Biography
Associate Professor Patricia Nicholson is a nationally respected clinician, academic and researcher with expertise in perioperative nursing, midwifery practice and higher education.
Associate Professor Nicholson’s interdisciplinary research in patient safety is centred on reducing the incidence of adverse events in the operating suite, medication adherence and medication safety, midwifery practice in Africa and Indigenous health curriculum development.
Associate Professor Pat Nicholson is a member of the Quality and Patient Safety Strategic Research Centre of Deakin University, Fellow of the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN), and senior Faculty member of the ACORN Standards Committee.
In 2014 Associate Professor Nicholson was invited to present the Judith Cornell Oration at the ACORN National Conference and was awarded the ACORN Individual Excellence in Perioperative Nursing in 2016.
Research methodologies
Associate Professor Nicholson has experience in the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including the use of Rasch Modeling, observation of clinical practice, focus groups and interview.
Career highlights
Judith Cornell Oration delivered at the 14th Australian College of Operating Room Nurses National Conference: 'Are outliers the key to sucess?'
Excellence in Perioperative Nursing Award 2016 for excellence and outstanding contribution as an individual to perioperative nursing
Research interests
Factors associated with the development of pressure injuries (PIs) in surgical patients
Establishing and supporting the development and delivery of Indigenous health curricula for health professional programs in Australia
Conceptualisation, instrument development, and psychometric analysis using Item Response theory to measure nursing competencies in the operating theatre
The impact of perioperative factors on regular medication compliance and consequent prevalence of postoperative complications.
Affiliations
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Ltd (VPNG)
Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN)
Teaching interests
Perioperative Nursing
Midwifery
Nursing Leadership and Management
Evidence Based Practice
Units taught
HNN120 Quality and Safety in Health Care
HNM101 Partnerships in Midwifery Care 1
HNM102 Partnerships in Midwifery Care 2
HNN740 Core Principles of Intraoperative Nursing Care
HNN755 Core Principles of Perianaesthesia Nursing Care
HNN742 Principles of Complex Perianaesthesia Nursing Care
HNN743 Principles of Complex Intraoperative Nursing Care
HNN750 Inquiry into Specialty Nursing Practice
HNN788 Advanced Concepts in Speciality Nursing Practice
Knowledge areas
Higher Education
Perioperative Nursing
Indigenous Heath Curriculum Development
Midwifery Practice
Conferences
Keynote Address / Invited Speaker
When words are not enough: Helping other deal with death and dying. VPNG State Conference, Melbourne 16 - 17 August, 2019.
Pressure injuries: Avoidable or unavoidable? Improved outcomes for surgical patients. VPNG State Conference, Melbourne 14 August, 2018.
Safe patient positioning in the perioperative environment. ACORN Conference Master Class. ACORN 18th National Conference, Adelaide, 23 – 26 May, 2018.
A cohort study identifying risk factors associated with pressure injuries in surgical patients. Theatre Manager and Educator Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand, 3 May 2018.
Daring greatly! Having the courage to transform the patient’s experience in the operating suite. NSW OTA, 2016.
Sustainable perioperative practices! Reducing, reusing or recycling – what is the evidence? Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Nurses Group National Conference, 2016.
Medical waste: Reducing, reusing and recycling. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, 20 March, 2015.
Are outliers the key to success? 14th Australian College of Operating Room Nurses National Conference Judith Cornell Oration, 2014.
International Conferences
Medication safety in the perioperative period. The impact of perioperative factors on medication compliance for chronic conditions and postoperative complications, and the importance of clinical handover.
EORNA Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, 16 -19 May 2019.
Do you see what I see? The use of live streaming GoPro footage in the operating room and the impact on communication. EORNA Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, 16 -19 May 2019.
A cohort study identifying risk factors associated with pressure injuries in surgical patients. AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo, New Orleans, Louisiana, 24 – 28 March, 2018.
Factors associated with preventing pressure injuries in surgical patients. EORNA Conference, Greece, Rhodes, May 4 – 7 May 2017
Sustainable perioperative practices! Reducing, reusing or recycling – what is the evidence? EORNA Conference, Rome, 2015.
Validating competencies for perioperative nursing. AORN 59th Congress, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2012.
Validation of nursing competencies using the Rasch Model. Pacific Rim Objective Measurement Symposium, Singapore 2011.
Competencies in the OR suite. AORN 57th Congress, Denver, Colorado, 2010.
The use of scoring rubrics to determine clinical performance in the operating suite (poster presentation). AORN 56th Congress, Chicago. Illinois, 2009.
The use of visual art in research. The University of Stellenbosch, Postgraduate Supervision State of the Art Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2007.
National Conferences
Are we doing enough to prevent patient injuries caused by positioning for surgery? An overview of the ACORN Standard. ACORN National Conference, Adelaide 23 - 26 May, 2018.
How does nursing documentation affect patient care? Get it right up front!An overview of the ACORN Position Statement. ACORN 18th National Conference, Adelaide, 23 – 26 May, 2018.
Factors associated with the development of pressure injuries in surgical patients. ACORN 17th National Conference, Hobart, 25 – 28 May, 2016.
Getting a handle on loan instrumentation. ACORN 17th National Conference, Hobart, 25 – 28 May, 2016.
Professional activities
Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN):
Fellow of ACORN
Past ACORN Director (2006 – 2010)
Chair of the ACORN Standards Review Committee 2008 – 2010
ACORN Censor Panel member: Senior Faculty Lead for the development of new ACORN Standards for Perioperative Nursing
ACORN Perioperative Journal Reviewer
Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Ltd (VPNG):
Past President
Media appearances
'Capturing the web generation'
The Age Saturday July 23, 2011
Awards
2016 Australian College of Operating Room Nurses Excellence in Perioperative Nursing
2014 Australian College of Operating Room Nurses Judith Cornell Orator
2010 Judith Bridges Johnson & Johnson Scholarship
2010 Australian Postgraduate Scholarship Award, The University of Melbourne
2009 ANF (Victorian Branch) Elizabeth Hulme Special Interest Group Scholarship
2009 Special Scholarship: School of Nursing, The University of Melbourne
2006 John and Elizabeth Robertson Prize (The most meritorious Minor Thesis in the Master of Education)
Publications
Prioritising patients for semi-urgent surgery: A scoping review
Elyse Coffey, Rachel Walker, Patricia Nicholson, Brigid Gillespie
(2024), pp. 1-16, Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN), London, Eng., C1
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perioperative transition to specialty practice program
A Skiller, J Considine, P Nicholson
(2023), Vol. 79, pp. 737-748, Journal of Advanced Nursing, London, Eng., C1
R Aldwikat, E Manias, P Nicholson
(2023), Vol. 36, pp. e29-e40, Journal of Perioperative Nursing, Lyndoch, S.Aust., C1
M Kaitu'u, T Armour, P Nicholson
(2023), Vol. 79, pp. 40-48, Clinical Simulation in Nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Psychometric validation of the Perceived Perioperative Competence
Brigid Gillespie, Emma Harbeck, Sally Sutherland‐Fraser, Patricia Nicholson, Tina Boric
(2023), Vol. 79, pp. 4732-4746, Journal of Advanced Nursing, London, Eng., C1
Rami Aldwikat, Elizabeth Manias, Alex Holmes, Emily Tomlinson, Patricia Nicholson
(2023), Vol. 32, pp. 7578-7588, Journal of Clinical Nursing, London, Eng., C1
'Fallacy of normalcy' in post‑childbirth maternal morbidities: a feminist‑pragmatist exploration
M Rouhi, P Nicholson, E Crisp, S Bettiol, C Stirling
(2023), Vol. 31, pp. 488-494, British Journal of Midwifery, London, Eng., C1-1
Delirium screening tools in the post-anaesthetic care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis
R Aldwikat, E Manias, E Tomlinson, M Amin, P Nicholson
(2022), Vol. 34, pp. 1225-1235, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, Berlin, Germany, C1
R Aldwikat, E Manias, A Holmes, E Tomlinson, P Nicholson
(2022), Vol. 19, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Switzerland, C1
P Nicholson, L Kuhn, E Manias, M Sloman
(2021), Vol. 34, pp. 350-357, Australian Critical Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Being a parent: Findings from a grounded theory of memory-making in neonatal end-of-life care
R Thornton, P Nicholson, L Harms
(2021), Vol. 61, pp. 51-58, Journal of Pediatric Nursing, United States, C1
L Nieuwoudt, A Hutchinson, P Nicholson
(2021), Vol. 53, Nurse Education in Practice, Scotland, C1
What influences rural women's choices in maternity care: A qualitative exploratory study
K Russell, E Manias, P Nicholson
(2021), Vol. 23, pp. 825-833, Nursing and Health Sciences, Australia, C1
L Grant, P Nicholson, B Davidson, E Manias
(2021), Vol. 34, pp. 1-8, Journal of Perioperative Nursing, Lyndoch, SA, C1
R Thornton, P Nicholson, L Harms
(2020), Vol. 53, pp. 29-35, Journal of Pediatric Nursing, United States, C1
O Omonaiye, P Nicholson, S Kusljic, E Manias
(2020), Vol. 32, pp. 1295-1303, AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, England, C1
R Aldwikat, E Manias, P Nicholson
(2020), Vol. 22, pp. 958-966, Nursing and health sciences, Chichester, Eng., C1
Medication-based Refill Adherence Among Pregnant Women Living With HIV in Nigeria
O Omonaiye, P Nicholson, S Kusljic, M Mohebbi, E Manias
(2020), Vol. 42, pp. e209-e219, Clinical Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
O Omonaiye, S Kusljic, P Nicholson, M Mohebbi, E Manias
(2019), Vol. 81, pp. 225-230, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Canada, C1
Scoping Review of Memory Making in Bereavement Care for Parents After the Death of a Newborn
R Thornton, P Nicholson, L Harms
(2019), Vol. 48, pp. 351-360, JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, United States, C1
O Omonaiye, S Kusljic, P Nicholson, E Manias
(2019), Vol. 41, pp. 2102-2110, Clinical therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
C Delany, L Doughney, L Bandler, L Harms, S Andrews, P Nicholson, L Remedios, W Edmondson, L Kosta, S Ewen
(2018), Vol. 75, pp. 255-270, Higher education, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
O Omonaiye, S Kusljic, P Nicholson, E Manias
(2018), Vol. 18, BMC Public Health, England, C1
Olumuyiwa Omonaiye, Pat Nicholson, Snezana Kusljic, Elizabeth Manias
(2018), Vol. 74, pp. 71-82, International journal of infectious diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Using the ACORN standards: An exploration of claims, concerns and issues
Carollyn Williams, Jed Duff, Pat Nicholson, Lois Hamlin, Brigid Gillespie
(2018), Vol. 31, pp. 37-41, Journal of Perioperative Nursing, Lyndoch, S.Aust., C1
L Brooks, E Manias, P Nicholson
(2017), Vol. 30, pp. 161-166, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Cantlay, J Salamanca, C Golaw, D Wolf, C Maas, P Nicholson
(2017), Vol. 24, pp. 34-42, Nurse education in practice, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Communication and decision-making about end-of-life care in the intensive care unit
L Brooks, E Manias, P Nicholson
(2017), Vol. 26, pp. 336-341, American journal of critical care, Columbia, Calif., C1
Cultural respect encompassing simulation training: Being heard about health through broadband
P Lau, R Woodward-Kron, K Livesay, K Elliott, P Nicholson
(2016), Vol. 5, pp. 36-42, Journal of Public Health Research, United States, C1
Identifying pedagogy and teaching strategies for achieving nationally prescribed learning outcomes
C Delany, L Kosta, S Ewen, P Nicholson, L Remedios, L Harms
(2016), Vol. 35, pp. 895-909, Higher Education Research and Development, C1-1
J Black, M Gerdtz, P Nicholson, D Crellin, L Browning, J Simpson, L Bell, N Santamaria
(2015), Vol. 52, pp. 963-969, International journal of nursing studies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Alternate Level of Care Patients in Hospitals: What Does Dementia Have To Do With This?
Rose McCloskey, Pamela Jarrett, Connie Stewart, Patricia Nicholson
(2014), Vol. 17, pp. 88-94, CANADIAN GERIATRICS JOURNAL, C1
P Nicholson, P Griffin, S Gillis, M Wu, T Dunning
(2013), Vol. 33, pp. 1088-1093, Nurse education today, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
The use of scoring rubrics to determine clinical performance in the operating suite
P Nicholson, S Gillis, A Dunning
(2009), Vol. 29, pp. 73-82, Nurse education today, London, England, C1-1
The use of visual art in judging clinical competence in the operating suite
P Nicholson, S Gillis, R Faulkner
(2008), Vol. 21, pp. 20-26, ACORN: journal of perioperative nursing in Australia, Osborne Park, W.A., C1-1
Working with the medical technology industry: a partnership approach to ensure patient safety
F Shipman, A Trimmer, M Butler, P Nicholson, M Loth, K White, A Evans
(2008), Vol. 21, pp. 31-32, ACORN : the journal of perioperative nursing in Australia, Osborne Park, W. Aust., C1-1
P Dyer, P Nicholson, J Lucas, J Peberdy
(1996), Vol. 100, pp. 1219-1226, MYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Industry and Other Funding
Identification of factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers in surgical patients. A retrospective review
A/Prof Pat Nicholson
Australian College of Operating Room Nurses
- 2016: $19,699
Optimising screening for postoperative delirium in older people in the post anaesthetic care unit.
Mr Rami Aldwikat, A/Prof Pat Nicholson, Prof Elizabeth Manias, Dr Emily Tomlinson
ACORN Australian College of Perioperative Nurses Research Grant
- 2023: $5,454
- 2022: $4,545
Measuring diabetes educator competencies in practice settings: development and psychometric analysis of a clinical assessment tool.
Dr Virginia Hagger, Prof Bodil Rasmussen, Mrs Cath Mcnamara, A/Prof Pat Nicholson
Australian Diabetes Educators Association Ltd
- 2024: $20,863
- 2023: $41,724
- 2022: $6,954
Supervisions
Rami Aldwikat
Thesis entitled: The Use of Valid and Reliable Screening Tools for Detecting Delirium Postoperatively in Older People
Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing), School of Nursing & Midwifery
Theodora Dedo Azu
Thesis entitled: Maternal and Neonatal Birth Outcomes Associated with Anaemia in Pregnancy in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Ghana
Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing), School of Nursing & Midwifery
Olumuyiwa Omonaiye
Thesis entitled: Medication adherence among pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus receiving antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria.
Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing), School of Nursing & Midwifery