February 2007

Nursing initiatives come to royal notice

Southern Health Chair and head of Deakin University’s School of Nursing Professor Pauline Nugent had royal company during the International Nursing Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Crown Princess Mary was at the conference with Danish Minister for Education Bertel Haarder, who gave the opening address.

The conference brought together nurse researchers and clinicians from around the world to explore the positive impact of international collaborative nursing research activities on patient care.

Professor Nugent’s a vision and journey of collaborative research presentation followed the opening.

Deakin’s School of Nursing has a long-held connection with the nursing profession in Denmark.

The school partnered with the Viborg School of Nursing in 2001 to offer the first Masters program for nurses in Denmark.

Through the program, practising nurses draw on their clinical experience to broaden their skills in nursing leadership, clinical practice, negotiation, education, research and development.

Southern Health’s Inaugral Chair of Nursing Professor Bev O’Connor and Adjunct Professor Denise Heinjus also addressed the conference.

They outlined the partnership approach taken by Deakin University and Southern Health to integrate nursing research, education and practice (IN-REP) to deliver improved patient outcomes.

Princess Mary spent time mixing over morning tea, expressing an interest in understanding issues Australia has in common with the Danish health care system.

Dean of Deakin’s Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Science Professor John Catford also attended the conference, which made front page news in the Danish newspapers the following morning with the announcement of Princess Mary’s second pregnancy.