Comparative risk in acute psychiatric in-patient settings

Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane

Flinders University

Eimear Muir-Cochrane is Chair of Nursing (Mental Health) at Flinders University with adjunct professorial positions at City University London and the University of South Australia and a Fellow of ACMHN. Eimear is the Chair of Academic Senate at Flinders University (a nomination of the Vice Chancellor) and an expert member on the Registered Nurse Accreditation Committee for ANMAC and the Mental Health Professional Online Development national project. As a clinician and academic Eimear has been involved in teaching and research since 1983 with her first publication in the Nursing Mirror (UK) in 1984 about the nurse as a change agent. Her career has focussed on investigating nursing practice in relation to working with people with mental health problems, in acute and community settings and across the life span. Eimear has 10 completed PhD students, examined 14 theses, published over 70 refereed journal articles and attracted over $1million dollars in research income to date and several state and national research and teaching awards. In particular, her research about seclusion and restraint has facilitated policy change regarding nursing practice and increased focus on the nature of the experience of being in a psychiatric ward. Educational interests have seen the development of teaching materials in virtual reality in blended learning environments, the second edition publication of Mosby’s Pocket Book of Mental Health (2014) and the development of an interactive app in mental health (2014). Eimear is also currently writing a pilot MOOC as part of a University initiative.