Associate Professor Maureen Boughton
Associate Professor and Director, International Programs
RN RM, PhD Sydney BEd(Nursing) UNE DipNursEd ADCHN Cumb M’CraftCert, FRCNA MACMI (NSW)
Maureen a registered nurse and midwife who has been engaged in nurse education since the mid-1970s – firstly in clinical midwifery settings and later within the tertiary sector. She has been an academic at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery for more than 20 years and has provided leadership in a number of portfolios. These include: Associate Dean (Postgraduate); Head of Department for Family and Community Nursing for two years; Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) for three years; and Pro Dean for three years.
In January 2009 Maureen began as Director for International Programs for the Faculty. Her current role includes representing the Faculty on Academic Board and contributing to the University through membership of a number of committees of Academic Board. Maureen is Deputy Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee and member of the PhD Award Subcommittee. For several years she chaired the Coursework Subcommittee of the Graduate Studies Committee, which involved reviewing all new and amended courses for the University and making recommendations regarding their approval.
Research interests
In 1997 Maureen was awarded a PhD for her thesis titled Premature Menopause: A Phenomenological and Feminist Study of Women’s Experiences. Her research interests are broadly in the area of illness experience and women’s health. Presently Maureen is interested in the impact of cancer treatments on fertility and how this contributes to the experience for young people, particularly young women. She has been supervising PhD work in this area and also working with a team of researchers exploring the care of cancer patients in the community. This initial work was conducted over several years and involved generalist community nurses in the Sydney metropolitan area and a rural area.
Maureen received the 2006 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision, an award that recognises the contributions of individuals to outstanding research supervision. She has supervised students to successful completion in BN (Honours), Master of Nursing (Research) and PhD degree awards. All the research projects have involved qualitative methodological approaches, in particular Phenomenology and Grounded Theory. Two of Maureen’s BN (Honours) students have been recipients of University medals, awarded for their excellent academic work. These were the first University medals to be awarded from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.
Areas of expertise
Maureen’s research interests are in illness experience, with a special interest in aspects around life after cancer, menopause – particularly premature menopause – and women's health (including midwifery). She is recognised for her expertise in qualitative methodologies and particularly for research in the area of menopause.
Maureen is also interested in improving the learning experience for students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD). She leads a team that has been conducting a program specifically for these students, and was recently awarded an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Award in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the students’ learning experience.
Current research projects
Currently Maureen is involved in continuing work on a retrospective study of chemotherapy outpatients’ unplanned visits to the emergency department (ED) and the Cancer Care Centre at RPA Hospital. Other research is being developed in the area of fertility following haematological cancer and issues around menopause with young women in this situation.
Publications
Books and book chapters
Boughton MA (1997). Embodied self, human biology, and human experience, in Lawler J (ed.), The Body in Nursing: A Collection of Views, Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne.
Journals (Refereed) 2007–2009
Boughton M, Halliday L & Brown L (May 2009 submitted). Evaluating a program of support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) graduate entry Master of Nursing students, Nurse Education in Practice.
Halliday L & Boughton M (submitted September 2009). An exploration of the concept of uncertain (in)fertility and motherhood after haematological cancer in young adult women, Oncology Nursing Forum.
Boughton M & Halliday L (2009). Home Alone: patients’ and carers’ uncertainty surrounding the experience of being discharged with continuing clinical care needs, Contemporary Nurse, 33(1), 30-40.
West SH, Boughton M & Byrnes M (2009). Juggling multiple temporalities: The shift work story of midlife nurses, Journal of Nursing Management, 17, 110-119.
Halliday L & Boughton M (2009). Premature menopause: exploring the experience through on-line communications, Nursing and Health Sciences, 11(1), 17-22.
Boughton M & Halliday L (2008). A challenge to the menopause stereotype: young women’s reflections of ‘being diagnosed’ as menopausal, Journal of Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(6), 565-572.
Duddle M & Boughton MA (2008). Development and psychometric testing of the Nursing Workplace Relational Environment Scale (NWRES), Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(6), 902-909.
Halliday L & Boughton M (2008). The moderating effect of death experience on death anxiety: implications for nursing education, Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 10(2), March/April.
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L, & Forsyth S (2008). Explaining the Complexities and value of Nursing Practice and Knowledge. In Morley I and Crouch M (eds), Knowledge as Value Illumination through Critical Prisms, Rodopi, New York, pp209-224.
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L, & Forsyth S (2007). Struggling to articulate the value of its knowledge base: The crisis in contemporary nursing. In Morley I (ed.), The Value of Knowledge E-Book, Inter-Disciplinary Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L, Forsyth S, McVey P, Davies M & Underwood E (2007). A sense of security for cancer patients at home: the role of community nurses, Journal of Health and Social Care in the Community, 15(4): 352-359.
Duddle M & Boughton MA (2007) Intraprofessional relations in nursing: Early findings from an Australian study, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58(5): 1–9.
Other articles/papers and television appearances relevant to menopause research area
1997 Invited for personal appearance on the Midday Show for segment on Premature Menopause
1998 Invited for Personal appearance SBS television program to discuss findings from PhD work on premature menopause
Information from PhD work cited in popular literature (magazines) New Woman and Cosmopolitan
Cited in the Medical Observer with reference to menopause research
Refereed full-length conference papers
Boughton MA (1995). Body and Biology: Out of Synchrony, Proceedings of the Health and Wellbeing in a Diverse Society International Conference, Edith Cowan University, Perth, December 11–13, Vol. 2: 373-381.
Invited research roundtable session
Boughton MA (2006). Rigour in Qualitative Research: The value and meaning of ‘member checking’, 7th International Interdisciplinary Conference Advances in Qualitative Methods, Surfers Paradise, 13–16 July.
Conference presentations 2006–2009
Halliday L and Boughton M (2008) The lived experience of ‘uncertain motherhood’ after haematological malignancy in young adulthood, From Cell to Society, Faculties of Health Research Conference, Leura, NSW
Boughton M, Brown L, Lawler J and Halliday L (2007) The culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) student population in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery: identification of related issues and strategies to enhance the student learning experience. 4th EdHealth Conference: Shaping the Future, Faculties of Health, University of Sydney, Australia
Brown L, Boughton M, Lawler J and Halliday L (2007). Developing a tailored program of support for students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. 4th EdHealth Conference: Shaping the Future, Faculties of Health, University of Sydney, Australia
West S, Boughton M & Byrnes M (2007) Gaining control through part time work: Shift work & the mid-life registered nurse, 2nd Recruitment & Retention in the Health Workforce, Queensland Health, Gold Coast, Australia
West S, Brown L Boughton M & Lawler J (2007) Graduate Entry Nursing: Student learning styles & expectations, 4th EdHealth Conference: Shaping the Future, Faculties of Health, University of Sydney, Australia
West S & Boughton M (2007) Experiencing the life: mid-life women and shift work, 18th International Symposium on Shiftwork & Working Time, Scientific Committee on Night & Shiftwork of the International Commission on Occupational Health & the Working Time Society, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Lawler J, West S, Boughton M & Bown L (2007) Graduate entry nursing: The Sydney cohort study after one year and early data on the second intake, Royal College of Nursing, Australia Annual Conference Sydney, Australia
Boughton M & West S (2007) Shift work, Menopause and the mid-life nurse, Paper presented at the International Council of Nurses Conference: Nurses at the forefront dealing with the unexpected, Yokohama, Japan, 27 May–1 June
West S & Boughton M (2007) Shift work & the mid-life nurse: A story of juggling multiple temporalities, Paper presented at the International Council of Nurses Conference: Nurses at the forefront dealing with the unexpected, Yokohama, Japan, 27 May–1 June
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L & Forsyth S (2007) Struggling to articulate the value of its knowledge base: the crisis in contemporary nursing, Paper presented at the 1st Global Conference: The Value of Knowledge, Sydney, 12–14 February
West SH, Boughton MA & Byrnes MI (2006) Shift work and multiple temporalities: life as a juggler! Mini-poster presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society 5, Leura, 9–10 November
McKenzie, HM, Boughton MA, Hayes LJ & Forsyth SM (2006) Making a difference: community nurses and cancer care, Mini-poster presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society 5, Leura, 9–10 November
Lawler J, Boughton M & Patching J (2006) Best practice in clinical qualitative research: towards a draft proposal, Mini-poster presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society 5, Leura, 9–10 November
Cheung J & Boughton MA (2006) An exploration of the social dimensions of chronic pain experiences in an arthritis population: a grounded theory approach, Mini-poster presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society, 5, Leura, 9–10 November
Bouvet EM & Boughton MA (2006) Living With A Donor Kidney, Mini-poster presented at the University of Sydney College of Health Sciences Health Research Conference 2006: From Cell to Society 5, Leura, 9–10 November
Lawler J, West S, Boughton MA, Brown L, Neyle D & Glaw X (2006) Graduate Entry Nursing in Australia: Early insights into the first cohort at the University of Sydney in 2006, their demographics and motivation to study nursing, RCNA annual conference, Cairns
Duddle M & Boughton MA (2006) Intraprofessional Relations in Nursing RCNA annual conference proceedings, Cairns
West S, Lawler J, Brown L, Boughton M, Neyle, D & Glaw X (2006) Graduate entry nursing at the University of Sydney: Student learning styles & expectations, Paper presented at the 12th National Australian Nurse Teachers’ Society Conference: Capital Issues in Education, Canberra, 13–16 September
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L & Forsyth S (2006) Rendering the invisible visible in the nurse patient relationship in community cancer care, Paper presented at the 9th CNSA Winter Congress, Adelaide, 14–15 July
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L & Forsyth S (2006) Making connections between nursing practice and health care reform: a new research model, Paper presented at the 7th International Interdisciplinary Conference: Advances in Qualitative Methods, Gold Coast, 13–15 July
Lawler J, Boughton M, Patching J, White K, Travers M & Ryan M (2006) Qualitative research with clinical populations: towards an articulation of the field and methodological matters, Paper presented at the 7th International Interdisciplinary Conference: Advances in Qualitative Methods, Gold Coast, 13–15 July
West S, Boughton M & Byrnes M (2006) Experiencing shift work as a mid-life RN: Insights and understandings, Paper presented at the Royal College of Nursing, Australia Annual Conference, Cairns, 12–14 September
Lawler J, West S, Brown L, Boughton M, Neyle D & Glaw X (2006) Graduate entry nursing in Australia: early insights into the first cohort at the University of Sydney in 2006, their demographics and motivation to study nursing, Paper presented at the Royal College of Nursing, Australia Annual Conference, Cairns, 12–14 September
Awards and grants
2009
Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation award for outstanding contributions to student learning (for continued work with students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds)
2006
Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Student Supervision, The University of Sydney award.
McKenzie H, Kwok C, Boughton M, Hayes L, Forsyth S & Moreau E ‘Exploring the relationship between community nurses and Chinese cancer patients in Sydney’. University of Sydney, Faculty of Nursing, Development Grant, $49,905
2005
West S & Boughton MA ‘The shift work experiences of mid-life female nurses: Insights & understandings.’ University of Sydney Faculty of Nursing Seeding Grant, $45,000
2004
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Hayes L & Forsyth S ‘The effects of nursing practice on community cancer care: a pilot study of patient and nurse perceptions’. University of Sydney, Faculty of Nursing, Seeding Grant, $9564
McKenzie H, Boughton M, Forsyth S & Hayes L ‘The effects of nursing practice on personal experiences of cancer care in rural and remote settings: an exploratory study of patient and nurse perceptions’. University of Sydney Cancer Research Fund, $47,930
1994–1996
University Postgraduate Award Scholarship (full-time PhD study)
Areas of teaching and research supervision
Current PhD research students
Primary Supervisor for the following students
Lesley Halliday, ‘Uncertain fertility and motherhood following treatment for haematological cancer.’ Commenced in 2008 – on an APA
Victoria Jayde, ‘The experience of ovarian cancer from the perspective of the woman, partners and adult children of women with ovarian cancer’. Commenced 2009
Jasmine Cheung, ‘Nurses’ experience of caring for outlier patients’. Commenced in 2008 – on an APA
Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tu'ipulotu, ‘Development and implementation of Practice Guidelines for Nursing Practice in Tonga’. Commenced 2008
Maree Duddle, ‘A study of intraprofessional relations in nursing utilising a case study approach.’ Under examination October 2009
Yen-Yen Chia, ‘Nurse-patient interactions and encounters in an ethnically diverse health care setting: The experience of a women’s hospital in Singapore’. Conferred September 2009
Associate Supervisor for the following student
Monica McEvoy ‘The phenomenon of hospitalisation for young people with first episode psychosis: The witness of nurses and their reflections on professional practice’
Completed research students
Primary Supervisor for the following students
Sandra Mackey, ‘A phenomenological study of wellness at menopause.’ PhD awarded 2002
Helen Cooke, ‘A postnatal evaluation of a midwifery-led model of antenatal care.’ Master of Nursing (Research) awarded 2003
Catherine Cameron, ‘Including Fathers in childbirth: A grounded theory inquiry of the midwives' perspective.’ PhD awarded 2004
Amy Monk, ‘Length of postpartum stay in hospital and breast feeding duration.’ Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) First Class and University Medal awarded 2003
Ester Carmen, ‘Use of chlorhexidine as a topical antiseptic for the prevention of nosocomial infection in premature neonates less than 29 weeks: A blinded RCT.’ Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) First Class and University Medal awarded 2006
Jasmine Cheung, ‘An exploration of the social dimensions of chronic pain experiences in an arthritis population: A grounded theory approach.’ Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) in progress
Areas of teaching and teaching philosophy
Maureen’s teaching philosophy is based on adult learning principles. She believes that teaching using research evidence is important, and frequently use examples of her own research and that of her research students to highlight aspects of her teaching. The pedagogy underpinning Maureen’s teaching approach is participatory learning. This approach encourages students to be active learners and it fits with the view that learning is a lifelong experience.
Maureen teaches research units of study in the Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) and Master of Nursing postgraduate courses. The courses are a blend of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research design and application to nursing/midwifery practice. One graduate unit of study specifically focuses on clinical qualitative research methods and the issues related to conducting this type of research.
In 2009 Maureen assumed a greater role and teaching commitment in the off shore Bachelor of Nursing for registered nurses, taught in Singapore. Her teaching area encompasses the development of nursing knowledge and practice and the various influences/impacts on nursing practice as we see it today. It also includes research and evidence in practice and its relevance to clinicians; examining work practices and contributing to policy; and learning how to write submissions for proposing changes to work practices and policy.