Biography
Dr Melissa Bloomer has more than 20 year experience as a registered nurse in intensive care (ICU), general acute and sub-acute care settings. With a passion for research, Melissa joined Deakin University in early 2016.
Melissa's primary research interests relate to end-of-life care in acute and critical care environments, including management, communication and decision-making, family care, and nurse preparedness for dying and death. Melissa's work focuses primarily on adults, including exploring the unique and often additional needs of older people and culturally and linguistically diverse populations at the end of life.
In 2020, Melissa was named Postdoctoral Researcher of the year by the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC); a significant achievement in recognition of her contribution to palliative care in acute and critical care settings.
In 2019, Melissa was the recipient of an Endeavour Executive Leadership Award. This highly prestigious award enabled Melissa to spend six weeks at the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster Univeristy, UK, undertaking research related to volunteers in end of life care.
From 2017 to 2019, Melissa was the recipient of an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to explore 'Best Practice in End-of-Life Care in Acute Hosptials in Private and Public Settings'.
Melissa also holds several external leadership roles including:
- Deputy Chair, End of Life Policy Chapter, Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
- Inaugural Chair, End-of-Life Advisory Panel, Australian College of Critical Care Nurses
- Member (2021 onwards, and former Chair 2018-2020) Research Advisory Panel, Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN)
- Editor, Palliative Medicine (Q1);
- Editor, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing (Q1);
- Editor Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research (Q1)
Research interests
Intensive and Critical Care
End-of-Life and Palliative Care
Care of the older person
Cultural issues in health care
Communication and decision-making
Patient and Family-centred care
Dementia
Affiliations
Fellow, Australian College of Nursing
Life Member, Nurses Memorial Centre
Member, Australian College of Critical Care Nurses
Member, Palliative Care Nurses Australia
Units taught
2017 onwards Director of Postgraduate Studies
2016 onwards Course Director, Master of Advanced Nursing
2016 onwards - minor thesis units (as part of the Master of Advanced Nursing
2020 Chair, HNN715 Leadership and Management in Nursing
2019 & 2016 Chair, Clinical Research Methods
2017 Chair, HNN216 International Study Tour (Undergraduate)
2016 Chair, HNN210 Perspectives on Research Leadership
Knowledge areas
Systematic Review
Integrative Review
Qualitative Research Methods
Mixed Methods
End-of-Life & Palliative Care
Intensive & Critical Care
Care of the older person
Care for culturally and linguistically diverse populations at the end of life
Professional activities
Inaugural Chair, ACCCN End-of-Life Advisory Panel (2021 - )
Chair, ACCCN Research Advisory Panel (2018-2020) & Member (2021 onwards)
Deputy Chair, End of Life Care Policy Chapter, Australian College of Nursing (2017 - )
Editor, Palliative Medicine (Q1)
Editor, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing (Q1)
Editor, Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research (Q1)
Awards
2021 Deakin University, Faculty of Health Mid-Career Fellowship
2020 European Association for Palliative Care Post-doctoral Researcher of 2020
2019 Endeavour Executive Leadership Award
2017-2019 Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
2010-2013 Australian Postgraduate Award
2013 Australian Legion Scholarship
2012 Australian Legion Scholarship
2011 Australian Legion Scholarship
Projects
2021 Co-investigator, Understanding the contribution of volunteers to hospice and specialist palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. An international survey (European Association of Palliative Care Volunteering Taskforce, unfunded)
2021 Co-investigator, What is the research evidence about the impact of single room accommodation in acute care on nurses’ work: A systematic review (Unfunded)
2021 Chief Investigator, Perceptions of family-centred care during critical illness and at the end of life in the context of COVID-19 enhanced infection prevention and control measures (Mid-Career Fellowship $46,510)
2021 Co-Investigator, Inclusive health communication in specialist disability accommodation (MRFF 2020 Rapid Response Communication Strategies and Approaches During Outbreaks $109,047)
2019 Chief Investigator, Family needs, involvement and presence at the end of life in inpatient settings: A descriptive retrospective study, (Seed Funding, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Deakin University $20,000)
2019 Palliative Care Volunteers in Inpatient Hospital Settings (Endeavour Executive Leadership, $17,000)
2019 Co-Investigator, A prospective, single centre, cohort study to determine the prevalence, treatment and outcome of delirium in Epworth Richmond Intensive Care Unit
(Epworth Research Foundation Feasibility Research Grant, Epworth Healthcare $10,071)
2017 Chief Investigator, Best practice in end-of-life care in acute hospitals: Mapping and evaluation in public and private settings (Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Deakin University $238,528)
2016 Chief Investigator, Understanding End-of-Life Care in the Subacute Setting (Seed Funding, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, Deakin University $40,690)
2015 Chief Investigator, Preparing Families for Treatment Withdrawal (Experienced Researcher Grant, Australian College of Critical Care Nurses $12,000)
2013 Co-Investigator, The experience of family caregivers of people with dementia: From hospital to residential aged care (Mary Patten Special Grant, Windermere Foundation
$8,866)
2012 Chief Investigator, Caring for dying patients and their families in Paediatric and Neonatal ICU (Major Research Grant, Nurses Board of Victoria Legacy Limited $19,900)
2012 Chief Investigator, Care after death: An exploration of nursing care of the bereaved family in ICU (Research Grant, Intensive Care Foundation $11,490)
Publications
M Bloomer, E Yuen, R Williams, A Hutchinson
(2024), Vol. 80, pp. 103534-103534, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Netherlands, C1
Competing Tensions: Nurse Perceptions of Family-Centered Care and Parents' Needs in Neonatal Care
Maddison Carew, Bernice Redley, Melissa Bloomer
(2024), Vol. Special Series: Parenting in the NICU, pp. 35-42, Advances in Neonatal Care, Philadelphia, PA., C1-1
Factors that influence critical care nurses' management of sedation for ventilated patients in critical care: A qualitative study
D Macpherson, A Hutchinson, M Bloomer
(2024), Vol. 83, pp. 1-8, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Factors that influence intensive care admission decisions for older people: A systematic review
C Foley, M Bloomer, A Hutchinson
(2023), Vol. 36, pp. 274-284, Australian Critical Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Bloomer, K Ranse, L Adams, L Brooks, A Coventry
(2023), Vol. 36, pp. 872-888, Australian Critical Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
C Walshe, L Pawłowski, S Shedel, S Vanderstichelen, M Bloomer, A Goossensen, J Limonero, K Stoelen, C Caraffa, L Pelttari, R Scott
(2023), Vol. 37, pp. 203-214, Palliative Medicine, C1-1
E Manias, L Brooks, M Bloomer
(2023), Vol. 75, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, C1
Melissa Bloomer, Eva Yuen, Ruth Williams, Stephane Bouchoucha, Peter Poon, Fiona Runacres, Christine Mooney, Alison Hutchinson
(2023), pp. 5173-5184, Journal of Clinical Nursing, London, Eng., C1
Nurses' roles and responsibilities in cardiac advanced life support: A single-site eDelphi study
L Team, M Bloomer, B Redley
(2023), Nursing in Critical Care, C1
Laura Brooks, Elizabeth Manias, Melissa Bloomer
(2023), pp. 1-8, Australian Critical Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Nurses' work experiences in hospital wards with single rooms: An integrative review
Susanne Søndergaard, Bodil Rasmussen, Debra Kerr, Kirsten Frederiksen, Bernice Redley, Melody Trueman, Raymond Kolbaek, Henrik Laursen, Melissa Bloomer
(2023), Vol. 32, pp. 7036-7049, Journal of Clinical Nursing, London, Eng., C1
Katrin Gerber, Melissa Bloomer, Barbara Hayes, Cik Lee, Kayla Lock, Karen Bodna, Paul Yates
(2023), Vol. 54, pp. 211-218, Geriatric Nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
A national Position Statement on adult end-of-life care in critical care
M Bloomer, K Ranse, A Butler, L Brooks
(2022), Vol. 35, pp. 480-487, Australian Critical Care, Australia, C1
Facilitating family needs and support at the end of life in hospital: A descriptive study
M Bloomer, P Poon, F Runacres, A Hutchinson
(2022), Vol. 36, pp. 549-554, Palliative Medicine, England, C1
Family-centred care at end of life in critical care: A retrospective descriptive study
M Bloomer, P Poon, F Runacres, A Hutchinson
(2022), Vol. 29, pp. 574-580, Collegian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
L Brooks, E Manias, M Bloomer
(2022), Vol. 73, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Netherlands, C1
K Gerber, B Hayes, M Bloomer, C Perich, K Lock, J Slee, D Lee, D Yates
(2022), Vol. 46, pp. 105-111, Geriatric Nursing, C1
R Ewers, M Bloomer, A Hutchinson
(2021), Vol. 62, Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Netherlands, C1
R Zheng, M Bloomer, Q Guo, S Lee
(2021), Vol. 77, pp. 795-804, Journal of advanced nursing, Chichester, Eng., C1
A King, M Botti, D McKenzie, J Barrett, M Bloomer
(2021), Vol. 34, pp. 452-459, Australian Critical Care, Australia, C1
M Bloomer, C Walshe
(2021), Vol. 35, pp. 1452-1467, Palliative Medicine, London, Eng., C1
B Redley, H Forbes, M Bloomer, E Tomlinson, E Manias, M Botti
(2021), Vol. 28, pp. 692-702, Collegian, C1
M Bloomer, C Walshe
(2020), Vol. 34, pp. 589-604, Palliative medicine, London, Eng., C1
End-of-life care for older people in subacute care: a retrospective clinical audit
M Bloomer, M Botti, F Runacres, P Poon, J Barnfield, A Hutchinson
(2019), Vol. 26, pp. 22-27, Collegian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Cultural considerations at end of life in a geriatric inpatient rehabilitation setting
M Bloomer, M Botti, F Runacres, P Poon, J Barnfield, A Hutchinson
(2019), Vol. 26, pp. 165-170, Collegian, C1
Laura Brooks, Melissa Bloomer, Elizabeth Manias
(2019), Vol. 32, pp. 516-523, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Culturally sensitive communication in healthcare: a concept analysis
L Brooks, E Manias, M Bloomer
(2019), Vol. 26, pp. 383-391, Collegian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
End-of-life care in hospital: An audit of care against Australian national guidelines
M Bloomer, A Hutchinson, M Botti
(2019), Vol. 43, pp. 578-584, Australian Health Review, Australia, C1
Supporting Muslim families before and after a death in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units
A Al Mutair, M Al Ammary, L Brooks, M Bloomer
(2019), Vol. 24, pp. 192-200, Nursing in Critical Care, England, C1
Melissa Bloomer, Paul Fulbrook, Sandra Goldsworthy, Sarah Livesay, Marion Mitchell, Ged Williams, Adriano Friganovic
(2019), Vol. 13, pp. 3-7, Connect: the world of critical care nursing, [Cham, Switzerland], C1
J Watson, H Voss, M Bloomer
(2019), Vol. 44, pp. 267-279, Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, C1
Achieving quality palliative care for all: the essential role of nurses-a White Paper by ACN 2019
Patsy Yates, Melissa Bloomer, Janice Bartley, Lexie Brans, Susan Emerson, Musette Healey, Sara Karacsony, Jason Mills, Margaret O'Connor, Mark Staaf, Carolyn Stapleton, Faye Tomlin, Claudia Virdun
(2019), Canberra, A.C.T., A6
Position statement: Provision of a critical care nursing workforce
Melissa Bloomer, Leanne Aitken, Eva Barkestad, Nicola Credland, Adriano Friganovic, Paul Fulbrook, Sandra Goldsworthy, Rossana Gonzales, Sarah Livesay, Marion Mitchell, Ged Williams, Pauline Wong, Susan Yeager
(2019), Dayboro, Qld., A6
Nurses' prioritization of enteral nutrition in intensive care units: a national survey
M Bloomer, A Clarke, J Morphet
(2018), Vol. 23, pp. 152-158, Nursing in critical care, Chichester, Eng., C1
How nurses cope with patient death: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis
R Zheng, S Lee, M Bloomer
(2018), Vol. 27, pp. e39-e49, Journal of clinical nursing, Chichester, Eng., C1
Dying persons' perspectives on, or experiences of, participating in research: An integrative review
M Bloomer, A Hutchinson, L Brooks, M Botti
(2018), Vol. 32, pp. 851-860, Palliative Medicine, England, C1
M Bloomer, M Botti, F Runacres, P Poon, J Barnfield, A Hutchinson
(2018), Vol. 32, pp. 1615-1623, Palliative Medicine, England, C1
Understanding the bereavement care roles of nurses within acute care: a systematic review
A Raymond, S Lee, M Bloomer
(2017), Vol. 26, pp. 1787-1800, Journal of clinical nursing, Chichester, Eng., C1
M Coombs, R Parker, K Ranse, R Endacott, M Bloomer
(2017), Vol. 73, pp. 39-55, Journal of advanced nursing, Chichester, Eng., C1
D Velasquez Reyes, M Bloomer, J Morphet
(2017), Vol. 43, pp. 12-22, Intensive and critical care nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Using non-participant observation in the clinical setting
M Bloomer, W Cross, M O'Connor, R Endacott
(2017), London, Eng., A6
R Zheng, S Lee, M Bloomer
(2016), Vol. 53, pp. 320-330, International journal of nursing studies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
M Bloomer, R Endacott, B Copnell, M O'Connor
(2016), Vol. 33, pp. 5-11, Intensive and critical care nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
The experience of family carers of people with dementia who are hospitalised
M Bloomer, R Digby, H Tan, K Crawford, A Williams
(2016), Vol. 15, pp. 1234-1245, Dementia, England, C1-1
M Bloomer, S Lee, D Lewis, M Biro, C Moss
(2016), Vol. 25, pp. 2200-2210, Journal of clinical nursing, Chichester, Eng., C1
Intensive care nurses' knowledge of enteral nutrition: a descriptive questionnaire
J Morphet, A Clarke, M Bloomer
(2016), Vol. 37, pp. 68-74, Intensive and critical care nursing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
K Ranse, M Bloomer, M Coombs, R Endacott
(2016), Vol. 29, pp. 210-216, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Bloomer, R Endacott, K Ranse, M Coombs
(2016), Vol. 26, pp. 690-697, Journal of clinical nursing, London, Eng., C1
K Crawford, R Digby, M Bloomer, H Tan, A Williams
(2015), Vol. 19, pp. 739-746, Aging & mental health, London, Eng., C1-1
M Bloomer, M O'Connor, B Copnell, R Endacott
(2015), Vol. 28, pp. 87-92, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
End-of-life care in an Australian rehabilitation facility for older people: staff focus groups
H Tan, M Bloomer, R Digby, M O'Connor
(2014), Vol. 38, pp. 186-193, Death studies, London, Eng., C1-1
Vulnerability at the end of life: Australian veterans requiring home-based palliative care
M O'Connor, B Brennan, M Bloomer, K Shimoinaba
(2014), Vol. 26, pp. 134-140, Home health care management & practice, London, Eng., C1-1
K-M Cho, S Lee, M Bloomer
(2014), Vol. 12, pp. 79-79, JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, Adelaide, S. Aust., C1-1
People with dementia and the hospital environment: the view of patients and family carers
R Digby, M Bloomer
(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 34-43, International journal of older people nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
Families and caregivers of older people: expectations, communication and care decisions
R Digby,, M Bloomer
(2014), Vol. 21, pp. 345-351, Collegian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
A Naik, A O'Brien, C Gaskin, I Munro, M Bloomer
(2013), Vol. 49, pp. 368-372, Community mental health journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
End-of-life care in a rehabilitation centre for older people in Australia
H Tan, R Digby, M Bloomer, Y Wang, M O'Connor
(2013), Vol. 32, pp. 184-187, Australasian journal on ageing, London, Eng., C1-1
M Bloomer, A O'Brien
(2013), Vol. 21, pp. 27-31, Progress in palliative care: science and the art of caring, London, Eng., C1-1
Nursing care of the family before and after a death in the ICU - an exploratory pilot study
M Bloomer, J Morphet, M O'Connor, S Lee, D Griffiths
(2013), Vol. 26, pp. 23-28, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
M Bloomer, R Endacott, M O'Connor, W Cross
(2013), Vol. 27, pp. 757-764, Palliative medicine, London, Eng., C1-1
M Bloomer, M Doman, R Endacott
(2013), Vol. 15, pp. 410-414, Nursing & health sciences, London, Eng., C1-1
Ensuring cultural sensitivity for Muslim patients in the Australian ICU: considerations for care
M Bloomer, A Al-Mutair
(2013), Vol. 26, pp. 193-196, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Considering Aboriginal palliative care models: the challenges for mainstream services
A O'Brien, M Bloomer, P McGrath, K Clark, T Martin, M Lock, T Pidcock, P van der Riet, M O'Connor
(2013), Vol. 13, pp. 2339-2349, Rural Remote Health, Deakin West, A.C.T., C1-1
The environment of inpatient healthcare delivery and its influence on the outcome of care
M O'Connor, A O'Brien, M Bloomer, J Morphett, L Peters, H Hall, A Parry, K Recoche, S Lee, I Munro
(2012), Vol. 6, pp. 104-116, HERD: health environments research & design journal, London, Eng., C1-1
R Digby, C Moss, M Bloomer
(2012), Vol. 7, pp. 57-64, International journal of older people nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
Caring for patients dying with dementia: challenges in subacute care in Australia
M Bloomer, R Digby
(2012), Vol. 28, pp. 164-168, Journal of palliative care, Toronto, Ont., C1-1
Qualitative observation in a clinical setting: challenges at end of life
M Bloomer, W Cross, R Endacott, M O'Connor, C Moss
(2012), Vol. 14, pp. 25-31, Nursing and health sciences, London, Eng., C1-1
Low frequency ultrasound debridement (Sonoca-185) in acute wound management: a case study
M Bloomer, M Shannon, A Williams
(2012), Vol. 20, pp. 200-205, Wound practice and research, Osborne Park, W.A., C1-1
Providing end-of-life care in the intensive care unit : issues that impact on nurse professionalism
M Bloomer, M O'Connor
(2012), Vol. 39, pp. 25-30, Singapore nursing journal, Singapore, C1-1
Improving call bell response times
R Digby, M Bloomer, T Howard
(2011), Vol. 23, pp. 22-27, Nursing older people, Harrow, Eng., C1-1
End-of-life care in acute hospitals: an integrative literature review
M Bloomer, C Moss, W Cross
(2011), Vol. 3, pp. 165-173, Journal of nursing and healthcare of chronic illness, Hoboken, N.J., C1-1
M Bloomer, W Cross
(2011), Vol. 18, pp. 61-69, Collegian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Understanding consumer participation in mental health: issues of power and change
W Bennetts, W Cross, M Bloomer
(2011), Vol. 20, pp. 155-164, International journal of mental health nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
M Bloomer, S Lee, M O’Connor
(2011), Vol. 28, pp. 17-23, Australian journal of advanced nursing, Melbourne, Vic., C1-1
Factors affecting peritoneal dialysis selection in Taiwanese patients with chronic kidney disease
C Liang, C Yang, K Lu, P Chu, C Chen, Y Chang, A O'Brien, M Bloomer, K Chou
(2011), Vol. 58, pp. 463-469, International nursing review, London, Eng., C1-1
Problems associated with end of life care in acute hospitals
M Bloomer, C Moss, Wendy Cross
(2011), Vol. 1, pp. 1-7, End of life journal, London, Eng., C1-1
Loss and grief in the workplace. What can we learn from the literature?
M O'Connor, J Watts, M Bloomer, K Larkins
(2010), Vol. 3, pp. 131-142, International journal of workplace health management, Bingley, England, C1-1
Australians living with and managing hepatitis C
A O'Brien, W Cross, P Higgs, I Munro, M Bloomer, K Chou
(2010), Vol. 31, pp. 520-524, Issues in mental health nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
W Cross, M Bloomer
(2010), Vol. 19, pp. 268-277, International journal of mental health nursing, London, Eng., C1-1
M Bloomer, R Tiruvoipati, M Tsiripillis, J Botha
(2010), Vol. 23, pp. 13-19, Australian critical care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
End of life care: the importance of advance care planning
M Bloomer, H Tan, S Lee
(2010), Vol. 39, pp. 734-737, Australian family physician, Sydney, N.S.W., C1-1
M Bloomer, S Lee, M O`Connor
(2010), Vol. 28, pp. 17-23, Australian journal of advanced nursing, Melbourne, Vic., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Inclusive Health Communication in Specialist Disability Accommodation
Dr Kate Anderson, Dr Joanne Watson, Dr Meredith Prain, Nathan Wilson, Prof Angela Dew, Patricia Frawley, Dr Amie O'Shea, A/Prof Melissa Bloomer, Prof Catherine Bennett
MRFF (DISER) - CRR Communications Strategies and Approaches During Outbreaks Grant
- 2021: $109,047
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report