Dr Louise Ward BNurs(Hons), Southern Cross University (SCU), GradCert Education (SCU), MastClin Science (SCU), PhD(SCU) Louise is currently working as a Clinical Leader for Southern Cross University and North Coast Area Health Service. She has been working for Southern Cross University and North Coast Area Health Service consecutively for over ten years. Her current role includes providing education to staff and students within the health care setting and university sector. She supports professional development and clinical supervision, preceptor training and community mental health care engagement. Her PhD, completed in 2008 at Southern Cross University, is a qualitative, critical exploration of the workplace culture, experiences and practice of registered nurses in mental health care. Louise's current research focus includes well-being and mental health care. Her concentration is on student learning to improve early intervention strategy, community education and disease prevention. She is currently investigating innovative teaching and student learning in Higher Education. Louise recently presented at the Innovate and Educate Conference showcasing the Southern Cross University Clinical Teaching Model. Her professional motivations are in effective community programs, inter-professional learning and dynamic partnership development. Louise introduces artwork and creative expression into her research projects to record visually the stories and lived experiences of her participants. Visual expression is also a method she incorporates into her teaching to enhance student learning.
Book chapters
Advancing clinical nursing education in mental health: student self assessment of clinical competences (with Nel Glass), Annual Review of Nursing Education, volume 6, 2008: Clinical nursing education (2008)
Theses
A critical feminist exploration of the workplace culture, experiences and practice of women mental health nurses within an acute inpatient facility, PhD thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW (2008)
This research investigated the experiences and practices of mental health registered nurses working within an...
Conference publications
Expanding roles: creating innovative partnerships to improve clinical nursing education (Clinical education in action) (with Jane Petersen), Innovate and Educate Conference (2010)
The patient journey, 35th Annual International Conference of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (2009)
ARTIFACT A creative approach to health research can facilitate an innovative partnership with clinical nursing...
The use of painting as an innovative reflective practice to explore horizontal violence from the perspective of a beginning registered nurse (with Kierrynn Davis and Nel Glass), 12th International Conference of the Nursing Network on Violence against Women, Violence against women: evidence of difference? rethinking current paradigms and exploring innovative approaches to ending violence (2003)
Other
The art of nursing [exhibition], Southern Cross University / North Coast Area Health Service / YWCA Community Project (2009)
The Art of Nursing Exhibition was a collection of artwork from registered nurses working within...
Can you hear me? [painting], Reflective Spaces Honours Exhibition (2003)
'Can you hear me?' was a painting from the 2003 Reflective Spaces Honours Exhibition. The...
Retrospective nursing: the exhibition of artwork [exhibition], Southern Cross University (2000)
The exhibition was a collection of paintings identifying and highlighting the concerns and current issues...