Staff profile

Ms Melanie Rae Bish

Academic Manager, Senior Lecturer, Department of Rural Nursing and Midwifery

Faculty of Health Sciences

La Trobe Rural Health School
Department of Rural Nursing and Midwifery

HHS1, 2.22, Bendigo

 

Qualifications

RN, BN(hons), BCN, MN, PhD(c)

Membership of professional associations

RCNA, Friends of the National Rural Health Alliance

Area of study

Nursing

Brief profile

The career trajectory of Melanie demonstrates a commitment to professional development in both academic and industry arenas. As a Masters prepared health professional, Melanie has held senior management positions in industry, has current clinical experience in the acute sector and currently holds the position of academic manager in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at the La Trobe Rural Health School. A current doctoral candidate, Melanie is passionate about the future of health care in rural and regional Australia with her research interests encompassing leadership, healthcare reform, nursing and women’s health.

Research interests

Health Services Management

- Leadership, structural empowerment, rural workforce development, action research

Women's Health

- Breast disease

Teaching units

Co-coordinator of the Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses Program

  • NGS4IRON

Bachelor of Nursing

  • NSG3PTN
  • NSG2MIN
  • NSG2ACA

Recent publications

Bish M., Kenny A., Nay R (2012) Identifying contemporary issues in rural nursing leadership: a scoping review. Journal of Nursing Scholarship.  

Bish M., Kenny A., Nay R. (2012) Rural nurse leader’s perceptions of empowerment. Journal of Nursing Management.  

Bish M., Kenny A., Nay R. (2012)   Using participatory action research to foster nurse leadership in Australian rural hospitals. Nursing and Health Sciences.  

Guzys D, Kenny A, Bish M. (2012) Sustaining secondary school nursing practice in Australia: A qualitative study. Nursing and Health Sciences.

 

National and International Conference Presentations

Bish, M. (2010) Strengthening knowledge of oral health: Supportive education for rural health professionals and mental health consumers. National Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) conference. Broome, W.A 20th-23rd October.

Bish, M. (2009) A partnership approach to improving oral health outcomes for mental health clients. An oral presentation at the NET 2009 Conference. Cambridge University, Cambridge England.

Bish, M (2006) Women’s self perception post breast reconstruction. The 5th National Breast Care Nurse Conference, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne.

 

Older publications

Nankervis, K., Kenny. A., Bish. M (2008) Enhancing scope of practice for the second level nurse: A change process to meet growing demand for rural health services. Contemporary Nurse 29(2):159-173. 

Research projects

Current HDR student supervision

Sally Squire, PhD candidate                                                                                                                                                        

Research project: How can a mentoring program improve the transition from clinician to nursing unit manager for nurses in the Hume region of Victoria?                                                                                                                                                  

co supervised with Professor Sandra Leggat, La Trobe University.

Fran Reid, PhD candidate                                                                                                                                                

Research project: Living and dying at home in rural Australia: the community nursing role                                                      

co supervised with Dr Les Fitzgerald, La Trobe University.