Jennifer Dermer

Jennifer Dermer is a Lecturer in Nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), with over 26 years of clinical experience as a registered nurse (RN) across the United States, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Her specialty areas include cardiothoracic intensive care and clinical education, and she actively contributes to improving nurses' competence and ethical practice in healthcare.

• Educational Background:
  • PhD candidate at University of the Sunshine Coast
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science (Nursing) from University of Otago
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University

Jennifer's research focuses on enhancing basic life support (BLS) education for hospital ward nurses. She investigates factors affecting BLS performance, such as confidence degradation, team dynamics, and training frequency, aiming to develop curricula that address technical and non-technical skills in resuscitation scenarios.

Her publications highlight trends in integrating scenario-based learning, interdisciplinary team training, and lived experiences of nurses into BLS education frameworks. Jennifer emphasizes the need for innovative teaching methods to improve clinical outcomes during cardiac arrests.

• Professional Memberships:
  • Australian College of Nursing
  • Queensland Cardiovascular Research Network
  • Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union

Jennifer teaches courses in Professional Health Communication, Healthcare Law and Ethics, Research Methods, and Drug Therapies. She also engages in community outreach, providing free health checks for the homeless and advocating for organ donation awareness.