Associate Professor Donna Waters

Associate Professor/Associate Dean Research
Sydney Nursing School
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery

M02 - Mallett St Campus
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia

T: +61 2 9114 4036
E:

Biographical details

I am a registered general and obstetric nurse with 25 years experience in the management of nursing, medical and health services research. Following specialist training in paediatrics, I commenced a 10-year research career at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (now the Children’s Hospital at Westmead) before going on to manage an independent nursing and health services research organisation for more than 12 years. I also worked as the Manager of research and projects at the College of Nursing in Sydney and as Associate Professor of Nursing for Justice Health in NSW. As a member of the Governing Council of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, I am a passionate advocate for the health of children and young people, and for paediatric nursing education. I am currently the Associate Dean (Research) at Sydney Nursing School.
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Research interests


I have a special interest in evidence-based practice – particularly innovations and strategies that aid the transfer and implementation of research evidence into clinical practice. I was involved in early development research into evidence based practice guidelines for nurse practitioners in NSW and has also been involved as a researcher and consultant in nursing workforce and workload studies.


I have research interests in paediatrics and child health, research education, evidence implementation and knowledge transfer.

Teaching areas

Current research students

Narelle Story. PhD Candidate.'Hunger and satiety after weight loss surgery : a multi centre investigation comparing eating behaviours before and one year after gastric banding , gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy'. Primary Supervisor


Tanya Connell. PhD Candidate. 'Psychological assessment and depression screening in private obstetric care'. Primary Supervisor


Clare Davies. M(Phil) Candidate. 'The Use of Respiratory Assessment Tools in the Nursing Evaluation of Infants with Bronchiolitis'. Primary Supervisor


Belinda Kennedy. M(Phil) Candidate . 'Exploring the relationship between personality type and length of service within emergency nursing'. Primary Supervisor


Kat Leung. PhD Candidate. 'Clinical nurse teachers attitudes and perceptions of knowledge and skills towards evidence-based practice'. Associate Supervisor


Priya Munirathinam. M(Phil) Candidate. 'The perceived needs of parents of infants requiring surgery in a neonatal intensive care unit'. Associate Supervisor


Completed research students

Julia Smailes. Master of Nursing (Research). 'General nurses' recognition of psychological distress in prisoners'. University of Technology, Sydney


Areas of teaching

Research methods, research design and evidence-based practice. Other teaching includes writing skills, literature searching and appraisal, and guideline development and appraisal.

International links

China. (School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, Peking Union Medical College School of Nursing, Huzhou Teachers College) Nursing education and beginning research relationships.