November 20, 2023

School of Nursing earns plaudits for research

The prestigious accolade recognises UOW's outstanding contribution to the field of nursing

Long recognised for the quality of its teaching and the exceptional graduates it produces, the University of Wollongong (UOW) School of Nursing has also been recognised as a research powerhouse, named as the leading institution for nursing research in The Australian Research 2024 magazine.

Research 2024 determined an impact score for researchers by analysing the number of citations for papers published in the past five years in the top 20 journals in the field. The individual with highest impact score (based on papers they authored) is the leading researcher in the field.

The institution whose affiliated researchers in a particular field collectively have the highest impact score, is the leading institution in the field. In nursing, it was UOW.

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson congratulated the School of Nursing for the impact of its research and more generally for the impact it is making on communities.

“UOW being recognised as Australia's lead institution for nursing research speaks volumes for the expertise and experience that we have in nursing at UOW,” Professor Davidson said.

“Our campus network and the breadth of our nursing program that also makes us a leader in this field, with UOW consistently producing high-quality graduates for the sector.”

Professor Davidson is a leading nursing researcher in cardiology, aged care, palliative care, acute care and primary health care. She was recently awarded the Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Head of the School of Nursing Professor Salamonson welcomed the recognition and thanked the school’s researchers for their contribution.

“Our strong research program is closely aligned to our teaching with a focus on clinical excellence, mental health nursing, primary health care and aged and dementia care,” Professor Salamonson said.

The School of Nursing at UOW has an excellent reputation both academically and clinically, within the nursing profession. UOW was ranked as one of the top 100 universities for nursing in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

Nursing is offered at six of UOW’s Australian campuses – Wollongong, Liverpool, Sutherland, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley – enabling students to study close to home and helping to strengthen the rural and regional nursing workforce.

As an example of the contribution that UOW nursing graduates make to their communities, 69.5 per cent of nursing graduates from UOW Sutherland (which recently celebrated its 20^th anniversary) are still living or working in the area. Similarly, graduates from our other regional campuses are also making a huge difference by serving the needs of their local communities.