HONOURS IN HEALTH SCIENCES DRIVES PASSION FOR CARE

After more than 16 years as a registered nurse, Krystle Waltrovitz knew she wanted to branch out into the world of research to have a greater impact on her community.

After completing a Master in Critical Care Nursing at Flinders University, Krystle had opportunities available to her in both tertiary education and clinical practice.

She decided to return to Flinders to undertake the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) at Flinders and complete the component that she felt was most important, the research.

Once she has finished developing her skills with her Honours, she would like to use it as a pathway to complete her PhD.

Krystle decided to become a nurse when she experienced her loved ones becoming unwell and wanted to fill the gap in the care that was being provided at the time.

She enjoys the privilege of being able to develop therapeutic relationships with her patients and their families during tough times.

“I wanted to be able to make a difference and improve their health outcome whilst supporting them at this difficult time in their life,” she says.

Countless opportunities

Pursuing a career in nursing has opened countless opportunities for Krystle including being able to teach nursing at universities while doing nursing practice.

Wanting to develop her nursing care skills, Krystle has decided to continue further research in nursing.

She hopes that undertaking further research will help improve health outcomes and allow her to have a greater impact on the community, both locally and globally.

The primary focus of Krystle’s Honours project is to study the experiences of implementing the Fundamentals of Care Framework into nursing curricula.

This framework can be an important tool to better understand a patient’s fundamental care needs.

There have been noted global deficits in fundamental care for patients leading to poorer health outcomes.

Lifting the standards of care

Krystle’s research will help registered nurses implement fundamental care into their practice as there is currently limited evidence to help teach in industry.

“I hope to be able to generate knowledge on how the Fundamentals of Care Framework can be successfully implemented into nursing curricula,” she says.

“This may enable nurses to deliver high quality fundamental care and impact through positive patient outcomes.”

Teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing, Krystle finds it important to prepare nurses to positively impact patient outcomes and satisfy patient needs.

Through her research, she is hopeful that she can find recommendations and strategies to assist nursing educators.

This would provide them with the knowledge and skills to successfully implement the Fundamentals of Care framework into nursing curricula.

Investigating the unknown

Krystle’s Honours degree has allowed her to collaborate with and learn from health professionals in the Flinders College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Flinders Caring Futures Institute.

“It has been great to hear of the different research opportunities and projects, working to improve health across many different areas and populations,” she says.

Krystle’s research has also allowed her to investigate the unknown and to try and find solutions to common problems.

She aims to continue her research into nursing care, in addition to undertaking a larger project that seeks to improve outcomes for those who are unwell.

Learn more about studying an Honours degree at Flinders