Telling the world what RANs already know: using research to influence change

Dr Kylie McCullough¹

¹Edith Cowan University

Research provides the evidence for change and the ongoing development of the nursing profession. This presentation provides an overview of the findings from my PhD and describe my current research projects as an opportunity to connect the “Ivory tower” with those at the coalface.

I condensed many hours of interviews with RANs into a simple framework to describe the complexity of RAN practice (1). Participants described  wanting to provide comprehensive Primary Health care but being unable to (2) and in determining if their work was paternalistic or best practice (3). They also wanted recognition of the specialist nature of their generalist scope of practice (4). The articles below can be used by clinicians in communicating their needs for professional recognition, education and resources to improve care. Future research focuses on looking for nursing specific indicators of quality care and further testing of the theoretical framework.

1. McCullough KM, Whitehead L, Bayes S, Williams A, Cope V. The delivery of Primary Health Care in remote communities: A Grounded Theory study of the perspective of nurses. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2020;102:103474.
2. McCullough KM, Bayes S, Whitehead L, Williams A, Cope V. We say we are doing primary health care but we’re not: Remote area nurses’ perspectives on the challenges of providing primary health care services. Collegian. 2021;28(5):534 – 40.
3. McCullough KM, Whitehead L, Bayes S, Schultz R. Remote area nursing: best practice or paternalism in action? The importance of consumer perspectives on primary health care nursing practice in remote communities. Australian Journal of Primary Health. 2021;27(1):62-6.
4. McCullough K, Williams AM, Whitehead L, Bayes S, Cope V. Nursing in a different world: Remote Area Nursing as a specialist-generalist practice area. Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2022;in press.

Biography:

Dr Kylie McCullough has researched and taught in the areas of Remote Area Nursing and Primary Health Care since 2011. She has 25 years clinical nursing experience and several journal articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Kylie is a Fellow of CRANAplus and was awarded the CRANAplus research award in 2021. Kylie currently lectures in Primary Health Care, Global health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health at Edith Cowan University in Perth.