Dr. Ruby Walter
Details
College: School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Department: Health and Biomedical Sciences
Campus: Bundoora West Australia
ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au
ORCID: 0000-0001-5397-3496
Open to
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
I am an academic, nursing educator and qualitative researcher with a strong interest in nursing education, student experience and the preparation of nurses for contemporary practice. My work spans undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education, curriculum development, academic leadership and research, with particular interests in transition to practice, workforce development and the development of self and identity within nursing. I also have an interest in supporting academic teams to work collaboratively, build research capacity and create positive and cohesive environments for both staff and students.
Research fields
- 4205 Nursing
- 420504 Mental health nursing
- 420505 Nursing workforce
- 420599 Nursing not elsewhere classified
Supervisor projects
- Evaluating the experiences of Mental Health Services for consumers with first episode of psychosis engaging with ACT emergency and inpatient mental health services
- 20 Oct 2025
- Decolonisation of palliative care using traditional therapies
- 29 Nov 2024
- Exploring the Challenges Faced by ICU, Medical, and Surgical Nurses in Utilizing Pain Assessment Tools for Patients that are unable to Communicate, in Saudi Arabian Hospitals
- 13 Feb 2024
- Naive Youth and Self-harm: Acknowledgement of Risk and Dispositional Decision-making by Mental Health Nurses
- 17 Dec 2020
Teaching interests
I see communication as fundamental to nursing practice and nursing education. Effective communication shapes therapeutic relationships, teamwork, patient safety and the experiences of both patients and healthcare professionals. It is an area of nursing that I particularly enjoy teaching, because communication is both a professional skill and a deeply human practice. I am interested in helping students develop the confidence, self-awareness and relational skills to communicate effectively, respectfully and courageously across a wide range of clinical situations. I also believe it is important to recognise the complexity of people's experiences and the ways in which intersecting identities, circumstances and social contexts shape how people experience health, illness and healthcare. I aim to encourage students to move beyond simplistic understandings of individuals and situations, developing curiosity, critical thinking and a willingness to see the person and their experience within their broader context.
Research interests
As a qualitative researcher, I am particularly interested in exploring the breadth, complexity and individuality of human experience. I value research that seeks to understand how people experience and make sense of particular phenomena, recognising that there is rarely a single or universal experience. This perspective informs both my research and my approach to education, where I am passionate about understanding and responding to the diverse experiences and needs of students, nurses, and different population groups.
