Dr Kate Davis

Dr Kate Davis is a Research Fellow at the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, (RBRC) and was the inaugural nursing PHD Candidate at  the RBRC, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia.

The Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre is a partnership between the University of South Australia and the Rosemary Bryant Foundation, which aims to strengthen the nursing & midwifery workforce across the health system through the support and development of evidence-based healthcare, fostering partnerships and building research capacity. The RBRC has developed a comprehensive research program focused on advancing the discipline of nursing & midwifery and patient care related to population and public health, workforce reform, safety and quality, clinical practice, patient outcomes, and integration into education. Its objective is to enhance innovative partnerships for healthcare research, to inform strategies for: 1) Extending the capacity and capabilities of nurses and midwives to build a resilient, sustainable and collaborative workforce, 2) health system planning, evaluation and resourcing, 3) clinical care outcomes, and 4) translation of evidence into practice.

Kate is a registered nurse with nursing leadership experience in the public, private and NFP health/education sectors. Kate’s qualifications include B Nsg (post-grad), M Clin Sci, and PhD. Kate completed her PhD studies in mid-2021, with her PhD question focusing on the development and implementation of a nurse-led care coordination clinic (for people with multimorbidity). This research enabled her to acquire experience and skills in research protocol development, research methods, pragmatic research implementation in the clinical setting, building relationships in the clinical setting, and research analysis. Kate also has skills in models of care development and delivery, clinical change, and the management of people with multimorbidity.

In 2021 Kate was a researcher in a collaboratively designed study entitled ‘Telehealth transition care for people with multimorbidity: A feasibility study’ (between UniSA, Adelaide University and CALHN, paper pending publication in the ANMJ peer review journal).

Outcomes of the above research led to Kate being part of a successful team (led by Professor Sepehr Shakib) awarded a 2023 CRIPS grant for a research project entitled ‘Addressing safety, quality, and cost of care through a telehealth outpatient transitional care model: the TTOMMI trial’. The study is in progress at TQEH and will progress to the RAH in late 2024.

In 2022 Kate led a  project to revise the multiple SA Health Transition to Professional Practice Programs (TPPP) for registered and enrolled nurses and midwives. This project delivered the first jurisdiction wide (SA Health) TPPP curriculum in Australia and sets the scene for nationally consistent elements within nursing and midwifery TPPPs. Kate presented a paper on the project and program findings with the SA Health, Office of the Chief Nurse and Midwife, at the International Council of Nurses Congress in Montreal, 2023.

Kate’s research interests and experience are rapidly developing in the areas of:

o   Telehealth delivery of healthcare, nursing roles related to care coordination, care navigation, advanced practice roles and roles that support nurse-led services (also within a multidisciplinary model)

o   transition, nurse-led and multidisciplinary models of healthcare delivery

o   The social determinants of health care

o   Consumer engagement in healthcare

o   Research co-design methodology

o   Workplace and organisational culture

o   Transition to Professional Practice Programs (TPPP’s) for registered and enrolled nurses

Kate recently wrote a discussion paper for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation of South Australia (ANMFSA) on ‘Models of Care’ and presented this at the annual ANMFSA professional conference (2023) and will be presenting another discussion paper on “the Value of Nursing” at the 2024 ANMFSA Professional Conference.

As an experienced education lead, Kate is also currently Program Manager of the UniSA/RBRC the ‘Outstanding Workforce Leaders Program.’ This research capability-building endeavour is the sole professional development program series for nurses and midwives in South Australia that encompasses a research-focused curriculum delivered through a university. Kate recently received a CHS grant: ‘Publication Accelerator scheme’ to support publication of the program development and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

Work history

Recent Research Projects

Telehealth Transition of Multimorbid Individuals (TTOMMI) Study, The Hospital Research Foundation, 01/12/2020 - 30/11/2021

Project: TPPP State-wide curriculum development, implementation, and report, for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), in collaboration with SA Health, 2022

Capability development Discussion Paper for the ANMFSA, 2022

The Outstanding Workforce Leaders Project, ‘OWL’ Program’: in collaboration with SA Health Local Health Networks, to build nursing and midwifery Research Capability 2022 - current

Addressing safety, quality, and cost of care through a telehealth outpatient transitional care model: the TTOMMI trial, CRIPS Grant, CALHN , 2023-2025

Models of Care Discussion Paper for the ANMFSA 08/2023

A State-wide Model for Grief and Bereavement Support in South Australia, for SA Health, 2023-2024

Nursing – the unique value proposition Discussion Paper for the ANMFSA 08/2024

Professional Associations

Australian College of Nursing

ANMAC Accreditation Assessor

Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation