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    Associate Professor Irene Ngune

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Associate Professor Irene Ngune

Associate Professor

Staff Member Details
Email: i.ngune@ecu.edu.au
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4951-2712

Irene Ngune is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. She is also the coordinator of postgraduate mental health courses in the school.

Current Teaching

  • CMH5109 - Contemporary Issues in Mental Health
  • CMH5110 - Assessments in Mental Health
  • NUR6114 - Thesis Preparation Unit

Professional Associations

  • 2023 to present - Editorial Board Member – BMC Nursing
  • 2024 – Co-founder WA Mental Health Research Network
  • 2022 to present – Adjunct Associate Professor University of Nairobi
  • 2022 to present – Key Influencer Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
  • 2018 to present - Credentialled Mental Health Nurse
  • 2016 to present – Member Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Awards and Recognition

  • 2024 – Aurora Leadership Program
  • 2013 - Australian Postgraduate Research Scholarship Award
  • 2008 – Extra miles award – US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
  • 2007 – Goals Achievement Award - US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
  • 2005 – Australian Development Scholarship Award – Australian Government

Research Areas and Interest

  • Care outcomes of consumers in the acute and community mental health environments.
  • Mental health outcomes for individuals with chronic and life-limiting conditions.
  • Psychological adaptation among patients and their caregivers.
  • Mixed methods research designs.
  • Quantitative research methodologies.

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, The University of Western Australia, 2021.
  • Master of Mental Health Nursing, The University of Newcastle, 2017.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Curtin University of Technology, 2016.
  • Master of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, 2007.

Research Outputs

2024

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Wynaden, D., Heslop, K. (2024). Physical Health of People with Mental Illness: A Snapshot of Consumer Engagement in the Provision of Care in Primary Care. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 2024(Article in press), 7 pages. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2024.2312180.
  • Anyango, E., Adama, E., Brown, J., Ngune, I. (2024). The impact of final-year clinical placements on nursing students' career planning for the graduate year and beyond. Nurse Education in Practice, 76(Article in press), Article number 103944. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103944.
  • Anyango, E., Ngune, I., Brown, J., Adama, E. (2024). “I changed my mind after my placement”: The influence of clinical placement environment on career choices of final-year pre-registration nurses. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 31(2), 69-76. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2023.11.004.
  • Kelly , M., Slatyer, S., Tutticci, N., Ramsbotham, J., Johnston, S., Ngune, I., Theobald, K. (2024). Challenging the Nuances of Pain Assessment With Co-designed Audio-Visual Simulations in Nursing Education: A Descriptive Study. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 87(Article in press), Article number 101510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2024.101510.
  • Anyango, E., Adama, E., Brown, J., Ngune, I. (2024). An examination of the career decision-making self-efficacy of final-year nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 138(Article in press), Article number 106196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106196.
  • Anyango, E., Ngune, I., Brown, J., Adama, E. (2024). The influence of individual factors on the career preferences and specialty choices of final-year nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 54(Article in press), 126-133. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.06.020.
  • Ngune, I., Ewens, B., Bell, S., Burns, B., Sutton, C., Creswell, C., Middlewick, Y. (2024). Nursing assessment of mental health issues in the general clinical environment: A descriptive study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2024(Article in press), 12 pages. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16214.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Myers, H., Cole, A., Palamara, P., Redknap, R., Roche, M., Twigg, D. (2023). Developing Nurse-Sensitive Outcomes In Acute Inpatient Mental Health Settings-A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(17-18), 6254-6267. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16679.
  • Hamilton, J., Cole, A., Bostwick, R., Ngune, I. (2023). Getting A Grip On Safewards: The Cross Impact Of Clinical Supervision And Safewards Model On Clinical Practice. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(3), 801-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13116.
  • Kivuti-Bitok, L., Cheptum, J., Mutwiri, M., Wanja, S., Ngune, I. (2023). Virtual Reality and Serious Gaming in Re-engineering Clinical Teaching: A Review of Literature of the Experiences and Perspectives of Clinical Trainers. African Journal of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, 6(2), 53-73. https://doi.org/10.52589/ajhnm-mfh6yys8.
  • Hamilton, J., Cole, A., Bostwick, R., Ngune, I. (2023). Staff Perceptions on the Effectiveness of GRiP-S, a New Approach to Clinical Supervision Incorporating Safewards: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 2023(2023), TBD. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2280198.
  • Lim, E., Kalembo, F., Ngune, I., Adebayo, B., Brown, J. (2023). "It's not their fault": Clinical facilitators' experiences supporting English as second language students. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 30(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.05.006.
  • Usher Am, K., Jackson, D., Massey, D., Wynaden, D., Grant, J., West, C., McGough, S., Hopkins, M., Muller, A., Mather, C., Byfield, Z., Smith, Z., Ngune, I., Wynne, R. (2023). The mental health impact of COVID-19 on pre-registration nursing students in Australia: Findings from a national cross-sectional study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(2), 581-592. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15478.
  • Zhou, H., Ngune, I., Albrecht, M., Della, P. (2023). Risk factors associated with 30-day unplanned hospital readmission for patients with mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(1), 30-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13042.
  • Ngune, I., Ang, M., Nadew, G., Saunders, R. (2023). Factors associated with risk of falling among younger inpatients in a mental health setting—A systematic review.. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(21-22), 7691-7706. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16854.
  • Zhou, H., Ngune, I., Robert , P., Della, P. (2023). Integrated clinical pathways for lower limb orthopaedic surgeries: An updated systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(11-12), 2433-2454. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16344.

2022

Journal Articles

  • McGough, S., Wynaden, D., Ngune, I., Janerka, C., Hasking, P., Rees, C. (2022). Emergency nurses’ perceptions of the health care system and how it impacts the provision of care to people who self-harm. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 29(1), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2021.04.004.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Wynaden, D., McGough, S., Janerka, C., Hasking , P., Rees, C. (2021). Emergency nurses' experience of providing care to patients who self-harm. Australasian Emergency Care, 24(3), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.auec.2020.10.004.
  • Ngune, I., Hasking, P., McGough, S., Wynaden, D., Janerka, C., Rees, C. (2021). Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non‐suicidal self‐injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(3), 635-642. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12825.
  • Tallon, M., Brown , J., Solomons, T., Kalembo, F., Bosco, A., Lim, E., Ngune, I., Moore, K., Wilson , S. (2021). Factors that influence international nursing students' experiences and perceptions of their learning environments: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 19(11), 3048–3057. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00471.
  • Weaver, R., O'Connor, M., Ngune, I., Smith , R., Phillips, J., Halkett, G. (2021). Perspectives of the sarcoma clinical nurse consultant role: A qualitative study. Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, 28(4), 422–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.12.006.
  • McGough, S., Wynaden, D., Ngune, I., Janerka, C., Hasking , P., Rees, C. (2021). Mental health nurses' perspectives of people who self-harm. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(1), 62-71. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12814.
  • Berg, M., Ngune, I., Schofield, P., Grech, L., Juraskova, I., Strasser, M., Butt, Z., Halkett, GK. (2021). Effectiveness of online communication skills training for cancer and palliative care health professionals: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology: journal of the psychological, social and behavioral dimensions of cancer, 30(9), 1405-1419. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5702.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Kivuti-Bitok, L., Chepchirchir, A., Waithaka, P., Ngune, I. (2020). Dry taps? A Synthesis of Alternative “Wash” Methods in the Absence of Water and Sanitizers in the Prevention of Coronavirus in Low-Resource Settings. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 11(June 2020), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1177/2150132720936858.
  • Ngune, I., Kalembo, F., Loessl, B., Kivuti-Bitok, L. (2020). Biopsychosocial risk factors and knowledge of cervical cancer among young women: A case study from Kenya to inform HPV prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS One, 15(8), article number e0237745. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237745.
  • Kosheleva, L., Ngune, I. (2020). Registered Nurses’ Decisions Around Referral of Residents With Urinary Tract Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 11(September 2020), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2150132720957441.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Vafeas, C., Graham, R., De Jong, G., Sharp, J., Ngune, I., Maes, S. (2017). Alcohol consumption patterns of older adults: A study in a regional town in Western Australia. Contemporary Nurse, 53(6), 647-657. https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2017.1421051.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., McManus, A., Parsons, R., Hodder, R. (2016). A trial of a self-assessment tool of problems following treatment of colorectal cancer: a prospective study in Australia primary care. European Journal of Cancer Care, 25(1), 69-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12340.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., McManus, A., Hughes, J. (2015). Do patients with long-term side effects of cancer treatment benefit from general practitioner support? A literature review. Int Journal of Integrated Care, 15(Apr-Jun), 1-19.
  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., McManus, A., Parsons, R., Pagey, G., Hodder, R. (2015). Do patients treated for colorectal cancer benefit from general practitioner support? A video vignette study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(11), Article No. e249. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4942.
  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., McManus, A., Parsons, R., Hodder, R. (2015). Predicting General Practice Attendance for Follow-up Cancer Care. American Journal of Health Behavior, 39(2), 167-174. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.39.2.2.

2014

Journal Articles

  • Watts, R., Zhou, H., Shields, L., Taylor, M., Munns, A., Ngune, I. (2014). Family-centered care for hospitalized children aged 0-12 years: a systematic review of qualitative studies. The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 12(7), 204-283. https://doi.org/0.11124/jbisrir-2014-1683.
  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., McManus, A., Hughes, J., Parsons, R., Hodder, R., Entriken, F. (2014). Development of a patient-administered self-assessment tool (SATp) for follow-up of colorectal cancer patients in general practice. Quality in Primary Care, 22(6), 270-277.

2012

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Jiwa, M., Dadich, A., Lotriet, J., Sriram, D. (2012). Effective recruitment strategies in primary care research: a systematic review. Quality in Primary Care, 20(2), 115-123.

2009

Journal Articles

  • Ngune, I., Howat, P., Maycock, B., Slevin, T. (2009). Do older people perceive cancer prevention and early detection to be worthwhile? Implications for prevention. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 15(2), 139–145. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY09004.

Research Projects

  • Infant Mental Wellbeing: Supporting Fathers' Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Women and Infants Research Foundation, Grant, 2024 ‑ 2025, $30,000.
  • An effective-implementation pilot study to improve pain assessment for hospitalised older adults with cognitive impairment using a technology-driven pain assessment tool, WA Nurses Memorial Charitable Trust, Grant, 2024 ‑ 2025, $14,750.
  • Non-suicidal self-injury: Reducing the impact on patients, health professionals and health services, East Metropolitan Health Service, EMHS Mental Health Research Fund, 2022 ‑ 2024, $255,000.
  • Improving pain assessment for hospitalised older adults following orthopaedic surgery using a technology-driven pain assessment: An effectiveness-implementation pilot study., Edith Cowan University, Early-Mid Career Researcher Grant Scheme 2022 (Stream 2), 2023 ‑ 2024, $40,000.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, A formative evaluation of inpatient mental health nurses psychotherateutic practice in Western Australia: A mixed methods study

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Getting a ‘Grip’ on Supervision: A mixed method study assessing the effect of a new model for clinical supervision within mental health nursing named GRIP-S
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Mums Without Maternal Support - Rethinking 'Motherlessness' in Mothering
  • Master of Nursing (Research), Exploring Mental Wellness of Older Indian Migrants in Western Australia: A Focused Ethnographic Study
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The impact of final-year clinical placements on career preferences of pre-registration nurses: A mixed methods study
  • Doctor of Philosophy, A qualitative study to explore nurses' perspectives of their experience associated with patient assaults in a forensic psychiatric setting: Policy and Practice Implications

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Nursing (Research), Experiences of Mental Health Nurses on the Assessment and Monitoring of Adverse Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medication
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