Ms Smitha Raj Sarala Rajan
Associate Lecturer
Adelaide Nursing School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Smitha is a lecturer at the University of Adelaide. Smitha began working as a Registered Nurse in the Orthopaedics, Trauma, and Neurosurgery ICU at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, India, after completing her nursing degree there in 2002. Throughout her 21-year nursing career, Smitha has worked in a variety of specialties, including geriatric nursing, neurology, paediatric surgery, accident and emergency, urology and renal, general surgery, GI surgery, plastic surgery, cardiology, and cardiac surgery. However, the majority of her clinical experience is in orthopaedics, trauma, and neurosurgery. Smitha has a passion for orthopaedic nursing.
Smitha has always been interested in education and believes that the nursing profession requires a holistic approach in addition to academic and clinical abilities. Throughout her nursing career, Smitha was actively involved in in-service training and preceptorship for students from diverse nursing, medical, and allied health specialties.
Smitha has been working as an Academic Tutor at the University of South Australia for three years on the BNS degree. Smitha had the opportunity to share her clinical experience and enthusiasm for nursing with students, and she found it rewarding to observe their growth and progress during the programme.
Smitha began her career as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Adelaide in January 2024. Smitha's responsibilities in this capacity include student clinical facilitation, SIM lab, and other nursing-related course teaching.
Smitha is a Master of Nursing Science (Course work and Research) student at the University of Adelaide. Smitha is particularly interested in studies on mental health nursing (family-centred care for parents of disabled children) and connecting families to the first line of care. She feels that by emphasising a family-centred approach, parents of children with disabilities can obtain the assistance and resources they require to navigate the complex healthcare system. Smitha hopes that connecting families to primary health care services could enhance access to care and, in turn, the general well-being of families confronting these issues. Smitha hopes that her research will have a positive impact on the lives of these families while also contributing to the area of nursing.
Exploring parents' experiences of accessing healthcare for their children with Autism in South Australia: a qualitative study (MNSc research project)
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing Associate Lecturer University of Adelaide 2021 - ongoing Academic Tutor University of South Australia 2021 - 2023 Academic Tutor Flinders University 2013 - ongoing Senior Registered Nurse Calvary Adelaide Hospital 2007 - 2013 Senior Registered Nurse Hermitage Medical Clinic 2006 - 2007 Registered Nurse Assisi House LTD. 2006 - 2006 Senior Registered Nurse Max Healthcare 2003 - 2005 Registered Nurse Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Hindi Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Malayalam Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Panjabi; Punjabi Can understand spoken Tamil Can speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Master of Nursing Science (course work & Research) 2018 - 2021 University of Tasmania Australia Post Grad Diploma in Orthopaedic Nursing 2000 - 2002 Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre India BNS Nursing Degree -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2021 Master of Nursing Science (course work & Research) University of Adelaide Australia 2018 - 2021 Post Grad Diploma in Orthopaedic Nursing University of Tasmania Australia -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country 2012 Hemovigilance training - Autologous transfusion Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Ireland 2012 Fundamentals of Neurosurgical Nursing Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Ireland 2012 Paediatric emergency care Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Ireland 2011 Management of patients with Minimal Invasive Hip Replacement Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Ireland -
Research Interests
Primary Health Care Mental Health Nursing Special Education and Disability Families and family services Child and Adolescent Health Musculoskeletal Health Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health Surgical and Health Systems Innovation Medicine, Nursing and Health Curriculum and Pedagogy Clinical Nursing: Tertiary Health education and promotion
Clinical Facilitation Pre-registration and MCN 1&2 students.
PBL Tutor
SIM lab teaching
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2013 - ongoing Member ANMF Australia 2007 - ongoing Member Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) Ireland
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