458 GPNs have commenced and 1873 completed modules, leading directly to improved mental health support for the community. The Standards have informed policy with inclusion in several submissions to the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry.