Francis Donnelly

Professor Francis Donnelly

Dean of Nursing

Adelaide Nursing School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Professor Frank Donnelly began his nursing career at the Royal Adelaide Hospital after graduation from the University of South Australia (Salisbury). After a stint in neurosurgical nursing Frank moved to work in Intensive Care, where he spent the majority of his clinical life. After completing post graduate qualifications in ICU a shift in direction saw him move into nursing education, particularly clinical education. Further study and completion of a Master of Nursing, with a thesis examining the lived experience of a tracheostomy tube change, led Frank toward a PhD, a study which combined his primary interest in nursing knowledge and the role of clinical placement experiences. Frank is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

In 2019 Frank was awarded The Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence, the University of Adelaide’s premier learning and teaching award. This award recognises the University’s highest achievers in teaching, support of teaching, and supervisory practices.

Frank is Dean and Head of School of Nursing, Adelaide Nursing School.

As well as advocating for teaching excellence, Frank conducts and supervises research in nursing education, inter-professional learning and clinical innovation.

Frank has a mainly qualitative research background however has supervised students from a broad range of research methods and methodologies. His own research interests include:

  • clinical outcomes
  • education and staff development
  • education theory 
  • how approaches to education inform health care outcomes
  • how technology influences education 

Current research activity includes:

  • Advocating the place for bravery in TPPP curriculum 
  • Learning outcomes associated with 360-video 
  • The benefits of field activity on student learning
  • Understanding the role of microbiome and dementia in residential aged care facilities (interprofessional activity)
  • Examining the academy: scholarship and expertise in teaching

 

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2024 You, W., & Donnelly, F. (2024). Nursing workforce plays a significant role in reducing COVID-19 deaths worldwide: A cross-sectional analysis of data from 178 countries. Nursing and Health Sciences, 26(1), 9 pages.
    DOI
    2024 Irwin, K. A., Donnelly, F., & Kelly, J. (2024). How to code gerunds in constructivist grounded theory research: an example.. Nurse researcher.
    DOI
    2023 You, W., Cusack, L., & Donnelly, F. (2023). A global comparison of nursing and midwifery's and medical efficacy in preventing COVID-19 deaths 2019–2022. International Nursing Review, 70(4), 552-559.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2023 You, W., & Donnelly, F. (2023). Greater nurse density correlates to higher level of population ageing globally, but is more prominent in developed countries. PLOS ONE, 18(9), e0292371-1-e0292371-15.
    DOI Scopus1
    2023 Donnelly, F. (2023). Simulation and disruption: Tackling organisational barriers to integrated care and interprofessional practice. Clinical Teacher, 3 pages.
    DOI
    2023 Donnelly, F. (2023). Integrating evidence-based practice into undergraduate teaching programs and choosing a pedagogical approach. JBI Evidence Implementation (JBI_EI) eBulletin.
    2023 You, W., & Donnelly, F. (2023). A cross-sectional study quantifies the independent contribution of nurses and midwives in child health outcomes. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 11 pages.
    DOI
    2023 You, W., Cusack, L., & Donnelly, F. (2023). A lack of nurse autonomy impacts population health when compared to physician care: an ecological study. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1-9.
    DOI Scopus1
    2023 You, W., & Donnelly, F. (2023). Although in shortage, nursing workforce is still a significant contributor to life expectancy at birth. Public Health Nursing, 40(2), 229-242.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS1 Europe PMC3
    2023 Donnelly, F., Feltrin, C., & Munt, R. (2023). An Example of Inquiry-Based Learning in a Transition to Nursing Practice Curriculum. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 54(6), 268-274.
    DOI
    2023 Donnelly, F., McLiesh, P., Bessell, S. A., & Walsh, A. (2023). Preparing students for clinical placement using 360-video. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 77, 34-41.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS1
    2023 You, W., Feng, S., & Donnelly, F. (2023). Total meat (flesh) supply may be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Food Science and Nutrition, 11(6), 3203-3212.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC2
    2023 Donnelly, F., Gordon, S., Lawn, S., Schoo, A., Thomas, J., & White, K. (2023). Guarded reciprocity: A study of managers expectations of graduates interprofessional practice (IPP) skills and knowledge. Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice, 31, 100620.
    DOI Scopus1
    2023 Salamonson, Y., Maneze, D., Smith, B. W., Duff, J., Theobald, K. A., Montayre, J., . . . Donnelly, F. (2023). Are men treated differently in clinical placements during nursing studies? A cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(17-18), 6354-6365.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS1
    2022 You, W., & Donnelly, F. (2022). Physician care access plays a significant role in extending global and regional life expectancy. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 103, 62-68.
    DOI Scopus6 Europe PMC4
    2022 Montayre, J., Alananzeh, I., Bail, K., Barnewall, K., Beament, T., Campbell, S., . . . Salamonson, Y. (2022). Development and psychometric testing of the gender misconceptions of men in nursing (GEMINI) scale among nursing students. Contemporary Nurse, 58(4), 253-263.
    DOI Scopus2 Europe PMC1
    2022 You, W., Cusack, L., & Donnelly, F. (2022). Do physicians still direct nursing workforce? A profession striving for autonomy since mid- 1900’s.
    DOI
    2021 Al Harbi, A., Donnelly, F., Page, T., Edwards, S., & Davies, E. (2021). Factors that influence the preceptor role: a comparative study of Saudi and expatriate nurses. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 18(1), 20210035-1-20210035-13.
    DOI
    2020 O'Keefe, M., Montagu, A., Donnelly, F., Page, T., & Ward, H. (2020). The Balanced Scorecard: a tool to monitor IPL curriculum implementation. MedEdPublish, 10, 5 pages.
    DOI
    2020 Damayanti, M. R., Dino, M. J. S., & Donnelly, F. (2020). A quantitative and qualitative analysis of nurses’ lifestyles and community health practices in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Enfermería Clínica, 30(1), 82-89.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS1
    2020 McKinnon, M., Donnelly, F. P., & Perry, J. (2020). Experiences of Post Anaesthetic Recovery Nurses facilitating Advanced Directives in the immediate post anaesthetic period: A phenomenological study. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
    DOI
    2020 Donnelly, F. P., Mcliesh, P., & Bessell, S. -A. (2020). Using 360 degree video to enable affective learning in nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 59(7), 409-412.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC1
    2020 McKinnon, M., Donnelly, F., & Perry, J. (2020). Experiences of Post Anaesthetic Recovery Nurses facilitating Advanced Directives in the immediate post anaesthetic period: A phenomenological study.. Journal of advanced nursing, 76(7), 1708-1716.
    DOI
    2019 Feo, R., Donnelly, F., Muntlin Athlin, Å., & Jangland, E. (2019). Providing high-quality fundamental care for patients with acute abdominal pain: A qualitative study of patients’ experiences in acute care. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 33(1), 110-123.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC5
    2019 Chong, V., Schultz, T., & Donnelly, F. (2019). Clinical protocols for adults with acute abdominal pain in Australian emergency departments. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 25(3), 412-419.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2019 Donnelly, F. P., Feo, R., Jangland, E., & Muntlin Athlin, A. (2019). The management of patients with acute abdominal pain in the Emergency Department: A qualitative study of nurse perceptions.. Australasian Emergency Care, 22(2), 97-102.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC1
    2019 Bunjo, Z., Bunjo, L. J., Bacchi, S., Donnelly, F., Hudson, J. N., & Symonds, I. (2019). Sleep Patterns and Risky Driving Behaviors in Clinical Medical and Nursing Students. Academic Psychiatry, 43(5), 555-556.
    DOI Scopus1
    2018 Feo, R., Donnelly, F., Frensham, L., Conroy, T., & Kitson, A. (2018). Embedding fundamental care in the pre-registration nursing curriculum: results from a pilot study. Nurse Education in Practice, 31, 20-28.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS17 Europe PMC4
    2017 Sabyani, H., Wiechula, R., Magarey, J., & Donnelly, F. (2017). Experiences of healthcare professionals of having their significant other admitted to an acute care facility: A qualitative systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15(5), 1409-1439.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
    2017 Lewis, A., Edwards, S., Whiting, G., & Donnelly, F. (2017). Evaluating student learning outcomes in oral health knowledge and skills. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(11-12), 2438-2449.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS13 Europe PMC6
    2016 Sabyani, H., Wiechula, R., Magarey, J., & Donnelly, F. (2016). Healthcare professionals' experiences of having a significant other admitted into an acute care facility: a qualitative systematic review protocol. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, 14(5), 103-109.
    DOI Scopus1
    2013 Donnelly, F., & Wiechula, R. (2013). An example of qualitative comparative analysis in nursing research. Nurse Researcher, 20(6), 6-11.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC1
    2012 Donnelly, F., & Wiechula, R. (2012). Clinical placement and case study methodology: a complex affair. Nurse Education Today, 32(8), 873-877.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS5 Europe PMC5
    2009 Wilson, A., Donnelly, F., Chur-Hansen, A., & Turnbull, D. (2009). Selection of Undergraduate Nursing Students using Structured Oral Interviews. Focus on Health Professional Education, 11(1), 61-74.
    2009 Wiechula, R., Conroy, T., & Donnelly, F. (2009). Systematic reviews by postgraduate students: the current state of play, feasibility and appropriateness of conducting reviews. JBI Evidence Implementation, 7(3).
    2009 Willison, J., Peirce, E., Ricci, M., Al-Sarawi, S. F., Harper, R. L., & Donnelly, F. P. (2009). Handbook for research skill development and assessment in the curriculum.
    2009 Willison, J., Peirce, E., Ricci, M., Al-Sarawi, S. F., Harper, R. L., & Donnelly, F. P. (2009). Handbook for research skill development and assessment in the curriculum.
    2008 Wilson, A., Chur-Hansen, A., Donnelly, F., & Turnbull, D. (2008). Being an interviewer in a structured oral assessment process for selection of undergraduate nursing students: Motivations, expectations and reflections of the experience. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 14(6), 477-485.
    DOI
    2006 Donnelly, F., & Wiechula, R. (2006). The lived experience of a tracheostomy tube change: a phenomenological study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15(9), 1115-1122.
    DOI Scopus31 WoS25 Europe PMC18

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2019 Donnelly, F., Gordon, S., White, K., Lawn, S., Schoo, A., & Thomas, J. (2019). What are the understandings of interprofessional practice (IPP) by key stakeholders in the acute care sector?. In Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (2019), ANZAHPE 2019 Conference, 1-4 July, 2019, Canberra, Australia.. online: ANZAHPE.
    2017 Donnelly, F. P. (2017). Using complexity theory to develop a conceptual model to design a nursing curriculum. In 3rd International Higher Education Curriculum Design and Academic Leadership Symposia. Hamilton New Zealand.
    2017 Donnelly, F., & Mcliesh, P. (2017). Meet you in the middle: The role of technology and virtual reality in cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning. In HERGA Abstracts. Adelaide.

  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2021 Donnelly, F. (2021). Clinical based teaching. Poster session presented at the meeting of NURSING TEACHING and PRACTICE: CLOSING THE GAP.
    2021 Donnelly, F. (2021). Clinical based teaching. Poster session presented at the meeting of NURSING TEACHING and PRACTICE: CLOSING THE GAP.
    2017 Donnelly, F. (2017). What are the understandings of industry in the skills and knowledge of Interprofessional Learning?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Southern Adelaide Local Health Network; United by Research.

  • Theses
    Year Citation
    2015 Donnelly, F. (2015). The influence of clinical placement and experiential learning on student nurse development: an exploratory case study.

  • Internet Publications
    Year Citation
    2023 Donnelly, F., Winter, A., Loveys, B., & Strelan, P. (2023). Examining the academe; scholarship and expertise in higher education, a scoping review protocol. OSF.
    DOI
    2023 Donnelly, F. (2023). Integrating evidence-based practice into undergraduate teaching programs and choosing a pedagogical approach. JBI.

2017 - Learning and Teaching Grant $2500 Use of 360 video in VR

 

2016 – ‘Through the looking glass’ Using virtual reality to construct a pre theatre orientation experience, Learning and Teaching Grant, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide $5000

 

2016 – iCAN – Establishing Interprofessional networks with The University of Alberta Canada, Partnership Priority Grant, The University of Adelaide $5000

 

2008 - Project Leader - Mental Health Curriculum Development in Pre-registration Nursing Degrees – Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging $20017 

 

2008 – Implementation of an electronic audience response system to enhance student learning through direct formative and summative learning. –Team submission with David Foley (Project Leader)  $10000

 

2007 - Making research skill development explicit in coursework: Four universities' adaptation of a model to numerous disciplines. Carrick (ALTC) Competitive grant $215,488 – Team submission with Dr John Willison (Project Leader)

 

2001 – Provision of an integrated computer training and video skills program for the development of competency in advanced life support for post graduate nursing students. IT Matching Funds – The University of Adelaide  $19810 – Team submission with Mr John Field (Project Leader)

Leadership and Management in Nursing 

Acute Care Nursing 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Principal Supervisor Family Presence During Resuscitation and Invasive Procedures: Patients and Family Attitudes and its impact on the families in Indonesia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ira Rahmawati
    2019 Principal Supervisor Designing efficient and safe spaces for perioperative patient care. How do perioperative nurses contribute to perioperative environment planning and design. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Kasey Irwin
    2017 Co-Supervisor Consent to treatment in acute care health settings: clinical practice and patient autonomy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Patricia Carlisle

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Factors Influencing Nurses’ Intention to Work in the Oncology Specialty: A Mixed-Method Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Omar Awadh M Qaladi
    2020 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Factors Influencing Intensive Care Nurses’ Adherence To ‘Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia’ Clinical Practice Guidelines in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed-Methods Study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nader Eqaab D Alotaibi
    2018 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Factors Influencing Nursing Preceptors’ Role in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed
    Methods Study    		 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Aishah Shaher B Al Harbi
    2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor When a patient's family member is a nurse: a portfolio of research Doctor of Nursing Doctorate Full Time Mr Hussamaldeen Mohammed M Sabyani
    2013 - 2017 Principal Supervisor What is the Influence of Clinical Experience on the Nursing Student's Understanding of Patient Centered Care? Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Mrs Jan Alderman

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - ongoing External Supervisor Healthcare education, AI and staff understanding of AI. The University of Nottingham Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate - Istapraq Hashem
    2023 - ongoing External Supervisor Targeting Missed Nursing Care in Orthopaedic settings – development and evaluation of a person-centered intervention program. Aalborg University Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate - Sara Ellehave
  • Position: Dean of Nursing
  • Phone: 83133639
  • Email: frank.donnelly@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 3
  • Org Unit: Nursing
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