Kate Curtis, RN, GradDip Crit Care, Mnurs(Hons), PhD, FCENA, of Australia
Nurse Researcher Award
Kate Curtis, RN, GradDip Crit Care, Mnurs(Hons), PhD, FCENA
Recognizes an individual nurse who has made significant contributions to the profession of nursing, particularly the specialty of emergency nursing by conducting research, disseminating research findings or using research to improve outcomes.
Kate Curtis – an emergency nurse, professor and researcher in Australia – excels in implementation science, behavior change and co-design of practical emergency nursing interventions. Her work has attracted $19 million AUD in research and project funding.
She is the lead chief investigator on two multi-site trials: one testing an evidence-based patient assessment framework at 31 EDs and one evaluating nurse-led protocols for initiating emergency care in 30 EDs.
Her work has contributed to improved recognition and reporting of indicators of urgency; nurse communication and decision-making; clinical handover and other work that has led to significant cost savings. Her research related to evidence-based care for patients with blunt chest trauma contributed to improved pain management and decreased pneumonia incidences in 10 hospitals.
A Life Fellow in the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia, she has published more than 220 peer-reviewed papers and delivered more than 250 national and international conference presentations. She is the editor of Australia’s only textbook for emergency nurses. Curtis, who earned her PhD from University of New South Wales, is a supervisor for degree-seeking nursing students at University of Sydney and a mentor to many emergency nurses involved in research and clinical improvement projects.