Julie Martyn presented on her recent research into medication management. Julie is a senior lecturer in the School of nursing, midwifery and paramedicine at Fraser Coast campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast. Julie completed her PhD titled ‘An appreciative inquiry of medication administration by registered nurses – the untold story’ in 2016. Since then Julie has been invited to collaborate internationally to expand the person-centred medication management practices of the participants that were highlighted in the study. Additionally, Julie is conducting local research into the continuing education needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health care workers. Julie prefers an appreciative lens when researching practice-based problems. Julie seeks to highlight affirming actions that can be hidden in everyday activities because it is these contributions to patient-centred care and safety that can offer new practice foundations.
Abstract for Julie’s thesis:
Registered nurses world-wide are educated, authorised and accountable for safe and effective medication administration. Studies of the best medication administration practices are rare, except where adherence to the rights framework is used as the benchmark. However, the rights framework lacks instructional details making it a mantra without meaning. This appreciative inquiry highlighted valuable aspects of nursing education and practice as hidden contributors to safe and effective medication management. Illumination of these strengths, enabled the construction of a person-centred model of medication management thus, promoting the valued and valuable attributes embedded in the practice of the participants.