• Award recognises lecturer’s applied research and leadership in western NSW health services
• Recipient demonstrated clinical excellence, education and innovation in rural critical care
• The research, initially undertaken with Murrumbidgee Local Health District, is impacting the care of patients in respiratory distress in rural NSW

A Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) lecturer and PhD nursing graduate has received a prestigious award for her contribution to rural critical care.

The award recognised former student and now lecturer in rural health (clinical educator) at the Charles Sturt Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health Dr Elyce Green’s research, which was initially undertaken with Murrumbidgee Local Health District and has since helped to inform the implementation of new technology in rural areas across western NSW.

Dr Green was awarded the Marianne Gaul (AM) Award for demonstrating clinical excellence, education and innovation in rural critical care.

The award was presented to Dr Green for her outstanding leadership and mentoring of novice nurses, and the outcomes of her research which are being used to inform the implementation of non-invasive ventilation in rural hospitals in NSW.

The Marianne Gaul (AM) Award for Excellence in NSW Rural Emergency/Critical Care is awarded to a registered nurse or midwife who has ‘Demonstrated clinical excellence, education and innovation in emergency and critical nursing, and who through their leadership has improved the quality and safety of patient care’.

Research lead in the Charles Sturt School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health Associate Professor Maree Bernoth said, “This is a wonderful recognition of this talented former student’s achievement.

“Elyce’s work is having a direct impact on the care of patients in respiratory distress in rural NSW.”

Dr Green’s PhD thesis was titled ‘Quantitative and qualitative inquiry into the use of non-invasive ventilation to treat acute asthma in adults: a multi-site study’.

“When I completed my research on non-invasive ventilation it was in the early implementation phase for many of the sites in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District,” Dr Green said.

“Now that non-invasive ventilation is being implemented widely across the Western NSW Local Health District, and since the context is so similar, my work has been able to help inform the process to some extent, particularly regarding the needs of the clinicians.

“I am really humbled to have received this award as I know that there are countless other rural clinicians who are making a difference to the care we deliver every day.

“Many of these people continue to inspire me, particularly the Rural Clinical Nurse Consultant group who demonstrate the importance of collaboration to affect change in rural health.”

The Marianne Gaul (AM) Award was presented to Dr Green at the Rural Critical Care Conference in Dubbo NSW on Friday 16 August.