This Cochrane Blog post highlights the contributions of Natalie Bradford PhD, MPH, BNurs, RN, Queensland Youth Cancer Service, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia.
The Cochrane Nursing Care Field (CNCF) continues to expend the number of summaries produced within its collaboration of international nursing journals and widen its reach in the dissemination of best practices evidence in frontline primary health care, and much of the Field’s success in these areas is reliant on the substantial contributions of its volunteer writing staff. Natalie Bradford has become an active contributor to the CNCF and has produced numerous high quality Cochrane Review summaries that have been featured in many of the Field’s collaborating journals.
With an extensive clinical background, Natalie Bradford has enjoyed a nursing career spanning more than 25 years. She commenced her nursing career in paediatric oncology and palliative care, where she worked on a part-time basis while her children were young. In 2009 Natalie started a research project with the University of Queensland, which opened up a whole new world for her. She started her Master’s in Public Health at this time and developed a keen interest in study design and epidemiological studies. During this time Natalie led numerous small research projects and was successful in getting this work published. Working within an academic environment, Natalie eventually decided to commence her PhD, which she completed in 2014. Her thesis investigated how home telehealth technologies could be used to deliver specialist palliative care services for children living in rural and remote parts of Queensland. Natalie now works as a Nurse Researcher for the Queensland Youth Cancer Service, and maintains an academic position with Queensland University of Technology.
On her reasons for joining and actively supporting the CNCF, Natalie writes: “Research has become a really important part of my practice and I get excited about the possibilities of making a difference and being able to improve outcomes for patients, or the quality and efficiency of services. I completed a Cochrane review with some colleagues in 2014 and was simultaneously intrigued, inspired and daunted by the level of detail and the rigour and depth that was involved to complete the review! I also knew that many other nurses wouldn’t have the time or opportunity to even read the whole review, let alone partake in undertaking one. This is why the CNCF Cochrane summaries are so important. They make the evidence generated in a full review accessible and digestible for nurses. I really enjoy writing for the CNCF, preparing a summary is a great way to stay on top of the current evidence, and to share relevant evidence with other.”
Thank you, Natalie for your contribution in helping to bring accessible Cochrane evidence to nurses globally!
Would your Cochrane Group like to tell the community about a beloved contributor? Email mumoquit@cochrane.org