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Chris Quinn, PhD Candidate

Chris Quinn

Thesis title: The practice of mental health nurses: The need to include sexuality in consumer care

Summary:

This exploratory qualitative research was conducted with 14 mental health nurses in three stages over a two year period investigating their current practices in addressing the sexual concerns experienced by adult mental health consumers, and whether the BETTER model provides a useful framework to assist nurses in improving this neglected area of care. This model has not been evaluated in mental health, and may well be an effective model to support mental health nurses in meeting the unmet sexual health needs of mental health consumers.

Supervisors: Professor Brenda Happell and Associate Professor Kerry Reid-Searl

Journal articles:

Quinn, C.; Happell, B. & Welch, A. (2012). Talking about sex as part of our role: making and sustaining practice change. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Accepted for publication June 2012

Quinn, C. & Happell, B. (2012b). Getting BETTER: Breaking the ice and warming to the inclusion of sexuality in mental health nursing care.International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 21, 154-162.

Quinn, C. & Happell, B. (2012). Talking About Sexuality With Consumers of Mental Health Services. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. Accepted for publication April 2012.

Quinn, C. & Happell, B. (2011). Opportunity lost? Psychiatric medications and problems with sexual function: a role for nurses in mental health. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21, 415-423.

Quinn, C., Happell, B. & Browne, G. (2011). Sexuality and consumers of mental health services: the impact of gender and boundary issues. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 32, 170-176.

Quinn, C., Happell, B. & Browne, G. (2011). Talking or avoiding? Mental health nurses’ views about discussing sexual health with consumers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 20, 1, 21-28.

Quinn, C. & Browne, G. (2009). The sexuality of people living with a mental illness: A collaborative challenge for mental health nurses. A literature review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 18, 195-203.

Other publications:

Quinn, C. (2012). Including sexuality in mental health nursing care: Changing practice is possible. Connections: Royal College of Nursing Australia, 15, 1, 14-15.

Quinn, C. (2112). It’s okay to talk about sex: Including sexuality in mental health nursing. Australian Nurses Journal, 19, 6, 34-35.

Quinn, C. (2011). No more medication, I’d have to fake it if you make me take it. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 20, Supplement 1, 1-21.

Quinn, C. (2011). Sexually speaking: The ins and outs of talking about sex with consumers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 20, Supplement 1, 1-21.

Quinn, C., Happell, B. & Browne, G. (2010). Avoiding sexuality in our practice: Mental health nurses’ views about discussing sexual health with consumers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 19, Supplement 1, A40.

Quinn, C. & Browne, G. (2008). The BETTER model: A guide to assist mental health nurses in discussing sexuality with consumers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 17, Supplement 1, A28.

Conference Presentations

Quinn, C. (2011). The ins and outs of talking about sex with consumers. 37th Annual International Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Gold Coast.

Quinn, C. (2011). No more medication, I’d have to fake it if you make me take it. 37th Annual International Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Gold Coast.

Quinn, C. (2011). It’s okay to talk about sex: Liberating nursing practice. 11th Victorian Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference. Centre for Psychiatric Nursing.

Quinn, C. (2011). Sexual side effects: Would you take the stuff? 11th Victorian Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference. Centre for Psychiatric Nursing.

Quinn, C. (2010). Lets talk about the “S” word. 36th International Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Hobart.

Quinn, C. (2010). What do we do when faced with sexual issues? If it’s not my job, whose job is it? 11th Victorian Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference. Centre for Psychiatric Nursing.

Quinn, C. (2010). What do we do when faced with sexual issues? If it’s not my job, whose job is it? Gold Coast Sub-Branch ACMHN 4th. Annual Symposium. “Transformation: Mental health nursing the next decade and beyond”. Awarded the Excellence Award for best presentation.

Quinn, C. (2009). We’re waiting for it to happen, and when it does, what do we say? Talking with mental health consumers about their sexual health concerns. The North Queensland Regional Branch of ACMHN 10th Annual Tropical Symposium Mental health problems: Anytime, anywhere, anyone Capricorn Resort Yeppoon.

Quinn, C. (2009). We all think about it, now it’s time to talk about it. Exploring mental health nurses experience in discussing sexuality issues with consumers. 3rd. Annual Symposium ACMHN, Gold Coast Branch.

Quinn, C. (2008). The BETTER model: A guide to assist Mental Health Nurses in discussing sexuality with consumers. 34th Annual International Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Conference, Melbourne.

Quinn, C. (2008). The sexuality of people living with a mental illness: A collaborative challenge for mental health nurses. A review of the literature. 2nd Annual Symposium ACMHN, Gold Coast Branch.