Dr Tracey Ahern ~ Senior Lecturer

Dr Tracey Ahern is a Registered Nurse who holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science (Honours Class 1), and a PhD (Nursing).  Dr  Ahern is also an experienced Queensland Registered Teacher with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and Graduate Certificate of Education (Academic Practice). She joined JCU in 2017 as a Lecturer, to combine her teaching and nursing practice and extend her professional practice to the higher education context.  In the years 2018 to 2021, Tracey was the Academic Lead: Student Advocacy and Experience in the discipline of Nursing and Midwifery at JCU. During this time, Tracey established the very successful, Nursing and Midwifery Student Staff Consultative Committee (NMSSCC), to give students and staff a safe and supportive space to work collaboratively for the change needed to enhance the student experience.  Tracey is now a Senior Lecturer and the Course Coordinator of the Master of Nursing (Online).

Tracey's PhD explored the role of the Breast Care Nurse in Australia across metropolitan, rural and remote areas.  During this time, she developed research interests in; models of nursing care, telehealth in nursing and supportive care for people with cancer living in rural and remote areas.  In recent times, whilst working predominantly in online education, Tracey has developed a keen interest in best practice models of online education, and is particularly interested in research exploring the support and training required to build capacity in educators working in online courses.

Teaching

• NS5330: Persuasive Communication (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5331: Effective Clinical Governance (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5332: Informatics for Health Professionals (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5333: Synthesising Evidence for Healthcare (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5334: Professional Portfolios for Career Advancement (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5338: Ethics and Health Management (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5339: Leading and Managing in Health (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5340: Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Healthcare (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5341: Business and Finance for the Health Manager (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5342: Principles of Education for the Health Professional (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5343: Teaching in Practice Settings (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5344: Clinical Coaching (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5345: Contemporary Healthcare Education (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5346: Advanced Health Assessment (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5347: Quality Use of Medicines in Practice (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5348: Applied Health Assessment for Advanced Practice (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5349: Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5352: Qualitative Research in Healthcare (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5353: Quantitative Research in Healthcare (Level 5; ONL)
• NS5354: Implementing Practice Development in Healthcare Contexts (Level 5; ONL)

Experience

• 2021 to present - Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator: Master of Nursing (Online), James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2018 to 2021 - Lecturer, Deputy Course Coordinator, Master of Nursing (JCU Online), Academic Lead: Student Advocacy and Experience, James Cook University - Nursing and Midwifery (Townsville)
• 2017 to 2021 - Lecturer, James Cook University - Nursing, and Midwifery (Townsville)
• 2015 to 2016 - Teacher (Casual), James Cook University - Nursing and Midwifery (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

• Nursing (4205)
• Curriculum and pedagogy (3901)
• Midwifery (4204)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Provision of health and support services (2003)
• Teaching and curriculum (1603)
• education and training (1699)

Awards

• 2009 - Best Presentation by a Registered Nurse (International Nurses Day Conference - Townsville Hospital)
• 2014 - Cancer Council Queensland Travel Grant (Cancer Council Queensland)
• 2014 - Faculty Research Student Support Scheme Grant (Australian Catholic University)
• 2012 to 2014 - APA Scholarship (Australian Catholic University)
• 2013 - Faculty Research Student Support Scheme Grant (Australian Catholic University)
• 2009 - Honours Scholarship (James Cook University)
• 2009 - Academic Medal (Bachelor Honours) (James Cook University)
• 2008 - North Queensland Nurse of the Year (Cancer Council Queensland)
• 2005 - Alf Kretschmar Award (Cancer Council Queensland)

Other

• 2017 to 2018 - Learning and Teaching Grant (James Cook University)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Biedermann N and Ahern T (2023) "Teaching Through Your Fingertips”: A Descriptive Study to Understand the Experiences and Needs of Online Educators in Postgraduate Nursing Education in Australia. SAGE Open Nursing, 9.
• Ahern T and Biedermann N (2022) Nursing and midwifery educators teaching postgraduate online courses: a cross-sectional survey. Teaching and learning in nursing, 17 (2). pp. 185-190
• Jones A, Nagle C, Ahern T and Smyth W (in press) Evidence for a nurse-led protocol for removing urinary catheters: A scoping review. Collegian,
• Ahern T, Gardner A and Courtney M (2016) Exploring patient support by breast care nurses and geographical residence as moderators of the unmet needs and self-efficacy of Australian women with breast cancer: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 23. pp. 72-80
• Ahern T, Gardner A and Courtney M (2016) Development, face validity and reliability testing of a survey instrument to explore the role of the Australian breast care nurse. Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing, 17 (1). pp. 26-31
• Ahern T, Gardner A and Courtney M (2015) A survey of the breast care nurse role in the provision of information and supportive care to Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer. Nursing Open, 2 (2). pp. 62-71
• Ahern T, Gardner A and Courtney M (2015) Geographical comparisons of information and support needs of Australian women following the primary treatment of breast cancer: a 10-year replication study. Health Expectations, 18 (6). pp. 2678-2692
• Ahern T and Gardner A (2015) Literature review: an exploration of the role of the Australian breast care nurse in the provision of information and supportive care. Collegian, 22 (1). pp. 99-108
• Ahern T, Gardner A, Gardner G, Middleton S and Della P (2013) Development and interrater reliability testing of a telephone interview training programme for Australian nurse interviewers. Nurse Education Today, 33 (5). pp. 470-474

Other research outputs

• Biedermann N, Ahern T and Harrison H (2022) Professional portfolio development: Personally and professionally rewarding and satisfying. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 27 (6). p. 41
• Jones A, Nagle C, Smyth W and Ahern T (2022) Evidence for nurse-led protocol for removing urinary catheters. The National Nursing Forum Program. In: The National Nursing Forum 2022, 17-19 August 2022, Darwin, NT, Australia
• Ahern T and Biedermann N (2022) Experiences and needs of nursing and midwifery academics teaching online postgraduate courses. Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery Symposium Abstract Book. In: CDNM 2022: Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery Symposium, 29-30 March 2022, Twin Waters, QLD, Australia

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 14+ research outputs authored by Dr Tracey Ahern from 2013 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Does Nurse led HOUDINI Protocal for early Removal of Indwelling urinary Catheters Reduce Incidence of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections? (Masters , Secondary Advisor)