Associate Professor Kim Foster
Coordinator, Mental Health Nursing
RN RPN DipAppSc Syd BN UNE MA Deakin PhD Griffith MRCNA, FACMHN
Kim is a registered nurse with particular expertise and interest in mental health nurse education, curriculum development, and research. She joined the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery in late 2008 and is currently the Coordinator of Mental Health Nursing programs. Kim also holds an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment with James Cook University.
Prior to her current position at University of Sydney, Kim was Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of School in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition at James Cook University, where she developed one of the first mental health majors in pre-registration nursing in Queensland. With nearly 20 years of tertiary education experience in regional and metropolitan settings, Kim has taught in Australia, Hong Kong and Fiji. She has consulted extensively to AusAID on the development of the first mental health nursing postgraduate program in Fiji, and to the World Health Organization on Psychosocial Health via the Pacific Open Learning Health Net.
Kim’s primary areas of research are children and families where parents have a mental illness, family/carers of people with mental illness, and the interface between physical and mental health. For her doctoral work, she investigated the experiences of adult children of parents with serious mental illness.
Areas of expertise
Kim’s predominant areas of teaching include mental health/psychiatric nursing; interpersonal communication in healthcare, psychosocial health, and research methodology.
Kim has three main areas of research interest: children, young people and families where parents have a mental illness; family/carers of people with mental illness; and physical health and mental health. She uses mixed methods research and has expertise and interest in qualitative methodologies, particularly narrative inquiry and phenomenology.
Current research projects
At present, Kim is working on the following projects:
- Evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid at headspace Macarthur
- The relationship between mental health and major trauma in patients of an Australian Trauma Centre
- Evaluation of the “Keeping Families and Children in Mind”, a Training Resource
- Prevention of weight gain with second generation antipsychotics: a nurse-led intervention.
Recent publications (past 5 years)
Books and book chapters
Usher K, Foster K & Bullock S (2009) Psychopharmacology for Health Professionals. Sydney: Elsevier.
Usher K, Foster K & Luck L (2009). The patient as person. In R Elder, K Evans & D Nizette (eds), Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (2nd edn). Sydney: Elsevier, pp408-428.
Usher K, Foster K & Luck L (2009) Psychopharmacology. In R Elder, K Evans & D Nizette (eds), Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (2nd edn), Sydney: Elsevier, pp457-472.
Happell B, Cowin L, Roper C, Foster K & McMaster R (2008) Introducing Mental Health Nursing: a consumer-oriented approach. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.
Usher K, Foster K & Stewart L (2008). Reflective practice for the graduate nurse. In E Chang & J Daly, Transitions in nursing: preparing for professional practice. Sydney: Elsevier, pp275-289.
Usher K, Foster K & Gadai S (2007) A case for psychotropic prescribing by nurses: Fiji. WHO/ICN Atlas: Nurses in Mental Health 2007 (pp46). Geneva: WHO.
Usher K, Luck L & Foster K (2005) The Patient as Person. In R Elder, K Evans & D Nizette (eds), Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Sydney: Elsevier, pp359-378.
Usher K, Luck L & Foster K (2005) Psychopharmacology. In R Elder, K Evans & D Nizette (eds), Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Sydney: Elsevier, pp404-418.
Blair K (2004) In a daughter’s voice: A mental health nurse’s experience of being the daughter of a mother with schizophrenia. In V Cowling (ed.), Children of Parents with Mental Illness 2: Personal and Clinical Perspectives. Melbourne: ACER Press, pp85-98.
Journals
Foster K, Usher K, Luck L, Harvey N & Lindsay D (2008) Learning from experience: an evaluation of an external nursing course in regional Australia. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 45(2), 155-167.
Foster K, Usher K, Baker J, Gadai S & Ali S (2008) Mental health workers’ attitudes toward mental illness in Fiji. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25(3), 72-79.
Usher K, Foster K, & Park T (2006) The metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia: the latest evidence and nursing guidelines for management. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 13(6), 730-734.
Foster K, McAllister M & O’Brien L (2006) Extending the boundaries: autoethnography as an emergent method in mental health nursing research. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 15(1), 44-53.
Usher K & Foster K (2006) The use of psychotropic medications with breastfeeding women: a review of the latest evidence. Contemporary Nurse 21(1), 67-80.
Foster K, McAllister M, & O’Brien L (2005). Coming to autoethnography: A mental health nurse’s experience. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 4(4), Article 1. Retrieved 10 February 2006 from http://www.ualberta.ca/ ~ijqm/backissues/ 4_4/html/foster.htm
Usher K Foster K & McNamara P (2005) Antipsychotic drugs and pregnant or breast feeding women: the issues for mental health nurses. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 12(6), 713-718.
Foster K, O’Brien L, & McAllister M (2004/5). Addressing the needs of children of parents with a mental illness: current approaches. Contemporary Nurse 18 (1-2), 67-80.
In press
Foster K, Usher K, Gadai S & Taukei R (in press). ‘There is no health without mental health’: implementing the first mental health nursing program in Fiji. Contemporary Nurse.
Nurjannah I, FitzGerald M & Foster K (in press). Patients’ experiences of absconding from a psychiatric setting in Indonesia. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
Published peer-reviewed abstracts
Foster K (2008) “Where are all the children now?”: experiences of adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42(S1), A54-A121.
Foster K (2007). Striving to connect: listening to adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(Suppl. 2), A279.
Foster, K., McAllister, M., & O’Brien, L. (2006). Making the personal, political: using autoethnography as a method in mental health nursing research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(3) Retrieved 9th November 2006 from http://www.ualberta. ca/ ~ijqm.
Other publications (past 5 years)
Foster K (2008) Children and adolescents whose parents have a serious mental illness. Connections (RCNA newsletter), 1(11), 8.
Foster K (2008) Book review: Finding my way: a teen’s guide to living with a parent who has experienced trauma. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 17(2), 149.
Foster K (2008). Book review: I’m not alone: a teen’s guide to living with a parent who has a mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 17(2), 148-9.
Marks P, McCauley-Elsom K, Foster K, Hancox K (2006) Non- Directive Pregnancy Counselling for Mental Health Nurses. Online educational training package. ANZCMHN, Canberra.
Brown S & Foster K (2005). Developing our emotional intelligence. Nursing Review, 22.
Recent presentations (past 5 years)
Invited papers/presentations
Foster K (2008) Invited speaker. Children and adolescents whose parents have mental illness. 18th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, April/May, Istanbul Turkey
Foster K (2008) Invited international keynote speaker. II – National Psychiatric Nursing conference, April, Istanbul Turkey
Foster K (2007) Invited Australian representative. Mental Health Nursing Regulation. World Health Organization (videoconferenced) worldwide launch of Atlas: Nurses in Mental Health 2007, September, Cairns
Foster K (2007) Invited paper. Living with uncertainty: Being a young person in a family with parental mental illness. Adolescent and Young People’s Health Research Forum, University of Western Sydney, Sydney
Foster K (2007) Invited guest speaker. Spirals of healing – building solutions with families. Leo Livengood Memorial Forum, Mental Illness Fellowship North Queensland, Schizophrenia Awareness Week, Townsville
Foster K (2005) Invited Keynote Speaker. Disturbing the silences – on having a parent with mental illness. 6th Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference, Melbourne
Foster K (2005) Invited Keynote Speaker. Learning from adult children of parents with psychosis. Koping Forums – to strengthen partnerships for children of parents with mental illness, Queensland Health, Cairns and Townsville
Foster K (2005) Invited Presenter. “Yes – we have engagement!” Developing the student/teacher relationship as an effective teaching and learning strategy in higher education. Presented at the James Cook University Teaching and Learning Symposium, Cairns
Conference presentations and posters (past 5 years)
Foster K (2008) And the moral/s of the story is … ?: Illuminating family/carers experiences through narrative analysis. Paper presented at the NSW Branch Conference, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Gosford.
Foster K, Gadai S & Usher K (2008) Implementing the first mental health nursing program in Fiji. Poster presented at the 14th South Pacific Nurses Forum, Suva Fiji.
Foster K (2008) ‘It’s a roller coaster ride’: COPMI caring for life. Paper presented at the Children and Families Where a Parent has a Mental Illness (COPMI) Research Seminar-Meeting, Melbourne.
Foster K (2008). “I wanted to learn how to heal my heart”: experiences of receiving a specialist support service in the Well Ways program. Paper presented at the 9th Tropical Symposium, North Queensland Branch of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Port Douglas.
Foster K (2008). “Where are all the children now?”: experiences of adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Paper presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Congress, Melbourne.
Foster K (2007) Striving to connect: listening to adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Paper presented at the World Psychiatric Association International Congress, Melbourne.
West C, Usher K, Foster K & Jackson D (2007) The Black Dog has many homes: Chronic pain, depression and the impact on the family. Paper presented at the 33rd Australian College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Cairns.
Nurjannah I, FitzGerald M & Foster K (2007) Patients’ experiences of absconding from a psychiatric setting in Indonesia. Paper presented at the 33rd Australian College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Cairns.
McCauley-Elsom K, Foster K, Marks P & Hancox K (2007) The credentialed mental health nurse and pregnancy counselling. Paper presented at the 33rd Australian College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Cairns.
Foster K & Gadai S (2007) Waves across the Pacific – developing and implementing the first mental health nursing program in Fiji. Paper presented at the 33rd Australian College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Cairns.
Foster K (2006) Transformational stories: Learning from adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Paper presented at the 32nd Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Alice Springs. Awarded the Inaugural Annual Research Award, ACMHN.
Park T & Foster K (2006) Sharing our knowledge – bringing mental health nursing into generalist postgraduate nursing education. Paper presented at the 32nd Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Alice Springs.
Foster K (2006) Towards new understandings – lessons learned from the experiences of adult children of parents with serious mental illness. Paper presented at the 16th TheMHS National Conference, Townsville.
Foster K, McAllister M, & O’Brien L (2006) Making the personal, political: using autoethnography as a method in mental health nursing research. Paper presented at the 7th International Interdisciplinary Conference Advances in Qualitative Methods, Gold Coast.
Usher K & Foster K (2005) Breastfeeding women and psychotropic medications: working with the evidence. Paper presented at the 31st Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses International Conference, Fremantle.
Awards and grants (past 5 years)
Awards
Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2008). Team nomination with K Usher, J Tollefson & L Stewart “For the sustained development and implementation of effective curricula which promotes student learning in nursing education in regional, remote and Pacific locations”
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (JCU) (2008). Team nomination with K Usher, J Tollefson & L Stewart “For the sustained development and implementation of effective curricula which promotes student learning in nursing education in regional, remote and Pacific locations”
Research Award (2006) for the best research paper presentation, awarded by the Research Board of the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses (ANZCMHN) at the ANZCMHN 32nd Annual International Conference, Alice Springs, October
Grants
Usher K, Foster K, Buttner P & Park T (2009) Prevention of weight gain with second generation antipsychotics: a nurse-led weight loss, activity, and healthy eating program. Eli Lilly, $26,000
Fisher M, Lewis M, Maw M, Foster K, Canning C, Green J, Gatward H & Canalese J (2009) Watch, Learn, Go: Developing multi-professional learning resources to support clinical and communication skills development for health professionals. Teaching Improvement and Equipment Large Grants Scheme, University of Sydney, $97,500
Usher K, Foster K, Buttner P & Park T (2008) Prevention of weight gain with second generation antipsychotics: a nurse-led intervention. QNC Experienced Researcher Grant, $30,000
Foster K (2007) Evaluation of specialist support for Well Ways program, Far North Queensland project (Chief Investigator)
Invited Contract Research: Mental Illness Fellowship Australia, $4030
Foster K (2002/4) ‘A narrative inquiry into the experiences of adult children of parents with serious mental illness’ (Chief Investigator)
Funded: JCU Teaching Relief Award 2004, $10,516
Funded: JCU Research Infrastructure Start Up Scheme 2002, $3825
Areas of teaching and research supervision
Current research students
Park T Prevention of weight gain with second generation antipsychotics: a nurse-led intervention (external associate supervisor) Phd in progress, JCU
Sando J ‘Analysis of how health practitioners in Far North Queensland manage people who are victims of Irukandji Syndrome’ (external associate supervisor) Phd in progress, JCU
West C ‘A collective mixed methods case study on chronic pain and family resilience’ (external associate supervisor) PhD in progress, JCU
Completed research students
Nurjannah I (2008) ‘Absconding from a psychiatric setting in Indonesia: a case study’ (Co-supervisor) Master’s by Research, JCU
Pettiford N (2002) ‘Care of the Human Spirit: A Nursing Perspective’ (Principal Supervisor) Master’s minor thesis, ACU
Tollefson J (2009) ‘The lived experience of chronic persistent pain in participants living in rural North Queensland’ (Co-supervisor) PhD, JCU
Areas of teaching
Kim’s current areas of teaching are in Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing, Interpersonal Relations in Clinical Environments, and Qualitative Research. She also mentors students in Reading Topics and Practice Development Projects in the post-registration master’s programs. Kim supervises a number of higher-degree research student projects.
Community work
Kim is a Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, and an active member of the College. In 2007 she was the Scientific Chair and member of the Organising Committee for the 33rd International Mental Health Nursing conference in Cairns. Kim is also a member of the National Children of Parents with Mental Illness (COPMI) Reference Group, and the National COPMI Initiative Workforce Development Consultation Group. She is a previous Director of the Board of the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (AICAFMHA).
Kim is active in peer-reviewing for a number of international and national nursing journals, including Journal of Clinical Nursing, Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Inquiry, and Collegian.