QEII Hospital Nurse Practitioner and Clinician-Researcher Dr Grace Xu (Ph.D.) is embarking on her next research mission, after being awarded an impressive $100,000 Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowship in June.
The two-year CARE-ED project will trial a range of co-designed interventions to enhance patient participation in PIVC (Peripheral Intravenous Catheter) care in the Emergency Department (ED).
The study is built on the findings of Grace’s 2021 GUIDE-ED study, a Metro South SERTA grant-funded project.
“A big passion of mine is promoting a better patient experience and care in ED. Studies show that about 70 per cent of patients get a PIVC inserted, but half of these PIVCs are not used. This means we are wasting time and resources, while causing unnecessary pain to patients,” Grace explained.
“In our 2021 study, we found that clinicians often don’t work in partnership with patients, and PIVC insertion is like a tick box task because it’s so common. We want to use the CARE-ED study to find better ways to involve patients in their care and decision-making, and ultimately help avoid unnecessary PIVC insertion.”
Grace’s enthusiasm for implementation science shines through her combined wealth of clinical experience and research work, built on 15 years of experience as an emergency nurse and her 2022 Ph.D.
Grace says it is an honour to be a recipient of the esteemed Queensland Health Clinical Researcher Fellowship, which has supported many top Clinician-Researchers in the state since 2019.
It’s the CARE-ED study’s practical approach that sets it apart, by focusing on making small but important changes to improve healthcare practices.
“I often feel like I’m the bridge between the clinical and research worlds because I’m so heavily involved in both fields. I currently work 0.5 FTE in my clinical role, and I’ve been fortunate to work with many excellent clinicians and researchers, which has given me broad range of skills and methodologies to draw from.”
With a reputation for her exceptional research skills, Grace’s work ethic and leadership are inspiring the next generation of clinicians and creating space for new researchers to explore the possibilities in the field.
“We have a growing group of clinicians who are interested in learning research in our department. I help them to learn and develop their research skills through mentorship and I’ve seen big potential in them to succeed.
“I want to show them learning research doesn’t have to be scary. It can be really fun when you use rigorous research methods to solve clinical problems and give our patients the best possible care and experience.”
Thank you for inspiring the next generation of researchers, Grace!
