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Professor Margaret O'Connor AM

DN(La Trobe), MN (RMIT), B.Theol (Melb) RN, FRCNA, AIMM

Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing.

Phone:

+61 3 9904 4053

Fax:

+ 61 3 9904 4402

Email:

margaret.oconnor@monash.edu

Professor O’Connor is the inaugural Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Monash University Melbourne, a position she has held since 2003. Prior to this she has enjoyed a long and diverse career in palliative care, in roles that have encompassed the establishment and management of mainly community-based palliative care services. Her current position formally encompasses 3 clinical partners where Professor O’Connor is actively involved in developing staff research projects.

Professor O’Connor is responsible for the Palliative Care Research Team in the School and manages a number of clinical research projects, which have received more than $1 million in funding from internal and external sources. The growing research team includes an NHMRC PhD Scholar, an NHMRC post-doctoral fellow and eleven PhD students. Research projects are centred around key areas - service system and policy issues and issues of culture and palliative care. All projects involve the above clinical partners and many research questions have arisen from within the clinical setting. She is well published in these research areas.

Professor O’Connor sits on many State and National Committees, including being a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health & Medical Research Council andp. She served as President of Palliative Care Australia 2006 till 2010.

In 2002 and 2008 Professor O’Connor was awarded the Nina Buscombe Prize from the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria. In 2005 Professor O’Connor accepted the national honour of Member of the Order of Australia, for service to the development and establishment of palliative care services in Victoria, an acknowledgement of Margaret‘s 20 year contribution to palliative care.

 

Research

Preferred Research Methodologies

  • Qualitative and mixed method methodologies, including phenomenology and discourse  

Accredited as Level 2 Supervisor

 

Current Projects

Grant title

Granting Body

Budget

Research team

The impact on mental health of frequent deaths that occur in high care in aged care settings on individuals and the resident community. Department of Health & Ageing. Local Palliative Care Grants Program - Round 5 $247,061 Prof Margaret O'Connor, Prof Daniel O'Connor (SH) Prof Barbara Workman (MMC).

After hours community palliative care - evaluation framework.

Victorian Department of Health $130,000

Prof Margaret O'Connor, Dr Susan Lee, Dr Heather Tan. 

Utilization of cancer and palliative care services by different cultural groups. Victorian Cancer Agency.  $67,256 Prof Margaret O'Connor, Dr Louise Peters, Dr Susan Lee.
An investigation of care planning decisions in advanced pulmonary and cardiac illness in the Bayside Health Care region. NHMRC Palliative Care Research Program Round 3 - Research Development Grants  $47,726 Dr Susan Lee, Prof Paul Komasaroff, Prof Margaret O'Connor, Dr Heather Tan.
Expectations and barriers in the ambulance service and palliative care interface. NHMRC Palliative Care Research Program Round 3 - Research Development Grants  $49,916

Ms Katrina Recoche,  Prof Margaret O'Connor, Prof Patsy Yates, Mr bill Lord, Ms Melinda Service, Prof Gerry Fitzgerald.

Developing and measuring palliative care desicion making skills. NHMRC Palliative Care Program, round 3 - Postdoctoral  Fellowship  $137,000 Dr Susan Lee, Prof Margaret O'Connor, Prof Paul Komasaroff.
Development and implementation of an educational program to guide palliative care for people with Motor Neurone Disease. NHMRC Palliative Care Priority Driven Research Grants Round 3 2006  $273,590 Prof Linda Kristjanson, Dr David Currow, Lynne Oldman, Samar Arun, Prof Margaret O'Connor.
Survey to identify workplace stressors for palliative care nurses in Victoria.    unfunded  Dr Louise Peters, Prof Margaret O'Connor.

 

Current Student Research Topics

  • Older Singaporean Chinese with life threatening illness in hospice. (PhD study)
  • How is palliative care delivered for older Chinese people in Australia. (PhD study)
  • East and Far East Gippsland rural residential aged care facilities, is their capacity to meet resident's palliative care needs realistic? A critical ethnographic investigation. (PhD study)
  • How do palliative care nurses care for families of the terminally ill: A Malaysian Perspective? (PhD study)
  • Implementation of a palliative approach using a practice development framework. (PhD study)
  • Issues affecting access to palliative care for Indian people in Australia. (PhD study)
  • Staff Grief and Support System for Japanese Health Care Professionals working in palliative care. (PhD study)
  • What happens after death in a palliative care unit. (Honours degree-completed 2008)

 

Recent Speaking Engagements

Dying is everyone’s business!

Perspective, ABC Radio National, Tuesday 8 July 2008 at 5.54 pm

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/perspective/stories/2008/2296707.htm#transcript downloaded 9 July 2008

 

Items of interest

O’Connor, M. (2010, October 12, 2010). Care allows a dignified death. The Australian

Publications

Journal Publications

2012

Bloomer, M., Morphet, J., O'Connor, M., Lee, S. & Griffiths, D. (2012). Nursing Care of the Family before and after a Death in the ICU - An Exploratory Pilot Study. Australian Critical Care. doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2012.01.001

Bloomer, M., Cross, W., Endacott, R., O'Connor, M. & Moss, C. (2012). Qualitative Observation in a Clinical Setting: Challenges at End of Life. Nursing and Health Sciences.

2011

Bloomer, M., Cross, W., O'Connor, M. & Endacott, R. (In Press) Changing Attitudes to Death and Dying in the Clinical Setting. Connections

O'Brien, A., O'Connor, M., Griffiths, D. & Bloomer, M. (In Press). Development and application of palliative care cultural standards using clinical indicators. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology.

McConigley R, Kristjanson L, Aoun S, Holloway K, O'Connor M. "Someone who can help you all the way through": The needs of people with Motor Neurone Disease and their caregivers. (accepted by Journal of Advanced Nursing Apr 2011)

Cant, R., Cooper, S., Chung, C. & O'Connor, M. (2011). The divided self: Near death experiences of resucitated patients - A literature review.  International Emergency Nursing.  Published on-line Aug 2011

Tan, H., Wutthilert, C. & O'Connor, M. (2011). Spirituality and Quality of Life in Older People with Chronic Illness in Thailand. Progress in Palliative Care, 19(4), 177-184.

O'Connor, M., Harris, R. & Lee, S. (2011). Non-Malignant disease - a pathway for quality care at the end of life. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 7(2), 429-433.

O'Connor, M. (2011). Monash University research team delivers. Australian Nurses Journal. 18(8) 41

O'Brien, A., O'Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Poon, E., Chin, J., Payne, S. & Nordin R. (2011). The ageing crisis and palliative care in the Asia-Pacific region. Australian Nurses Journal, 18(7), 39.

2010

Bloomer, M., Lee, S., O'Connor, M. (2010). End of Life Clinician-Family Communication in ICU: A retropsective observational study - Implications for nursing. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing. 28(2), 17-23. Impact Factor 0.59.

Shimoinaba, K., O'Connor, M., & Lee, S. (2010). Japanese head nurses' perspectives regarding issues of nurses working in palliative care units and current support systems. Progress in Palliative Care, 18 (6), 358-363.

Stuart, J.A., O'Connor, M., Peters, L. & Bloomer, M. (2010). The unacknowledged role of after-death care carried out by palliative care nurses. End of Life Care, 4(3), 50-55.

O'Connor, M., O'Brien, A., Griffiths, D., Poon, E., Chin, J., Payne, S. & Nordin, R. (2010). What is the meaning of palliative care in the Asia- Pacific Region? Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. 6(3), 197-202. Impact Factor 0.232.

O'Connor, M., Abbott, J., Recoche, K. (2010). Getting the message across: Does the use of drama aid education in palliative care. Advances in Health Sciences Education, published on-line March 30, 2010.

O'Connor, M., Watts, J., Larkins, K. & Bloomer, M. (2010). Loss and Grief in the Workplace - what can we learn from the LiteratureInternational Journal of Workplace Health Management, 3(2), 131-142.

Baker, M., Payne, S., Stanley, C., Bowen, C., Webb, p., Daveson, B., Morrey, V. & O'Connor, M. (2010). Reflecting on the long-term (Neurological) End-of-Life Conference. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 6(4), 188-190.

O'Connor, M., Davis, M. & Abernathy, A. (2010). Language, Discourse and Meaning in Palliative MedicineProgress in Palliative Care, 18(2), 66-71.

Shanmugasundaram, S., O'Connor, M. & Sellick, K. (2010). Culturally competent care at the end of life: a Hindu perspective. End of Life Care, 4(1), 26-31.

2009

O'Connor, M. (2009). Decrepit death as a discourse of death in older age: implications for policy. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 4(4), 263-271.

Tan, H., O'Connor, M., Miles, G., Klein, B. & Schattner, P. (2009). GP and nurses' perceptions of how after hours care for people receiving palliative care at home could be improved: a mixed methods study. BMC Palliative Care, 8(13) epub.

McCauley-Elsom, K., Gurvich, C., Lee, S., Elsom, S., O'Connor, M. & Kulkarni, J. (2009). Vulnerable populations and multicentred research. Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 18(2), 108-115.

Shanmugasundaram, S., O'Connor, M. & Sellick, K. (2009). A multicultural perspective on conducting palliative care research in an Indian population in Australia. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 15(9), 440-445.

O'Connor, M. (2009). Understanding the influence of palliative care nursing: a global perspective. International Journal of Palliative Medicine. 15(7), 316-317.

Shanmugasundaram, S. & O'Connor, M. (2009). Palliative care services for Indian migrants in Australia: Experiences of the family of terminally ill patients. Indian Journal of Palliative Care. 15(1), 76-83.

Poon, W. & O'Connor, M. (2009). Development of palliative care in Singapore: an overview. Singapore Nursing Journal, 36(3), 48-56.

Shimoinaba, K., O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Greaves, J. (2009). Staff grief and support sustems for Japanese health care professionals working in palliative care. Palliative and Supportive Care, 7, 245-252.

Lee,S., O'Connor, M., Chapman, Y., Hamilton, V.  & Francis, K., (2009). Very Public Death: Dying of Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer (M/ARLC) in the Latrobe Valley. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health. 9 (on-line) 1183. Available from: http://www.rrh.org.au

Ciechomski, L., Tan, H., O'Connor, M., Miles, G., Klein, B. & Schattner, P. (2009). After Hours Palliative Care Provision in Rural and Urban Victoria, Australia. The Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 4(1), 57-63.

O'Connor, M., Abbott, J., Payne S. & Demmer, C. (2009). A comparison of bereavement services provided in hospice and palliative care settings in Australia, the UK and the USA. Progress in Palliative Care, 17(2), 69-74.

O'Connor, M. & Peters, L. (2009). Palliative care nurse consultants in acute hospitals in Australia. End of Life Care.  3(1),48-53.

O'Connor, M., Erwin T. & Dawson L. (2009). A means to an end: a web-based client management system in palliative care. Health Informatics Journal, 15(1), 41-54.

Hsu, C., O'Connor, M. & Lee, S. (2009) Understandings of death and dying for people of Chinese origin. Death Studies, 33, 153-174.

Tan, H., O'Connor, M., Miles, G., Schattner, P.  & Klein, B. (2009, July) After hours palliative care. Austrarlian Nursing Journal, 17(1), 45.

O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., Humphries, J. (2009, June). A very public death: Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. Australian Nursing Journal, 16(11) 52-53.  

2008

O'Connor, M. & Chapman, Y. (2008). The palliative care clinical nurse consultant: an essential link. Collegian, 15, 151-157.

Allen, S., Francis, K., O’Connor, M. & Chapman, Y. (2008). Gaining human ethics approval: a strategy for refining research studies. Monash Bioethics Review, 27(3), 54-60.

Abbott, J., O'Connor, M. & Payne, S. (2008). An Australian survey of palliative care and hospice bereavement services. The Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing, 9(2), 12-17.

O’Connor, M. (2008). “I’m just not interested in eating”; when nutrition becomes an issue in palliative care. Contemporary Nurse, 27(1), 23-28.

O’Connor, M., Peters, L. & Walsh, K. (2008). Palliative Care nurse consultants in Melbourne : a snapshot of their clinical role. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 4(7), 302-307.

Allen, S., Francis, K., Chapman, Y. & O’Connor M. (2008). The evolution of palliative care and the relevance to residential aged care: Understanding the past to inform the future. Collegian,  15(4),165-171

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K. & O’Connor, M. (2008).  Supporting nurses to make ethically sound decisions when nursing aged care residents at the end-of-life: Using the DECIDE model. Singapore Nursing Journal, 35(2), 4-11.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y. & Francis, K. (2008). Discourses associated with nursing aged people who are dying in the Australian context: a review of the literature. International Nursing Review, 55(3), 349-354.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y. & Francis, K. (2008). Funding regimes and the implications for delivering quality palliative care within residential aged care units. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health. 8(903) online pp.1-7.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y. & Francis, K. (2008). The implications of policy on delivering a palliative approach in residential aged care: rhetoric or reality? Contemporary Nurse, 29(2), 174-183.

Poon, W., O'Connor, M., Chow, Y., Kannusamy, P. (2008). Palliative care nursing education in Singapore.  Singapore Nursing Journal, 35(4), 5-8.

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., & O’Connor, M.  (2008). Examining the methods used for a critical ethnographic inquiry. Contemporary Nurse, 29(2), 227-235. 

2007

Allen, S., Francis, K., Chapman, Y. & O’Connor, M. (2007). Multi-purpose services and palliative care – emerging challenges and possible solutions. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Service Management, 2(3), 51-55.

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., O'Connor, M., & Francis, K.(2007). The importance of language for nursing: does it convey commonality of meaning and is it important to do so. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24(4), 47-51.

O’Connor, M., Peters, L. & Lee, S. (2007). Palliative care in private hospitals. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Service Management, 2(3), 37-42.

O’Connor, M. & Lee, S. (2007). Authentic performance appraisal when home is the workplace. International Journal of Palliative Nursing,13(12), 606-9.

Recoche, K., O’Connor, M. & Lee, S. (2007). Mock interdisciplinary team meetings as a forum for undergraduate education in palliative care. Focus on Health Professional Education: A multidisciplinary Journal, 8(3), 79-86. 

2006

O’Connor, M. & Payne, S. (2006). Discourse Analysis: examining the potential for research in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 20(8), 229-834. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 Medicine, General & Internal.

O’Connor, M. & Lee, S.(2006).  “Till death us do part” – issues of fidelity in end of life care. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Ageing, 18(4), 227-245.

Hudson, P., Kristjanson, L., Ashby, M., Kelly, B., Schofield, P., Hudson, R., Aranda, S., O’Connor, M. & Street, A.(2006). Desire for hastened death in patients with advanced disease and the evidence base of clinical guidelines. A systematic Review. Palliative Medicine.  20(7), 693-671. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 Medicine, General & Internal.

Hudson, P., Schofield, P., Kelly, B., Hudson, R., Street, A., O’Connor, M.,   Kristjanson, L., Ashby, M., Aranda, S.(2006).  Responding to desire to die statements from patients with advanced disease: recommendations for health professionals. Palliative Medicine, 20(7), 703-710. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 Medicine, General & Internal.

Shanmugasundaram, S., Chapman, Y. & O’Connor, M. (2006). Development of Palliative care in India : An Overview. International Journal of Nursing Practice,12(4), 241-246.

2001 - 2005

Hsu ,C., O'Connor, M., & Lee, S. (2005). Issues affecting access to palliative care services for older Chinese people in australia. ACCNS Journal of Community Nursing, 10(3), 9-11.

Namasiviyam, P.,Orb, A. & O’Connor M. (2005). The challenges of caring for families of the terminally ill: nurses lived experience. Contemporary Nurse, 19(1-2), 169-180.

O'Connor, M., Peters, L., Lee, S. & Webster, C. (2005). Palliative care work, between death and discharge. Journal of Palliative Care, 21(2) Summer, 97-210. Impact Factor 0.882, 21/57 Healthcare Sciences and Services.

O’Connor, M. (2005). Mission Statements: an example of exclusive language in Palliative care? International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 11(4), 190-196.

O’Connor, M. (2004). What do Residential Aged care facilities say about Care of the Dying? Collegian,11(2), 27-31.

O’Connor, M. & Pearson, A. (2004). Ageing in place – dying in place – competing discourses for care of the dying in aged care policy.  Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 22(2), 31-37.

O’Connor, M. & Webb, R. (2002). Learning to rest when in pain. European Journal of Palliative Care, 9(2), 68-71.

Aranda, S., Haynes, C., Devilee, L., O’Connor, M., & Bence, G. (2001). In-patient hospice triage of “after-hours” calls to a community palliative care service. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 7(5), 214-220.

Books and Book Chapters

2011

O'Connor M, Lee S, Aranda S (2011) Palliative care nursing-a guide to practice. 3rd, Melbourne: Ausmed Publications.

O'Connor, M. (2011), ‘Priorities for specialist palliative care: an Australian perspective' in M. Gott, & C. Ingleton (eds) Living and dying: end of life care for older people. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

O'Connor, M. & Alde, P. (2011). Older persons' health and end-of-life care. In D. Kralik & A. Loon. (Eds.). Community Nursing in Australia. (pp.353-386.). Second Edition, Singapore, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd.

2010

Alde Pamela, O'Connor, M. (2010), ‘Community nurses promote older persons' health and provide end of life care' in D. Kralik & A. Van Loon (eds), Community Health Nursing in Australia.2nd edition Melbourne, Australia: Wiley Publishing.

O'Connor, Margaret. (2010), ‘Priorities for specialist palliative care: an Australian perspective' in M. Gott, & C. Ingleton (eds)Living and dying: end of life care for older people. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

O'Connor, M., Hudson, P. (2010). Palliative Care in Australia and New Zealand. In B. Ferrell & N. Coyle (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. (3rd Ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press. (pp 1255-1264.)

2009

Recoche, K., O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Tan, H. & Griffiths, D. (2009). Death, Dying and Loss. In J. Dempsey, J. French & S. Hillege (Eds.), Fundamentals of Nursing & Midwifery: A person-centred approach to care (pp484-509). Broadway, NSW: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) (2009) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan. Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

Cass, BA., O’Connor, M. (2009) the fragility of being cared for in the community and the decision to go to Emergency: the experience of patients receiving palliative care. In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan.  pp 27-38 Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

Peters, L., O’Connor, M. (2009) Caring for veterans at the end of life: the nurses’ perspective.  In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan pp39-52. Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

2008

O’Connor, M. (2008) An uncertain journey: coping with transitions, survival and recurrence. In: Payne P, Seymour S, Ingleton C. (eds) Palliative Care Nursing: principles and evidence for practice. 2nd edition. McGraw Hill UK

O'Connor, M. (2008) Palliative Care in the Community. In: Kralik D, van Loon A (eds). Community Nursing in Australia . Blackwell Publishing Australia .

2003-2007

Hudson, R., O’Connor, M. (Eds) (2007). Care of the dying: a practical approach to aged care.  Melbourne: Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M. (2007)  Documentary analysis and policy. In: Addington-Hall Julia, Bruera Eduardo, Higginson Irene, Payne, Sheila (eds) Research methods in palliative care: Cambridge University Press UK 

O’Connor, M. (2004) Ageing in place, dying in place: the clash of philosophy & practice in aged & palliative care In: S. Nelson (Ed) Ethics, Power,  Practice: in sickness & in health Series. Nursing Praxis International. Bournemouth

O’Connor, M. (2004) Palliative Care Nursing – a unique specialty? In: O’Connor Margaret, Barnett, Tony, Namasivayam Pathmavathy (eds)  (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals. Churchill: Monash University .

O’Connor, M. (2004) Directions in palliative care – looking back to look forward. In:  O’Connor Margaret, Barnett, Tony, Namasivayam Pathmavathy (eds)   (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals. Churchill: Monash University. 

O’Connor, M. (2004) Transitions in status from wellness to illness, illness to wellness. In Payne, S et. al (eds) Palliative care nursing: principles & evidence for practice. 1st edition. Open University Press UK.

O’Connor, M., Aranda, S.(eds) (2003) Palliative care nursing  – a guide to practice. Second edition. Melbourne : Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M., Aranda, S. (2003) Ethical Decision-Making In: O’Connor Margaret & Aranda Sanchia (eds) Palliative care nursing  – a guide to practice.(Second edition). Melbourne : Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M.   (2003). Hydration and nutrition issues. Palliative care nursing  – a guide to  practice(second edition). Melbourne: Ausmed Publications.

Published Conference Papers

Palliative care Standards: Criteria for determining service outcomes. Paper presented at International Nursing Conference on Palliative care: theory, skills and practices, Hangzhou China

O’Connor, M. (2004). Policy research in a political environment. “Incontro Internazionale, exploring connections”. Prato. Monash University, Melbourne p 1-27

O’Connor, M. (2002). Ageing in place – dying in place: the challenges of palliative care in aged care settings. Conference Proceedings: Challenges to improving care of the dying. Palliative Care Victoria. (18th March)