4 Corners Newsletter - Vol 3 - Central Queensland University

4
CORNERS
VOL.3
2012
ISSUE03
From the
Dean’s Desk
In this edition of 4corners we
focus on Rockhampton Campus
- the campus where the School of
Nursing and Midwifery was born.
Building 18 is named after the
first Dean of Nursing - Prof Amy
Zelmar and she is an inspiration to
us all - providing a legacy for us to
look up to and walk in her footprints.
In this edition, several staff will
be featured - some are leaving
the School and some have been
developing some very interesting
teaching initiatives.
The School was extremely
successful in the latest round of
promotions. Associate Professor
Kerry Reid-Searl was successful
in gaining a full professorial
appointment at level E; Dr Dolene
Rossi was successful in her
promotion to Senior Lecturer at
level C and Dr Marc Broadbent
(Noosa) was also successful in his
promotion to Senior Lecturer.
Since the last newsletter,
Associate Professor Melanie
Birks was made a full professor
and secured the Deputy Dean’s
position. Prof Margaret McAllister
commenced her role with the
School and is based at the Noosa
Campus. The School now has quite
a defined professoriate and senior
staff to take the School forward in
a number of exciting directions.
Congratulations to all those who
were promoted and successfully
negotiated new positions.
Warm regards
Professor Ysanne Chapman
y.chapman@cqu.edu.au
CQUniversity Rockhampton Allied Health Clinic
Rockhampton ROK
The School of Nursing and Midwifery first graduated students in 1992 from
its Rockhampton campus. Two decades later, the campus accepted the first
client for its new Allied Health Clinic - allowing students a similar setting to
that of a real-life workplace.
CQUniversity’s health and medical
sciences programs have been developed
to meet the ever increasing needs of
our communities both here in Australia
and for the wider global audience. A key
feature in these programs is workplaceintegrated
learning or learning on the
job where students are required to
complete course undertakings in real-life
workplaces, allowing them to put learning
directly into practice.
Federal Health Minister Tanya
Plibersek, who officially opened Stage 1
of the Allied Health Clinic on CQUniversity
Rockhampton Campus, praised the
Clinic, saying its treatment of patients
with chronic or complex illness would help
them stay well and out of hospital.
“This wonderful new clinic - able to
cater for up to 160 patiens a day - will not
Minister Plibersek, MP Kirsten Livermore and
Professor Graham Pegg with the ceremonial
ribbon in front of the new health clinic.
only provide better allied health care for
people in Central Queensland, it also
means students will benefit from practical
clinical experience,” she said.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Clinical Placements
Next generation
Research Symposium
Continued on next page
Stimulation about simulation

ROK Continued from previous page
Below L-R Professor Pegg,
Maree Geraghty, Chief Executive,
Central Queensland Hospital
and Health Service, MP Kirsten
Livermore,
Minister Plibersek and
Clinic Manager Jude Wills.
CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor Graham Pegg, who helped to cut
the ceremonial ribbon, said the Clinic had a
focus on rehabilitation and chronic disease
and was a great partnership between the
University and Queensland Health.
He said there were students from nine
universities - including CQUniversity -
gaining clinical experience through the
Clinic, which can provide up to 200 clinical
placements each year. In future, the
proportion of participating students enrolled
with CQUniversity would increase.
Several VIPs at the launch praised
the multi-disciplinary nature of the Clinic,
meaning students in areas including Oral
Health, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry,
Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology
can learn to work alongside each other,
becoming more holistic and well-rounded as
professionals.
Minister Plibersek outside the facility with
Professor Pegg and MP Kirsten Livermore.
The hands-on, project-based learning is a key reason as
to why CQUniversity graduates are highly sought after by
employers. Quality on-campus facilities ensure learning
is delivered ‘in context’, taught in a similar setting to that
of a real-world situation. The addition of the new Allied
Health Clinic at CQUniversity Rockhampton will provide
clinical experiences to students studying the new suite
of Allied Health programs. CQUniversity has introduced
around a dozen new Allied Health Programs across
regional Queensland, with others including Paramedic
Science, Medical Science including Pathology, Nutrition and
Clinical Investigation, Medical Imaging and Sonography,
Chiropractic Science, and Exercise and Sports Science. In
addition, CQUniversity is offering Medical Sonography in
Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Rockhampton
– Allied Health Clinic
The future’s looking up.
Clinic Manager Jude
Wills and Deputy VC
Professor Pegg give
visitors a tour before the
official ribbon cutting.
Stage 1 was a $12 million project, drawing on $9.7 million
from Health Workforce Australia.
Deputy VC Professor Pegg said planning was already
well advanced for a Stage 2 Clinic* valued at up to $16
million to be constructed beside Stage 1. Stage 2 would
include more facilities and equipment for staff and patients
as well as additional teaching spaces.
Principal contractor Murphy Builders Queensland
completed the Stage 1 project, which was project-managed
by Shirley Hynes from CQUniversity’s Directorate of
Facilities Management (DFM).
* The Federal Government has earmarked the Stage 2
funding as part of CQUniversity’s proposed merger with
Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, to become a dualsector
institution.
2

Clinical Placements for nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery programs at CQUniversity equip students
with the theoretical, practical and research knowledge required to be
a competent and effective nursing professional. To provide the right
balance of theory and workplace learning opportunities, the program
incorporates 840 hours of clinical placement in a variety of settings.
This emphasis on clinical experience is set to continue as CQUniversity rolls out
even more Allied Health options in 2013. The fresh programs will be in addition to
Nursing and Midwifery, Paramedic Science, Medical Science, Medical Imaging and
Sonography, Oral Health, Chiropractic Science, Accident Forensics, Health Promotion,
Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Psychology and Social Work.
The new batch includes Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy
and Podiatry at undergraduate level and reflects the contemporary direction of the
national agenda on health and emphasises a multi-disciplinary approach.
CQUniversity Nursing student Kellie Rundell
recently completed her final clinical placement
in Mt Isa, after requesting a ‘rural and remote’
location.
Kellie experienced a range of community
nursing roles, including the Homeless Health
Outreach Team (HHOT), and says she gained a
lot by working within a multidisciplinary group of
nurses, health workers and social workers.
According to Federal Health
Minister Tanya Pilbersek, who
officially opened Stage 1 of the
Allied Health Clinic on CQUniversity
Rockhampton Campus the 19th of
October 2012, health students who
learn to love life in Rockhampton
will be more likely to seek
professional placements in rural
and regional communites, helping
to alleviate workforce shortages.
CQUniversity lecturer, Nicholas
Ralph, who recently won the 2012
Australian Nurse of the Year award
for innovation, said it is a priority
for the external nursing program,
as well as the new internal program
at Noosa, to train students in their
own communities.
“Nurses educated in their local
area are more likely to work there,
which provides a big boost to local
communities - something that is
very important to us,” Mr Ralph
said.
Kellie back on campus after her very
varied clinical placement in Nursing.
Minister Pilbersek and MP Kristen Livermore
chat with Assoc Prof Leonie Short and Dr
Ceinwen Fay from Oral Health during the
opening of the new Allied Health Clinic at
CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus.
Scholarships for
nurses to get back
into the workforce
With a recent Health Workforce
Australia report projecting a shortfall
of around 110,000 nurses in the
nation's hospitals, nursing homes
and mental health facilities by 2025,
the next generation of healthcare
workers will be critical to the longterm
future of Australia's health
system.
The greater shortage of
nurses in non-metropolitan health
services, especially rural and
remote areas, is of particular
concern and is contributing to
poorer access to health services.
Nurses who may have left the
workforce, but are keen to return,
are encouraged to apply for the
next intake of a Registered Nurse
Re-Entry Course offed by distance
education, with online study.
Approved by the Australian
Health Practitioners Registration
Agency (AHPRA), this
CQUniversity course can arrange
clinical placements in the
applicant’s home region.
This course suits nurses who
have left the workforce more than
five years (but less than 10 years)
ago. Successful applicants can
apply for a $6000 scholarship from
the Australian College of Nursing
to support study costs.
CQUniversity’s Registered
Nurse Re-Entry Course is
currently the only course of its kind
offered in Queensland.
Details are available from
CQUniversity’s Centre for
Professional Health Education
via 07 5440 7036 or
professionalhealth@cqu.edu.au
Pioneering students in the
Oral Health program try out
facilities in CQUniversity’s
new Allied Health Clinic.
3

40 Nursing students
farewelled with
‘badging ceremony’
Around 200 students, friends
and family members attended
a ‘badging ceremony’ at CQUni
Rockhampton Campus recently.
Nursing academics presented
badges and certificates to the
departing cohort.
Attendants at the ‘badging ceremony’.
L-R Jessie-Mae Harvey, Sherrie Lee,
Amy Busby-White were among those
celebrating at the ‘badging ceremony’.
Sue King (left) is a CQUni Nursing
graduate who now works as a
Registered Nurse at Rockhampton
Mater Hospital.
Her daughter Emily King was among
the current crop of departing students.
RHD candidates commended
The inaugural School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoN&M) Research Symposium
bought together Research by Higher Degree (RHD) supervisors, students,
researchers and intereseted academic staff on the 11 th and 12 th of October at
the Rockhampton Campus.
Over the two days, participants discussed
the supervision, research training and
participation in the confirmation of
candidature.
Professor Ysanne Chapman, Dean of the
SoN&M, opened proceedings by describing
the importance of participation in research
and research training to the development
of academics within the school. Professor
Chapman articulated that the aim of the
research symposium was to provide the
opportunity for scholarly discussion around
research training and the research being
undertaken by RHD students in a collegial
and supportive atmosphere.
Dr Lorna Moxham, Professor of
Mental Health Nursing at the University of
Wollongong, presented the keynote address
on research training and RHD supervision.
Professor Moxham has a long an
esteemed association with CQUniversity
being the previous Head of the SoN&M,
inaugural Dean of Graduate Research and
winner of the Vice Chancellors award for
RHD Supervision. Professor Moxham spoke
widely around the topic and emphasized
the absolute importance of the relationship
between student and supervisor to the
success of RHD candidature and gave
some insightful commentary around
students selecting the right supervisors and
visa versa.
The research symposium evolves around
an important milestone in RHD candidature,
the confirmation of candidature. During
confirmation of candidature, RHD students
present their research projects to an
audience of peers and then take questions.
It is the final step in a process of peer review
of their research projects.
Confirmation of candidature is often a
time of nerves and anxiety for students
however the following candidates are to be
congratulated on successfully completion of
their confirmation.
Master candidate, Ms Sandi Worsley
‘Insights into why nurses become
professional homeopaths: A subjective
analysis of the intersection of nursing and
homeopathy.’
PhD candidate, Ms Susan Edwards
‘Emergency Department management of
first trimester bleeding in rural/regional
communities- Is there a better way to care?’
PhD candidate, Mr Nick Ralph
‘A degree of interpretation: The use
of accreditation standards to design
undergraduate nursing curricula in Australia.’
Master candidate, Ms Loretto Quinney
‘The experience of the Nurse Family Carer
during episodes of exacerbation of chronic
illness: A phenomenological approach.’
These RHD candidates will now commence
the process of gaining ethical clearance and
data collection – an exciting time during
RHD training.
A feature of the research symposium is the
opportunity for discussion around research
projects that are currently near completion
or in early stages.
School of Nursing and Midwifery staff
members and RHD students Penny Heidke,
Carol McPherson and Louise Byrne
presented their research projects. Of interest
was the discussion around what led then to
research in their areas, why they selected
the particular methodology, where they were
up to in their projects and how they aimed to
progress.
These presentations generated wideranging
discussion amongst participants,
which of course is one of the aims of the
research event.
Dr Marc Broadbent introduced the research
supervision mentorship program that will be
rolled out within the SoN&M.
The program has been developed to
provide a meaningful period of supervision
mentorship in order to equip potential cosupervisors
with knowledge and experience
to successfully join the supervisory team as
a co-supervisor. This program will eventually
increase the number of supervisors within
the school to cater for the increased
numbers of RHD students being supervised
within the school.
4

On a lighter note a 3-minute thesis completion was run.
Associate Professor Tony Welch, Dr Judy Applegarth,
Professor Melanie Birks and Dr Marc Broadbent were given
3 minutes and one power point slide to present their PhD
theses in its entirety.
While these are normally very serious competitions with
strict rules, in this instance competition was fierce and
liberties were taken by one or two of the contestants and this
led to amusing presentations and interesting adjudication.
The presentations were subject to popular vote and Dr Judy
Applegarth is to be congratulated for winning the inaugural
3-minute thesis competition. The spirit of collegiality and
good humour was entranced in the competition – something
that will be nurtured for further events.
While the research symposium is yet to be formally
evaluated, participants indicated that the experience of
listening to other RHD student experiences and participation
in the confirmation process took away the fear of confirmation.
Others indicated they felt safe and secure and able to ask
questions they might not have asked in usual daily activity.
Participants stated that the research symposium
demystified research, helped keep them on track with their
own research and that they felt invigorated about beginning
a RHD.
These are wonderful outcomes that augurs well for the
next research symposium to be held on the 18 th and 19 th of
February 2013 at the Bundaberg Campus.
Some of the Symposium participants from L-R:
Trudy Dwyer, Sandi Worsley, Loretto Quinney, Judy Applegarth,
Lorna Moxham, Louise Byrne, Marc Broadbent and Ysanne Chapman.
In living memory ...
Ann Parsons, recently graduated RN, sadly passed away after brain
surgery. Staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery attended the
memorial service and planted a tree in living memory of Ann.
Deb Austen, Director Centre for Professional Health Education, got to know Ann when
she cared for Deb’s mother in Yeppoon Hospital. “Ann was an absolute delight and a
wonderful giving soul,” she said.
“I saw her go through many trying circumstances including a relationship break-up and
an earlier battle with cancer and then all of the emotions accompanying such tumultuous
life events. However, despite all of that, she kept going as a student. Her daughter was
always her motivating force encouraging her to keep reaching for her dream,” said Julie
Bradshaw who knew Ann since she began as a nursing student 6 years ago.
Journal Articles
Byrne, L Happell, B Tony Welch,
T and Moxham, L . Things you can’t
learn from books: Teaching recovery
from a lived experience perspective.
International Journal of Mental Health
Nursing, In Press
Happell, B., Scott, D., Platania-
Phung, C., & Nankivell, J. Rural
physical health care services for
people with serious mental illness: A
nursing perspective. Australian Journal
of Rural Health, 20(5), 248-253.
Jacob, E, Chapman, Y, Birks, M
& Al-Motlaq, M . (2012). Entry criteria
versus success in undergraduate
nursing courses. Journal of Institutional
Research, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 54-62.
Scott, D., Burke, K., Williams, S.,
Happell, B., Canoy, D., & Ronan,
K. Increased prevalence of chronic
physical health disorders in Australians
with diagnosed mental illness.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of
Public Health, 36(5), 483-486.
Conferences
Byrne, L., Happell, B., Welch, A.,
& Moxham, L. (2012). Holistic care –
now I get it: teaching recovery from a
genuine lived experience perspective.
Paper presented at the Victorian
Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing
Conference, Melbourne, August 9-10.
Happell, B., Scott, D., & Platania-
Phung, C. (2012). The physical
health of people with mental illness:
a national survey of nurses working
in mental health. Paper presented at
the Victorian Collaborative Psychiatric
Nursing Conference, Melbourne,
August 9-10.
Happell, B. (2012). Mental Health
Nursing: acknowledging the problems
but celebrating the victories. Paper
presented at Horatio: European
Festival of Psychiatric Nurses.
Stockholm, Sweden, September 20-23.
Byrne, L., Happell, B., Welch, A., &
Moxham, L. (2012). Changing the way
we think: real consumer perspective
in the nursing classroom. Paper
presented at Australian College of
Mental Health Nurses, 38th annual
conference, Darwin, October 3-5.
Mackay, S., Hatcher, D., Happell,
B., & Cleary, M. (2012). Primary
Health Care as a Philosophical
Framework for Nursing Education:
Rhetoric or Reality. Paper presented
at the Australian College of Nursing
Community and Primary Health Care
Nursing Conference 2012, Perth, 17-
19 October.
5

This is how to
make it ...
At the recent SimHealth 2012
Conference: Making Teams Work,
held in Sydney in August, Stephanie
Burlingame and Stephanie Justice,
both from the Ohio State University
College of Nursing, presented
a workshop on quick and easy
moulage techniques.
There are various benefits in
utilizing moulage in simulation,
which include improving realism,
visual cues to patient condition
and reinforcement of universal
precautions. They shared the
following simulation recipes:
Mucus
2 boxes fozen sliced okra
2 cups water
Put in large sauce pan and bring to
a boil Cecrease heat slightly and boil
for 20 minutes with lid on.
Let cool and strain out vegetable.
Urine
Water and yellow food colouring
Sediment - add small amount of
vanilla pudding cup and stir
Cloudy - add liquid dish soap
Haematuria - add red food colouring
to fake urine, can add ground up
cherries for clots.
Vomit
To make it smell real:
Mix lemon juice and parmesan
cheese together
To make it chunk:
Instant oatmeal (with fruit in it) and
Coke/Pepsi
To have pills in the vomit:
Tic-tac’s or sweet tarts, they will
partially dissolve and look partially
digested.
Gathering for stimulation about
simulation
High-tech manikins, artificial body parts, puppets and masks for simulated
learning were on display recently when CQUniversity Rockhampton hosted a
Simulation User Network Symposium. The event attracted
presenters from as far afield as Brisbane and Sydney.
Simulation is now recognised as a
powerful educational tool, especially for
health disciplines, and CQUniversity is a
leader in its use.
The University is a major user of manikins
to educate health students. It was also able
to showcase the masking of educators and
the use of educational puppets.
[The MASK-EDTM (KRS simulation)
package gives students an opportunity to
interact with different patient types before
they even reach the hospital ward, whereas
the Pup-EdTM (KRS simulation) enables
educators to engage, teach, play and
communicate with learners.]
Professor Kerry Reid-Searl from Nursing
and Anthony Weber from Paramedic Science
helped host the event in their capacity as
co-chairs of CQUniversity’s Simulation COP
(Community of Practice).
Participants including local clinicians and
academics were able to gain an overview of
best practice across the field, while seeing
the latest equipment available through
international supplier Laerdal.
Cyril Smith
Laerdal funded the Symposium so it was
free for conveners. Keynote speakers were
also paid for by Laerdal. The international
company provides patient simulators
and health coaching devices as well as
courseware and educational content.
Continued on next page
Some of the Symposium participants L-R Jesse Spurr and Luke Wainwright from Redcliffe Hospital,
Anthony Weber (CQUni), Prof Kerry Reid-Searl (CQUni) and Trish Luscombe representing Laerdal.
6

Kerry and Sherie cited for outstanding
contributions to student learning
CQUniversity academics Sherie Elliott and Professor Kerry Reid-Searl have each
earned a national ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning’, in
the Australian Office for Learning and Teaching awards for 2012.
They are among only 152 Citation Award winners across Australia.
Gladstone-based Sherie’s award is for providing support,
encouragement, guidance and tailored resources to stimulate
and consolidate learning, thus creating an engaging learning
experience that inspires students to succeed. Sherie supports
students in bridging programs in her role as a lecturer with the
Academic Learning Services Unit.
Rockhampton-based Kerry’s award is for sustained
excellence in the creation of a highly imaginative simulation
teaching technique, using human-like props and aimed at
preparing nursing students for practice. It recognises her
international leadership with the MASK-EDTM and Pup-EdTM
simulation packages. She has previously won the equivalent
award in 2008.
“These Citation Awards re-affirm the crucial role teachers
and staff play delivering quality education and improving the
student learning experience in Australian universities,” Higher
Education Minister Senator Chris Evans said.
“A university education is about more than text books and
exams - these initiatives will improve the overall learning
experience which is necessary for students to participate
successfully in higher education.
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
recognise and reward the diverse contributions made by
individuals and teams to the quality of student learning.
Citations are awarded to those who have made a significant
contribution to the quality of student learning in a specific area
of responsibility over a sustained period, whether they are
academic staff, general staff, sessional staff or institutional
associates.
Citations provide an opportunity for distinctive institutional
missions, values and priorities in learning and teaching to be
recognised.
Sherie Elliott (top) and Prof
Kerry Reid-Searl have won
national awards from the Office
for Learning and Teaching.
It is intended that recipients, with
the support of their institutions,
will contribute to systemic change
in learning and teaching through
ongoing knowledge sharing
and dissemination, for example,
presentations within the learning
and teaching community, collegial
mentoring, pairing and networking,
and involvement in university and
higher education committees.
.
.... Continued from previous page
Blood
Clots - ground cherries/dark red jelly
Free flowing - fill IV bag and tubing
with red water.
Wound Drainage
Hair gel mixed with red food
colouring.
Will dry on ABD and not spoil.
Strawberry preserves mixed with
plain yoghurt that has been left out
all night..
Fake Muscle or Skin
Mix corn-starch with Vaseline.
Add food colouring or makeup.
Oedema
Instant grits in ziploc bag under
spanx.
If still warm, place under chest skin
for assessment.
Infiltrated IV
Hair gel under tegaderm.
Put a little pink makeup underneath
gel. Will be squishy and cool to the
touch.
Scrapes and Road Rash
Red theatrical makeup with stipple
sponge. Can be used with bruising.
Bruises or Stage 1 pressure injyry
Take dark eye makeup or theatrical
makeup (bruises wheel) to make
bruises. Pay attention to bony
prominences and what the bruise
would look like (shape).
Red around the edges simulates
swelling.
Dark pink blush applied to simulator
on pressure areas - cover with
tegaderm.
CQUni ‘RUNs’ with the
right crowd
Academic, teaching and professional staff from Regional Universities Network (RUN)
members have excelled in the 2012 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC).
Staff from RUN universities collectively received an impressive total of 22 Citations from the 152
Citations awarded. “These prestigious Citations indicate that all six RUN universities are excelling in
their learning and teaching,” the Chair of RUN, Professor David Battersby, said.
“The Citations cover a wide breadth of teaching disciplines, not least in programs directly relevant
to regional Australia.”
The Regional Universities Network members are CQUniversity, Southern Cross University,
University of Ballarat, University of New England, University of Southern Queensland and University
of the Sunshine Coast.
.
Rashes
Make skin pink or red with blush or
theatrical makeup.
Apply latex dots or effect gel.
You can make different sizes of hives
or bumps on plastic with effect gel
then apply to skin or mannequin.
Second Degree
Pink makeup on skin.
Apply a layer of Vaseline.
Apply a single layer of tissue.
Apply Vaseline to top of tissue and
move toform blisters.
Justice, S., & Burlingame, S., (2012).
Workshop Presentation; ‘Quick and
Easy Moulage Techniques’, Sim Health
2012 conference; Making Teams Work.
Sydney, Australia. August 11-14th 2012.
7

The future of the
profession
According to departing lecturer
and course coordinator, Loretto
Quinney, the profession of nursing
is at a watershed - and as yet it is
unclear how exactly it will all pan out.
“On the one hand, we are
looking at reduced numbers of
places for our graduates as preretirees
continue to work to boost
their superannuation. There just
hasn’t been the attrition in industry
to release places for graduates.
This will impact on our student
numbers in the near future.”
“On the other hand, ANMAC
warns us that in five to seven years,
there will be a significant shortfall
of Registered Nurses as the baby
boomers retire.”
Loretto believes the role of
the RN is about to undergo a
fundamental change and the role
of the EEN will be modified to fill
the gaps.
“Our challenge is to be prepared
for that and I think CQUni is doing
some great work in this respect.”
She has great confidence in
handing her profession over to
the next generation. “The badging
ceremony comes around soon and
as I look at the caliber of nurses
we have contributed to developing,
I think we have every right to be
proud.”
The demands of twenty-firstcentury
health care services
will continue to test the nursing
profession’s ability to maintain
high caliber care that meets
contemporary societal needs.
Historically, the nursing
profession has consistently
demonstrated its ability to adapt
to changing and varied health care
needs. It remains an exceedingly
popular and highly respected
profession that attracts large
numbers of new recruits to its
ranks. There is little doubt that
nursing will continue to maintain its
status as an extremely important
profession, serving the health
needs of the nation.
New horisons for Loretto
‘How do you eat an elephant? – one bite at a time.’ This adage rings true for
Loretto Quinney as she exchanges the Sunshine State for the Garden State.
Loretto grew up as part of a large family
on a wool property in the western district of
Victoria. From early childhood, surrounded
with plenty of fun, laughter and good food,
she always tries to see life as a positive
experience. “So much of whether you will
enjoy life is about your outlook and if you
are not happy, then you need to step up and
change it,” she said.
She went to school at the local college
in Camperdown and chose to start her
General Training at St. John of God Hospital
in Ballarat. She knew, however, that she
wanted to tackle something bigger and
after graduation went to Melbourne to
do Intensive Care/Coronary Care at the
Western Hospital.
“My first patient was ventilated,
had a Sengstaken-Blakemore,
peritoneal, dialysis, arterial line,
Swan Ganz and a CVC with a
Christmas tree of inotropes. I got
through the grand round, went
out to the loo and threw up. I was
so scared, but I kept going back
and stayed in critical care for the
next 8 years. It’s still how I identify
myself.”
Loretto went to the neonatal intensive care
unit (NICU) at the Royal Children’s Hospital
in Melbourne and then did Midwifery at the
Royal Women’s Hospital.
“I remember my first week in
Delivery Suite was in December
and all the medical students had
left for the holidays, so there was
no competition – I had 50 deliveries
in my first week and had to stop
counting or otherwise that would
not have let me back for my
second round”.
In the early 1990’s she moved back to
Ballarat as ADON (HR) and a few years later
took on a joint role managing Education
and Marketing. In 2010, Loretto moved
to Rockhampton with her husband after
working in Townsville in Midwifery, Critical
Care and Renal as well as teaching at TAFE.
Part of her motivation in life is the immense
energy she gets from teaching. She loves it
when she has the students in Residential and
they ask questions and make connections.
“My greatest buzz has been teaching
and watching the students develop
their knowledge base and extend their
reasoning,” she said.
Although Loretto has only been at
CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus for
three years, she has made quite an impact.
Shortly after starting at the Centre for
Professional Health Education in 2010, she
moved to the undergraduate program and
was appointed as the Course Coordinator for
Acute Nursing Management. The program
needed a review and with her background
and experience as a clinician, she was able
to bring currency to the re-write.
Loretto strongly believes that you need
mentors and was lucky enough to have
several – each with their own area of
expertise. “Working in academia has many
opportunities and facets that you need to
program an attack so you don’t become
overwhelmed or start to work in ever
decreasing circles,” she said.
With the guidance of Maude Chapman
who gave her a sound platform to start from
and who was around in the initial months,
Loretto got her head around the course and
the task at hand.
She worked with Sandra Walker who
gave her the learning opportunity to
understand how to map assessments and
structure the course so that the broad set of
learning objectives were embedded in every
activity.
Working in a clinical course helped her
to gain an overview of the program and
understand the nexus between practicum
and theory and to see how each phase of
the program was built and scaffold onto the
next. It also gave her a chance to identify the
gaps and contribute to providing solutions
for these. The teaching team working with
her, Sandy McLellan, Penny Heidke and
Virginia Howie all contributed significantly to
the rewarding aspect of having the course
be successful and achieve the learning
outcomes and KPIs.
“This course is a fantastic course to
teach and coordinate as students are really
keen to learn about ‘real’ nursing and often
see the course as being the nuts and bolts
of their chosen career,” she said.
She also teaches in Critical Care and
Advanced Physical Assessment.
8

elationship with the School.
“I believe the best
aspect of working
at CQUniversity
has been the
permission to
think differently,
challenge old ideas
and explore new
and different ways
of doing things.”
Movements
around the School
Changes around the School
creates new opportunities.
Two staff members are leaving
CQUniversity - Loretto Quinney
and Jenifer Jones.
At Rockhampton Campus, Justine
Connor (below) is taking on
Deputy Head of Nursing Program
to Jenny Davis who is taking on
Head of Program.
Kerry Reid Searl taught her that teaching in
different ways can achieve greater outcomes
than you can imagine. Not only can you think
outside the box, but you can turn it upside
down and stand on top of it.
For Loretto, the most exciting opportunity
is starting to study Research by Higher
Degree. It has been part of her life plan
and, as with most things in her life, she is
determined to finish what she started. The
next stage will be the data collection and she
is keen to see the outcomes of the data.
She acknowledges Ysanne Chapman
and Trudy Dwyer as inspirational supervisors
and feels indulgent to have access to two
such knowledgeable people to guide her in
her study.
The next stage of life is unplanned. She
looks forward to pouring herself into her
research studies as she gets the family settled
back in Victoria. She’s looking forward to
spending more time with her family, working
part time as a clinician in Melbourne, diving
off Cape Otway, enjoying the music and art
shows on offer, and planning the sailing trip
around the Greek Islands and the Dalmatian
Coast for the not too distant future.
Loretto tries hard to live by the adage ‘first
things first’ - getting her priorities in order
and balancing her family-life-work. “I do what
needs to be done most and be where I need
to be most. I guess, in essence, this is why
we are leaving.”
Julie Bradshaw (below) is leaving
her position as Head of Program.
RESEARCH AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION
The HEALTH CRN offers a suite of programs aimed at
maximising individual research and career development
opportunities. The programs are within a strategy to build
world-class research capacity at CQUniversity.
Programs focus on the individual and will enable health related
researchers to:
• visit partner Universities;
• use specialised research facilities and equipment at
partner Universities;
• collaborate on research projects, grants and publications;
• attend research skills workshops and training programs;
• develop ongoing relationships with researchers at partner
Universities.
The HEALTH CRN is supported through the Australian
Government’s Collaborative Research Networks (CRN)
Program. Successful applicants participating in the HEALTH
CRN ’s Short-term or Long-term Exchange Program will be
provided an opportunity to further their research career by
participating in a high-performance research team from within
the network of the HEALTH CRN partner universities.
The strong base of leading research centres and champions
of research excellence from within the network of the
HEALTH CRN partner universities provides researchers with
diverse opportunities to tailor an application to best suit their
individual needs.
The cross-institutional visits aim to provide researchers
with experiences and opportunities to develop further
collaborative research. Researchers are expected to
co-author publications and grant proposals, and participate in
training and career development opportunities.
The programs are fully funded - travel and accommodation
are paid for by the CRN. It is a unique opportunity for staff
(and their families) to take time in their non teaching term
to undertake a trip to one of the partner universities for 3
months to spend time investigating part of their research.
Contact Prof Sonj Hall for enquiries or visit www.cqu.edu.au/
research/research-organisations/health-crn/programs
9

CAMPUS
COMPASS
ANMAC site visits are
scheduled as follows:
Noosa 5th November
Bundaberg 6th November
Rockhampton 12th November
Mackay 13th November
The main presentation will be on
the 5th and the assessment team
have requested a list of sources
that are used to inform teaching,
learning and assessment in the
curriculum.
Staff should forward details of
any texts, journal articles or web
resources that they have found
useful in informing their individual
teaching practices – the material
should be related to the practice of
learning, teaching and assessment
and not specific to course content.
Staff should also unsure that
their staff profiles are up to date.
Email to Professor Melanie Birks
m.birks@cqu.edu.au by
2 November 2012.
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
NOVEMBER 2012
Researcher Training Workshop - Career Profiling
Date: 20 November, CQUni Rockhampton
Time: 8.30am-3.30pm Attendance will be strictly limited.
Contact: Dr Peter Clark [p.w.clark@cqu.edu.au]
Critical Issues in Simulation Workshop
Date: 19-20 November, University of the Sunshine Coast
Time: 9.00am-4.00pm Cost: 2 days $200 RSVP Nov 7th
Fire and Ice
Christmas Ball
30th Nov 2012
CQUni Community
Sports Centre
D I S C L A I M E R
The 4 CORNERS Editorial Team
welcomes and acknowledges all
contributions from UniNews and individuals.
Whilst all reasonable care
has been taken in the preparation
of this publication, no liability is assumed
for any errors or omissions.