CURRICULUM VITAE DR MELANIE BIRKS. RN, PhD, MEd, BN, FRCNA

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1 CURRICULUM VITAE DR MELANIE BIRKS RN, PhD, MEd, BN, FRCNA Contact details Professional objective Melanie Jane Birks 29 Giles Street Mirboo North, Vic, 3871 Australia Ph.: Mob.: To enhance the quality and experience of tertiary education for students and educators of nursing and allied health professions through leadership, research and innovation in the development and design of curricula and the implementation of educational programs Education Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Monash University (2007) Thesis title Becoming Professional by Degrees: A Grounded Theory Study of Nurses in Malaysian Borneo Master of Education (Distance Education/Education Administration), University of New England (1997) Bachelor of Nursing, University of New England (1992) Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing), Deakin University (1990) Other training/ Qualifications Professional experience Advanced Certificate in Vocational Training Systems, ACT TAFE (1996) Trauma Nursing Core Course, Emergency Nurses Association of NSW (1996) Certificate of Vocational Instruction, ACT TAFE (1995) Acute Trauma Nursing Management Course, Westmead Hospital (1995) Registered Nurse, Nurses Board of Victoria (1990) 2010 Present: Associate Professor (Teaching and Learning), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Central Queensland University, Noosa Campus : Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus (including 8 months as Acting Campus Head of School ) : Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus (including 13 month secondment to Monash Malaysia campus as Director of Nursing Programs) : Nurse Educator, Royal Australian Air Force, Laverton Base 1994 (Jan Oct): Clinical Educator, Victoria University of Technology, Footscray Campus : Registered Nurse (Div 1), Fairfield/Bethesda Hospitals, Melbourne 1

2 Victoria : Enrolled Nurse, Eye & Ear, Prince Henry / William Angliss Hospitals, Melbourne Victoria : Bank Officer, Commonwealth Bank, Melbourne Victoria Honours/ Awards Professional memberships/ Affiliations Committee memberships Faculty nominee Monash University Vice Chancellor s award for teaching excellence 2010 Student nominee Monash University Student Union Golden Apple teaching awards 2010 Australian Defence Medal 2007 Australian Postgraduate Award 2005 Monash University (Adjunct Associate Professor) Royal College of Nursing Australia (Fellow) Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Standby Reserve Commissioned Officer (Flight Lieutenant) Australian Nursing Federation (Member) Internal: Central Queensland University Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health Education Committee of Academic Board (School of Nursing and Midwifery representative) External: The Centre for Chronic Disease Management: An Affiliated Centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute (Executive committee member) Department of Human Services Victoria - Rural and Remote Advanced Primary Health Care Certificate Working Party Teaching interests and experience Countries of teaching Professional issues and scholarship Fundamental nursing skills Health assessment Research Legal and ethical issues Leadership and management Health education and promotion Professional and therapeutic communication Medical terminology Anatomy and physiology Pathophysiology Nutrition and nutritional disorders Australia Hong Kong 2

3 experience Specific skills Research interests Recent grants/ Commissioned & funded research/ Consultancies Malaysia Papua New Guinea Singapore Extensive experience and expertise in teaching and curriculum design and development in local, international, military and civilian environments at preregistration, post-registration, undergraduate and postgraduate level Leadership and management experience (Current acting campus Head of School; Second in Charge, Royal Australian Air Force Health Services Training, Laverton Base; Director of Nursing Programs, Monash University, Malaysia Campus) Computer literacy (including Word processing, Web Course Tools (WebCT), bibliographic and presentation software proficient) Undergraduate nursing education Teaching innovation Internationalisation of curricula Preparation for practice Professional transition Nutrition and nutritional disorders Chronic illness Submitted Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Mills, J. Australian Learning Teaching Council Leadership for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Program ($121,153) - Promises of things to come: Development of a model to support career development for academics assuming a teaching scholar role 2011 Mills, J. & Birks, M. National Health & Medical Research Council ($108,723) Measuring Registered Nurses levels of competency to translate, utilise and undertake research: Developing and testing a self assessment tool 2011 Francis, K., Chapman, Y., Birks, M., & Beauchamp, A. Nurses Board of Victoria Legacy Limited Ella Lowe Grant ($49,852) Rural adults with Type 1 diabetes transition to pump therapy Funded Horley, M., Ambrosetti, A., Birks, M., & Dares, G. CQUniversity Learning and Teaching Grant ($5,000) - Developing a Schedule of Attrition Diagnosis for first year education and nursing students 2010 Birks, M., Francis, K., & Mills, J., Porter, J., & Coyle, M. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ($22,671) - Making it real: A Hands on approach to research and evidence-based practice through collaboration and mentoring 2010 Birks, M., & Chapman, Y. Monash University Gippsland Publication Bursary ($5,000) Pathways project 2010 Birks, M., Biggs, J., Cant, R. 3

4 Australian Nursing Federation ($2,887) - Physical assessment in nursing: Skills taught versus skills used 2009 Cooper, S., Birks, M. & Porter, J. Department of Human Services ($14,985) - Program Evaluation: Certificate of Advanced Rural and Remote Primary Health Care Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K. Queensland Health ($81,170.00) - Nursing in Remote or Isolated Areas of Queensland 2008 Francis, K., Mills, J., & Birks, M. Australian General Practice Network, Royal College of Nursing, Australia & Batchelor College ($21,072.00) - Development and delivery of an E-learning package to support Medicare Item Number Francis, K., Mills, J., Birks, M., Miles, M., & Jones, J. Royal College of Nursing ($49,496) - Antenatal Professional Development Program for Nurses in General Practice 2008 Birks, M., Francis, K., Chapman, Y., & Mills, J. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ($11,700) - Promoting Research Skills for Nurses in Malaysia 2007 General Practice Cairns External review: Nursing in General Practice Clinical Supervision Workshop 2007 Queensland Divisions of General Practice External review: Nursing in General Practice Education and Training: A Toolkit Current unfunded research Supervision experience Theses/ Projects examined Comparing and contrasting 1 st year and 3 rd year nursing and midwifery students perceptions of an ideal curriculum M. Birks, Y. Chapman & J. Porter Factors influencing success and quality of experience in nursing degree programs in rural Victoria (2 nd Pathways project) M. Birks, Y. Chapman & M. Al Motlaq Therese Smythe Master of Biomedical Science (Part 1 Thesis) How Do Nurses Assess Spirituality of Patients with a Terminal Illness in a Medical Ward? Hadi Haskani (Visiting PhD candidate) Doctor of Philosophy War heritage: A follow-up study of prolonged health consequences of veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents September 2008 November 2008 Chiu-Wen Wang Master of Nursing The experiences of Taiwanese nursing students in Australia Deanne Hellsten Master of Health Indigenous Students Experience of University Education 4

5 April 2010 Julie Kep Master of Nursing Career choice in nursing: Is it intuitive or conditional? October 2004 Santhna Panduragan Master of Nursing Sharps Injury in Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia: Experiences of Health care staff and students January 2002 Maggie Wong Master of Nursing The self-concept and caring attributes of Hong Kong ICU nurses June 1999 Selected conference presentations Invited speaker: Birks, M. (2009). The use of storyline in grounded theory research. School of Nursing and Midwifery Seminar. Huddersfield University, Yorkshire, 2 nd June. Birks, M. (2009). The use of storyline in grounded theory research. Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery. Kings College, London, 29 th May. Birks, M. (2009). The use of storyline in grounded theory research. School of Nursing and Midwifery Seminar. Columbia University, New York, 26 th May. Birks, M. (2008). Communication in Nursing. Normal Medical Specialist Centre Nursing Conference. Normah Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak, 11 th August. Birks, M. (2008). Legal issues in Nursing. Normal Medical Specialist Centre Nursing Conference. Normah Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak, 11 th August. Birks, M. & Cross, M. (2006). Safe staffing saves lives, saves money. Sibu Nurses Day Seminar: Save Staffing Saves Lives. Kingwood Hotel, Sibu, Sarawak, June Birks, M. (2003). Enhancing nursing education through globalization. Sabah Nurses Association International Nursing Conference. Shangrila Resort Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,12 th 13 th September Birks, M. (2003). The history of nursing research in developed countries. University Malaya 3 rd National Nursing Research Conference. The Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, 11 th 12 th August. Other recent presentations: Birks, M. (2009). Pathways to a nursing degree in rural Victoria: Factors influencing quality of experience, success and career trajectory. RCNA Primary Health Care Conference: Collaboration, Integration, Reform A Nursing Perspective. Hilton Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia, 8 th 10 th November. Birks, M. (2009). The use of storyline in qualitative research. Fifth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. University of Illinois, Champagne, Illinois, 20 th 23 rd May. Birks, M. (2008). Ethical and legal issues in research. Monash University/Sarawak 5

6 Midwives Association/Sibu Hospital Seminar: Research in Nursing: Getting Started. General Hospital, Sibu, Sarawak, 12 th 13 th August. Birks, M. (2008). Ethical and legal issues in research. Monash University Seminar, Research in Nursing: Getting Started. Monash University Sunway Campus, Kuala Lumpur, 8 th 9 th August. Birks, M. (2006). Enhancing professionalism through education. Monash University/Sarawak Midwives Association/Sibu Hospital Seminar, Moving Nursing Forward: Local And International Perspectives. Kingwood Hotel, Sibu, Sarawak, 5 th 6 th December. Birks, M. (2006). Maintaining the patient record Professional & legal considerations. Monash University/Sarawak Midwives Association/Sibu Hospital Seminar, Moving Nursing Forward: Local And International Perspectives. Kingwood Hotel, Sibu, Sarawak, 5 th 6 th December. Birks, M. (2006). Asking the right questions: Ethical interviewing in qualitative research. 11 th Joint Malaysia-Singapore Nursing Conference, Big, Bold and Beautiful. Magellan Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 9 th -10 th March. Birks, M. (2005). The impact of post-registration degree studies on nurses in Malaysian Borneo Challenges and changes. University Malaya International Nursing Research Conference: Quality Nursing Practice Through Research. Sheraton Subang Hotel & Towers, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 29 th 30 th August. Publications Books and Book Chapters Published: Birks, M., & Mills, J. (2011). Grounded theory: A practical guide. London: Sage. Nagy, S., Mills, J., Waters, D., & Birks, M. (2010). Using research in health care practice. Sydney: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2009). Becoming different: Perspective transformation through post-registration baccalaureate nursing studies. In R. Nata (Ed.), Progress in education (Volume 17). New York: Nova Publications. Birks, M., & Chapman, Y. (2009). Complementary therapies in nursing practice. In J. Crisp and C. Taylor (Eds.), Potter and Perry s fundamentals of nursing (3 rd ed., pp ). Sydney: Elsevier Mosby. Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2007). Grounded theory methodology in action: Transforming method in exploring outcomes for baccalaureate nursing graduates in Malaysian Borneo. In Morales, A. (Ed.) Distance education issues and challenges. New York: Nova Publishers. In press: Francis, K., Mills, J., Birks, M., Missen, K., & Porter, J. Nursing in remote or isolated areas of Queensland: Role, resources and readiness for practice. In L.V. Bernhardt, (Ed.), Advances in Medicine and Biology (Volume 26). New York: Nova Publications (Accepted January 2011). Reports 6

7 Cooper, S., Birks, M., Porter, J., Cant, R. (2010). Evaluation of the rural and remote advanced primary care certificate course: A report prepared by Monash University for the Department of Health, Victoria, Australia. Churchill: Monash University. Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2009). Practice nurses as providers of antenatal services: A pilot project. Churchill: Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gippsland Campus. Mills, J., Birks, M., Francis, K., Coyle, M., & Al-Motlaq, M. (2008). Nursing in remote or isolated areas of Queensland: A multiple case study. Churchill: Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gippsland Campus. Mills, J., & Birks, M. (2008). Development and delivery of an E-learning training package to support Medicare Item Churchill: Monash University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gippsland Campus. Journal articles Published: Birks, M., Mills, J., Francis, K., Biggs, J., & Jones, J. (2010). Models of service delivery and care in remote or isolated areas of Queensland. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(1), Mills, J., Birks, M., Francis, K., Miles, M.,, & Jones, J. (2010). Australian rural remote registered nurses experiences of learning to provide antenatal services in general practice: A pilot study. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(4), Francis, K., Birks, M., Al-Motlaq, M., Davis, J., Miles, M., & Bailey, C. (2010). Responding to a rural health shortfall: Double degree preparation of the nurse midwife. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 18(5), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2010). Becoming professional by degrees: A grounded theory study of nurses in Malaysian Borneo. Singapore Nursing Journal, 37(3), Al-Motlaq, M., Mills, J., & Birks, M. (2010). How nurses address the burden of disease in remote or isolated areas in Queensland. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16, Mills, J., Francis, K., Birks, M., Henderson, S., & Jones, J. (2010). Registered nurses as members of interdisciplinary primary health care teams in remote or isolated areas of Queensland: Collaboration, communication and partnerships in practice. Journal of Inter-professional Care, 24(5), Coyle, M., Mills, J., Birks, M. & Francis, K. (2010). An integrative review of the role of registered nurses in remote and isolated practice. Australian Health Review, 34, Hassankhani, H., Taleghani, F., Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K., Ahmadi, F. (2010). The challenges experienced by Iranian war veterans living with chemical warfare poisoning: A descriptive, exploratory study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring in Nursing, 24(2) Birks, M., Al-Motlaq, M., & Mills, J. (2010). Pre-registration nursing degree students in rural Victoria: Characteristics and career aspirations. Collegian, 17(1), Mills, J., Birks, M. & Hegney, D. (2010). The status of rural nursing in Australia: Twelve years on. Collegian, 17,

8 Francis, K., Mills, J., Chapman, Y., Birks, M. (2009). Doctoral theses by publication: Building scholastic capacity whilst acknowledging new knowledge. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 4, Birks, M., Francis, K., Chapman, Y., Mills, J., & Porter, J. (2009). Supporting the evolution of a research culture in Malaysia. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27(1), Birks, M., Mills, J., Francis, K., & Chapman, Y. (2009). A thousand words paint a picture: The use of storyline in grounded theory research. Journal of Research in Nursing, 14(5), Francis, K., Chapman, Y., & Birks, M. (2009). Nursing in Australia and Malaysia: Framing a shared history and future. Singapore Nursing Journal, 36(2), Birks, M., Francis, K., & Chapman, Y. (2009). Seeking knowledge, discovering learning: Uncovering the impetus for baccalaureate nursing studies in Malaysian Borneo. International Journal of Nursing Practice 15(3) Birks, M., Chapman, Y., Francis, K. (2009). Unspoken status: Women and nursing in Malaysia. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 20(1), Hassankhani, H., Taleghani, F., Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2009). Being hopeful and continuing to move ahead: Religious coping in Iranian chemical warfare poisoned veterans- A qualitative study. Journal of Religion and Health [online] Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2009). Research aims to improve remote area nursing in Queensland. Australian Nurses Journal, 16(8), Mills, J., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2009). Research aims to improve remote area nursing in Queensland. Queensland Nurse, April, 18. Birks, M., Francis, K., & Chapman, Y., Abdullah, B. (2008). From traditional healers to telemedicine: A history of nursing in Malaysia. Singapore Nursing Journal, 35(2), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2008). Memoing in qualitative research: Probing data and processes. Journal of Research in Nursing, 13(1), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2007). Breaching the wall: Interviewing people from other cultures. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 18(2), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2007). Moving grounded theory into the 21 st Century: Part 1 An evolutionary tale. Singapore Nursing Journal, 33(4), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2007). Moving grounded theory into the 21 st Century: Part 2 Mapping the footprints. Singapore Nursing Journal, 33(4), Birks, M., Chapman, Y., & Francis, K. (2006). Baccalaureate nursing studies: Voyaging towards discovery. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 12, Barnett, A. and Birks, M. (1998). Nursing in Singapore What are the issues? Singapore Nursing Journal, 25 (2), Birks, M. (1998). In defense of distance education. Australian Nursing Journal, 6(5), 31. Birks, M. (1997). Distance education A closer look. Australian Nursing Journal, 5(5), 27. 8

9 Birks, M. and Thompson, S. (1995). Nursing research Whose business? Australian Nursing Journal, 2 (6), Birks, M., Santamaria, N., Thompson, S., and Amerena, J. (1993). A clinical trial of the effectiveness of water as a conductive medium in electrocardiography. The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 10(2), In press: Birks, M. Making it real: A hands-on approach to teaching research. International Nursing Review (accepted January 2011). Birks, M., Cant, R., Al-Motlaq, M., & Rickards, A. Increasing the pool of students in rural locations: A satellite model of nurse education. Australian Journal of Rural Health (accepted January 2011). Under review: Birks, M., Coyle, M., Porter, J., & Mills, J. Perceptions of hand hygiene amongst health care workers in Sibu, East Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Community Health (submitted January 2011). Cant, R., Birks, M., Porter, J., Jacob, E., Cooper, S. Developing advanced rural nursing practice: a whole new scope of responsibility. Australian Journal of Rural Health (submitted January 2011). Birks, M., Coyle, M., Porter, J., & Mills, J. Factors that make the health care professions an attractive career option in East Malaysia. Singapore Nursing Journal (submitted December 2010). Jacob, E., Chapman, Y., Birks, M., & Al-Motlaq, M. Academic swings and roundabouts - dispelling the myths of entry criteria vs. success in undergraduate nursing courses. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management (Submitted December 2010). Birks, M., Missen, K., Marino, E., Al-Motlaq, M. Babies and machines that go beep : First year nursing students preferred areas of future practice. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship (Submitted November 2010). Mills, J., Birks, M., Francis, K. Educational Leadership in Nursing: Supporting cultural change to develop research capacity in novice nurse academics. Academic Leadership: The online journal (submitted November 2010). Mills, J., Birks, M., Francis, K. Establishing a learning community to support doctoral research training: A case study. International Journal of Doctoral Studies (Submitted November 2010). Birks, M., Cant, R., Al-Motlaq, M., & Jones, J. I Don t Want to Become a Scientist : Undergraduate Nursing Students Perceived Value of Course Content. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing (Submitted July 2010). Referees Professor Helen Bartlett Pro Vice Chancellor Monash University, Gippsland Campus Ph.: helen.bartlett@monash.edu Professor Wendy Cross 9

10 Head, School of Nursing and Midwifery Monash University wendy.cross@monash.edu Dr Geoff Clark Technical Officer HSS and HRD World Health Organization Ph.: Ext clarkg@wpro.who.int 10

I don t want to become a scientist : undergraduate nursing students perceived value of course content

I don t want to become a scientist : undergraduate nursing students perceived value of course content AUTHORS Dr Melanie Birks PhD, RN, MEd, BN, FRCNA Associate Professor, Learning and Teaching Education