Associate Professor Anthony (Tony) Paul O'Brien

PhD (UNE), Med. Stud (Newcastle), BA (Macquarie), RN (RPN, RGN).

Head of Campus, Peninsula  

Phone: +61 3 9904 4377 Fax: +61 3 9904 4130 Email: tony.o'brien@monash.edu

Dr O’Brien joined Monash as Associate Professor and Head of Peninsula campus of the School of Nursing and Midwifery in May 2009. Tony is a mental health nurse with clinical experience in community case management and acute intake and assessment. Since his 1979 hospital registration as a psychiatric/mental health nurse and 1981 registration as a general nurse he has been employed in the UK, New Zealand and Singapore, in either a faculty practice role, or as a Registered Nurse.

Tony has previously worked in a therapeutic community for the Richmond Fellowship with young adults and the Maudsley Hospital (UK) ‘ward within a house’ concept. His clinical experience is extensive across mental health nursing, aged care and general nursing. In clinical practice Tony has held recent roles as an Honorary Mental Health Nurse (University Hospital, Singapore), RN8 (NCAHS) and Clinical Nurse Consultant (Mayne Health).

In 2008-9 after a 3 month sabbatical he spent 8 months working part time in aged care (Salvation Army) and as a mental health case manager for the NSW North Coast Area Health Service, Mental Health Service. As an academic Tony has held positions as lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Head of Department and Assistant Professor. He has been employed at Newcastle University, UNE (Armidale), Massey (NZ), Southern Cross University, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Tony has been part of the tertiary preparation of Nurses in Australia virtually since its beginning.

Tony’s Bachelor of Arts was obtained at Macquarie University with majors in education and politics (1989) - his Masters of educational studies was obtained at Newcastle University (1993). His master’s research dissertation focused on measuring graduate attitudes to educational preparation for mental health nursing. Tony’s Doctoral research (2001) is titled, ‘The Development of Mental Health in Koori Adolescents: Stories and Memories from their Youth.  

Teaching

Semester one

• NUR2001 - Evidence based nursing
• NUR3003 - Education for Clinical Practice
• NUR3104 - Mental health practice 2

Semester two

• NUR1022 - Cultural Responsiveness for Health Care Professionals
• NUR2104 - Mental health practice
• NUR4925 - Emergency nursing
• NUR9033 - Contemporary nursing in context 3

Research Interests

Tony's research interests include youth culture and culture, Indigenous mental health, best practice in mental health nursing, quality of nursing care, standards and clinical indicators. He has strong interest in educational research, curriculum development and end of life care, families and mental health.

Preferred research methodologies

• Qualitative
• Quantitative
• Ethnography/Grounded theory
• Delphi/survey research

Accredited Level 2 supervisor

 Research Projects

• Sheryl Pretty, Ms Melissa Bloomer, Assoc Prof Tony O'Brien, Dr Ian Munro, Dr Robyn Cant, Prof Wendy Cross, (2011). Barriers and Enablers of Research Utilization in Nursing (submitted 17 Peninsula Health Identifying, Peninsula Health Small Research Grant - $2,450.00
• Reed, F. Kudinoff, T., Munro, I., O'Brien, A.P. (2011). Pathways to care exploring the barriers for mental health consumers who attend Emergency Department, Victorian Department Health Services, mental health drugs research fellowship grants - $30,000;
• O'Brien, A.P. McCauley, K., and Lau, R. (2010) Utilisation of e-learning to enhance education for undergraduate health care students - $11,500 Monash faculty enhancement funding
• O'Brien, A.P. Costello, A., Potter. J., (2010) (ethics- CF10/3294 - 2010001720): Evaluating the preceptor role in pre-registration nursing student clinical education - unfunded;
• O'Connor, M., O'Brien, A.P., Payne, S., Gaskin, C., Cham, C., Kumar, S., Poon, E., Griffiths, D., Developing Australian cultural clinical indicators for quality care at the end of life, for people of Asian backgrounds living in Australia. NHMRC Project grant. $627,180. pending
• O'Brien, A.P. Gaskin, C., Munro, I., and Reed, F. (2011) Professional Practice Audit Questionnaire - mental health nursing - pending ethics approval.
• Arthur, D., O’Brien. A.P. Phang. Chew Hun. & Chapman, A. (2008). Temasek Foundation (TF) Board of Directors approved a joint proposal submitted by NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Health Sciences. Train the trainer program for nurse educators.
• Liaw, S.Y. O’Brien, A.P. & Elaine Ng. (2007). The effect of simulation-based learning on undergraduate nursing students’ clinical competency in crisis management, Teaching Enhancement Grant, National University of Singapore.
• He, H.G., O’Brien, A.P., Elaine Ng, & Arthur, D.G. (2007). Video development for improving Therapeutic Communication teaching, National University of Singapore.
• Bremmer, J., O’Brien, A.P., and Tong, W.L. (2007). Evaluating the clinical buddy (preceptor system) used as a teaching model with registered nurses ALCNS nursing students’ during clinical practicum attachment.
• O’Brien, A. (2006). DREEM evaluation of the ALCNS curriculum. December 18 2006.
• O’Brien, A. P., Creedy, D., Lew, AM., Arthur, D.  & Ho, R. (2006). Protocol Title: Developing Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT) As A Web-based Intervention Mental Health Promotion Program for NUS Students. A NUS Nursing and Mental Health Screening Study.
• Arthur, D., O'Brien, A.P., & Chen, H. (2006) Integrative Counselling by Nurse Midwives for women @ risk of postnatal depression in Singapore– a randomized control trial.  
• O’Brien, A.P., & Doran, F. (2004). Establishing and validating women’s health promotion needs in Gestational Diabetes – understanding multicultural viewpoints. Internal Research Grant/Recruitment award, Southern Cross University.
• O’Brien, A.P., Hampshire, W., Petersen, J. and Vander-Klei, J. (2004). Health Education and Equity Grant, Southern Cross University, the Equity and Access Committee - Registered Nurse Mentor Student Support Program (RNMSS):  A Higher Education Equity Project, Principal Investigator.
• O’Brien, A.P. (2003). Recruitment Grant for Established Researchers Southern Cross University Research Training Advisory Committee, Refining the Professional Practice Audit Questionnaire (PPAQ) for mental health nurses in Australia
• O’Brien, A.P., O’Brien A.J., McNulty N.G., Morrison-Ngatai E., Skews G., Ryan T., Hardy D.J., & Gaskin C.J., Health Research Council, New Zealand (HRC) (1999). The development and validation of clinical indicators for mental health nursing practice in New Zealand.

Profession Affiliations

• 2006 - 2009 Authority to practice Singapore Nursing Board (SNB);
• 2009 - Current Authority to practice Victoria, Australia;
• 1979 - 2009 Authority to practice NSW Nurses Midwives Board, NSW, Australia
• 1997 - 2006 Authority to practice Nursing Council of New Zealand; and
• 1981 - Authority to practice United Kinkdgom Nursing Council.

 Service as a reviewer

• 2009 - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry;
• 2008 - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion;
• 2006 - Journal of Contemporary Nursing;
• 2006 - Advisory/Editorial Board and reviewer for the Asian Journal of Nursing
• 2004 - Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing; and
• 1999 - International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

Publications

2011

He Hong-Gu, Mackey,S., O'Brien, A.P., Koh,S., Ng, E., & Arthur, D.A. (2011). Using Self Developed Videos in Therapeutic Communication Teaching, .International Journal of Caring Science, in press

Lowe, G, Plummer, V, O'Brien, A.P. and Boyd, L (in press). Time to clarify - the value of Advanced Nursing Practice roles in Healthcare, Journal of Advanced Nursing, accepted September.

Liang, C., Yang, C., Lu, K., Chu, P., Chen, C., Chang, Y., O'Brien, A., Bloomer, M., Chou, K. (In press). Factors Affecting Peritoneal Dialysis Selection in Taiwanese Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). International Nursing Review.

Niu, SF., Chung, MH., Chen, CH., Hegney, D., O'Brien, A. & Chou, KR. (2011). The Effect of Shift Rotation on Employee Cortisol Profile, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Attention Level: A Systematic Review. Journal of Nursing Research, 19,(1), 68-81. 

Chung MH,Chen CH, Hegney D, O'Brien A, Chou KR. (2011). The Effect of Shift Rotation on Employee Cortisol Profile, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Attention Level: A Systematic Review, Journal of Nursing Research, 19,(1), 68-81.

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

O'Connor, M., O'Brien, A. P., 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'Brien, A.P. and Holden, A.P. (2010). Male reproductive health a priority for practice nurses, Australian Nursing Journal, 18(1), 44.

O'Brien, A.P., Cross, W., Higgs, P., Munro, I., Bloomer, M. (2010). Nurse led CBT program for Indigenous people. Australian Nursing Journal, 17(8), 35.

O'Brien, A., Cross, W., Higgs, P., Munro, I., Bloomer, M.J. & Chou, K. (2010). Australians living with and managing hepatitis C - treatment potentials using group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 31(8), 520-524.

2009

Liaw, S.Y., Chen, F.G., Klainin, P., O'Brien, A.P., Brammer, J. & Samarasekera, D.D. (2009). Intergrated simulation problem-based learning activity. CDTHL Brief, 12(1), 1-2.

Liaw, S.Y., Chen, F.G., Klainin, P., Brammer, J., O'Brien, A. & Samarasekera, D.D. (2009). Developing clinical competency in crisi event management: an integrated simulation problem-based learning activity. Advances in Health Sciences Education. _{^{DOI 10.1007/s10459-009-9208-910.1007/s10459-009-9208-9}}. published online 15 Nov 2009. _{^{2008 Impact Factor 1.254.9/24 Education, Scientific disciplines, 40/62 Health care Sciences & Services.}}

Yeh, HW., Tzeng, NS., Chu, H., Chou, YH., Lu, RB., O'Brien, A P., Chang, YC., Hsieh, CJ. & Chou, KR. (2009). The Risk of Eating Disorders among Female Undergraduates in Taiwan. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 23(6) 430-440. _{^{Impact factor 0.734 80/94 pyschiatry, 31/46 nursing.}}

Chen, WC., Chu, H., Lu, RB., Chou, YH., Chen, CH., Chang, YC., O’Brien, AP. & Chou, KR.(2009). Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training in reducing anxiety in patients with acute schizophrenia, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15(5), 2187-2196. _{^{Impact factor 1.376, 12/60 Nursing (Science); 10/58 Nursing (Social Science)}}.

2008

O’Brien, A.P. & Cho, A.A., Liew, A.M, Creedy, D. Ho R., & Arthur, D. (2008). The need for mental health promotion and early intervention services for higher education students in Singapore.The International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 10(3), August 2008, pp. 42-48(7).

O'Brien, AP. Chan, M F. & Cho, MAA. (2008). Investigating Nursing Students' Perceptions of the Changes in a Nursing Curriculum by Means of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) Inventory: Results of a Cluster Analysis. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 5(1), 1-18.

Nicholls, D., Butterworth, T., Owen, S., McGonagle. I., Baguley, I., Potter, S., Alexander, A. Forrest, S, Arthur, D., O’Brien A.P., & Stuart, G., (2008). The Singapore Summit: Integrating the 10 Essential Shared Capabilities into an international research and clinical framework for mental health: The International Standing Conference for Capability Development in Mental Health, Asian Journal of Nursing, 11(1). Editorial. pp. 54-61.

2007

Bremmer, J. & O’Brien, A.P. (2007). From shadow to mirror image – Baccalaureate nursing clinical education at NUS. Singapore Nursing Journal.  34(3) 24-32.

O’Brien, A.P., & Arthur, D.G. (2007). From diploma to baccalaureate, Singapore nursing in transition, perspectives from the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Singapore Medical Journal, 48(10) 875-879.

O’Brien, A.P., Gaskin, C.J., O’Brien, A.J., Morrison-Ngatai, E., (2007). Using focus groups to develop clinically and culturally valid clinical indicators for mental health nursing. Asian Journal of Nursing. 10(3), 184-190.

Doran, F. & O’Brien, A.P. (2007). A brief report of attitudes towards physical activity during pregnancy - health promotion considerations. Australian Journal of Health Promotion, 18(2), 155-158.

O’Brien, A.P., Woods, M., Watson, P., & Alpass, F. (2007). The development of a trans-cultural instrument designed to measure registered nurse attitudes to caring, technology and professional self: A New Zealand pilot study, Asian Journal of Nursing. 10(4), 218-227.

O’Brien, A.P. (2007). Letter to the Editor– The State of Nursing in Singapore. Asian Journal of Nursing, 10 (2), 80. Culturally-specific process measures to improve mental health practice – an indigenous focus. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry; 10 (2), 80 . _{^{Impact factor 2.573, 39/94 psychiatry}}

Stewart-Withers, R.R., and O’Brien, A.P. (2006). Suicide prevention and social capital: A Samoan perspective . Health Sociology Review, 15(2), 209-220.

O’Brien, A.P., Gaskin, C., and Hardy, D.J. (2006). Administering the New Zealand Professional Practice Audit Questionnaire to Mental Health Nurses in Australia based on the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Standards, Asian Journal of Nursing, 9(1), 43-50.

O'Brien, A.P. (2006). Moving toward culturally sensitive services for indigenous people – A non Aboriginal mental health nursing perspective. Contemporary Nurse, 21 (1), 22-31. 

O’Brien, A.P. (2005). Factors shaping Aboriginal mental health - an ethnographic account of growing up Koori from a Gubba perspective. Journal of Holistic Nursing. April 12(1), 11-20.

Before 2005

O'Brien, A, P., Arthur, D., Woods, M., and Watson. B. (2004). CAPSTI2 - A national survey of New Zealand registered nurses caring attributes, professional self concept and technological influences, The Asian Journal of Nursing Studies (AJNS), 7(3), 43-55

Gaskin, C. J., O'Brien, A. P., & Hardy, D. J. (2004). The Assessment of the inter-rater reliability of an audit instrument for mental health nursing practice in New Zealand. Aus J Adv Nursing, 21(3), 14-19. 

Gaskin, C J., O'Brien, A. P. & Hardy, D. J. (2003). The development of a professional practice audit questionnaire for mental health nursing in Aotearoa/New Zealand. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 12(4), 259-270. 

O'Brien, A.P., O'Brien, A.J., Hardy, D.J., Morrison-Ngatai, E., Gaskin, C.J., Boddy, J.M., McNulty, N., Ryan, T., & Skews, G. (2003). The New Zealand development and trial of Mental Health Nursing Clinical Indicators - A bicultural study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 40(8), 853-861.

O'Brien, A.P., Woods, M. and Palmer, C. J. (2001). The emancipation of nursing practice: applying anti-psychiatry to the therapeutic community, The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental health Nursing, 10(1), 3-9. 

O'Brien, A.P. (1998). Rural families as resources for family members who are mentally ill: A call for nursing involvement. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 12(4), 219-225.

O'Brien, A.P. (1997). Rooming In - new bedside manners for mental illness. Journal of the Tasmanian Association for Mental Health, (19), Summer, pp. 15, 16, 18. 

Heitmeyer, D., Nilan, P. and O'Brien, A. P. (1996). The feasibility of radical change in Aboriginal education curricula and pedagogy. Curriculum Perspectives, 16(1), 13-23.

O’Brien health nursing, The Australian New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 4(3), 132-142. 

O'Brien, A.P. (1994). Preparation for practice for mental health nursing-a qualitative perspective. The Australian New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 3(3), 95-107. 

O'Brien, A.P. (1994). Educational needs in mental health nursing. Nursing Times, A Short Report, 90(20), 12.

Heitmeyer, D. and O'Brien, A.P. (1992). Aboriginal education: the challenge of implementation and the need to change existing practices. Curriculum Perspective's, 12 (3), 1-7.

O'Brien, A.P. (1992). Violence in Mental Health Patients - A Short Report. Nursing Times, 88(19), 58. 

O'Brien, A.P. (1992). ‘A social skills model for the management of aggression in a therapeutic community'. The Australian New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2(2), 71-74.

Conferences

Published abstracts
Mathew, Sini, Walsh.P., Munro. I., O'Brien, A.P.(2010). Sailing Towards the horizon of recovery: Person centered rehabilitation in a mental health service. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 19(suppl 1), A32.

Munro. I., Cross, W. O'Brien, A.P. (2010). Team work is essential to obtain holistic health care: Otherwise the outcome for clients is going down with the ship? International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 19 (suppl 1), A35.

Munro. I., O'Brien, A.P. & Merrett, T. (2010). The Role of the principal community mental health nurse within the development of a new model of community mental health nursing care: bridging the gap between academia and clinical practice. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 19 (suppl 1), A35.

Dr. Arun Naik and Dr. Anthony O’Brien (2009). Group CBT approach to treatment of anxiety and depression in rural mental health settings, 10th International Mental Health Conference being held from the 12th –14th August 2009 at the Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

O’Brien, A.P. & Cho, Aye Aye.  (2008). An anti-depression mental promotion initiative at the National University of Singapore, The 2008 International Conference, ‘Healthy People for a Healthy World’ organized by Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, June 25-27, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand. ISBN 978-974-11-0959-3 – Siriyod printing, Thailand. 

Brammer, Jillian., & O’Brien A.P. (2008) Preceptorship - the Singapore Experience in a New Baccalaureate Nursing Programme, 11^th Annual EAFONS meeting, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, February 28-29.

Hong-Gu He, O’Brien A.P., Ng, Elaine & Arthur, D.A (2008) Using role play in the tutorials of therapeutic Communication, 11^th Annual EAFONS meeting, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, February 28-29.

Zang Yuli, O'Brien, A.P., Arthur, D.G., Tong Chunlan and Lou Fenglan, (2008). The identification of best palliative care statements in Shandong, China, Accepted - NUS/University of Hawai at Manoa, Advanced Practice Nursing in Multicultural Environments, May 28-30 2008. Clinical Research centre Auditorium, Singapore.

O’Brien, A.P. (2008). Doctoral research in South East Asia – connecting or disconnecting,  Taiwan, February 28-29, 2008. Plenary session and Panel speaker.

O’Brien, A.P. & Moon Fai Chan (2007). Using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory to measure student perceptions in a nursing curriculum, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Developing Countries, Maranatha – Teaching and Learning International Conference,Bandung, Indonesia, November 2007 28-29^th.

Arthur, D.G. and O’Brien, A.P. (2007). Nursing Research: Regional or Global, Saint Paul’s University Philippines, Tuguegarao City, July 18- 20 2007. Key note address in place of David Arthur.

O’Brien, A.P. (2007). The Singapore Palliative Care Project, Saint Paul’s University Philippines, Tuguegarao City, July 18- 20 2007. Invited resource speaker.

O’Brien, A.P. (2007). Monitoring mental health nursing professional development and practice, International Nursing Conference in Beijing, China, August 24-26.  Poster Presentation.

O’Brien, A. P. & Arthur, D.A. (2007). The Bachelor of Science (Nursing) Degree at National University of Singapore (NUS), Leading regional Initiatives in Nurse Education, Nursing Leadership Conference, Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Australia, April.

O’Brien, A.P. (2006). Finding innovative and flexible frameworks to managing integrated university nursing curricula within the constraints of regulatory, professional and educational limitations. Innovation in Nursing and Midwifery Practice, Education, Research and Management 7^th International Nursing Conference in Brunei Darussalam, December (Invited plenary, moderator and delegates’ remarks speaker).

 O'Brien, A.P., Chapman, Y., Porter, J., & Costello, A. (2009). Developing a Registered Nurse Student Mentor Bank (RNSMB) for student nurses from indigenous, international, and mature entry backgrounds. The Monash Transition, Retention and Progression Forum. Keynote speaker - The Hon. Julia Gillard MP.

Liaw, S. Y., Chen, F. G., Klainin, P., O'Brien, A., Brammer, J., & Samarasekera, D. D. The use of simulated learning activity in problem-based learning to improve the clinical competency of nursing students in managing a crisis vent. Accepted for oral presentation in 6th Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC), Feb, 19-23, 2009, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Liaw, S. Y., Chen, F. G., Klainin, P., O'Brien, A., Brammer, J., & Samarasekera, D. D. The integration of simulation into problem-based training learning for the acquisition of clinical skills in detecting and managing clinical deterioration. In AMEE 2009: An international Association for Medical Education, (pp.298-299). Barcelona: Viguera Editories SL

O'Brien, A. P., Boddy, J. M. & Hardy, D.J. (2007). Culturally-specific process measures to improve mental health practice - an indigenous focus. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry;

O'Brien, A.P & Arthur, D.G. (2007). Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) in Singapore - a nursing anti-depression mental health promotion initiative, ANJ (Australian Nursing Journal), May, 14 (10), 39.