ProfMarilyn Cruickshank

Professor Marilyn Cruickshank RN, PhD, FACN, FACIPC has a conjoint appointment with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). Professor Cruickshank provides extensive research and team leadership, being nationally and internationally recognised as a leader on policy development and implementation strategies for safety and quality, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare associated infection. Professor Cruickshank has a strong paediatric clinical background as clinical educator, nurse unit manager, and clinical nurse consultant with areas of expertise involving health project management, health policy, and, program development and evaluation.

Marilyn Cruickshank is a nursing leader who aims to improve the health of children and their families through research, education, research capacity, and capability development. Marilyn has strong national and international profiles in policy development and implementation, particularly within the fields of nursing, paediatric health, infection control and antimicrobial resistance.

Marilyn's interests include a range of approaches, particularly in mixed methods, that address complex clinical and health services topics. She has extensive experience in policy application and research involving children, young people, and their families. Founder and Chair of the Australian Paediatric Nurse Scientists (AusPaNS), bringing together national and international paediatric nursing research leaders.

Marilyn’s research is aligned with addressing evidence gaps and clinical priorities in nursing and children’s health. Her current research relates to key programs in:
 Safety and quality - mental health, skin integrity, physical observations, and patient deterioration.
 Understanding nursing decision-making, especially in conjunction with family-integrated care.
 Interested in developing projects investigating gaps in national outcomes measures, benchmarks and guidelines that are not fit-for-purpose for paediatrics.

Within her role at UTS, Professor Cruickshank has a national and international profile as past-President of the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), a member of the national Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee, a member of the Australian Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee for Antimicrobial Resistance (ASTAG), a member of the Confederation of National Nursing and Midwifery Organisations (CoNNMO), Board member of the International Federation of Infection Control (IFIC), inaugural chair of the Australian Paediatric Nurse Scientists (AusPANS), member of SPHERE Nursing and Midwifery Academy, member of the SPHERE Triple I Clinical Academic Group, and a member of UTS Centre for Nursing Research (CeNseR).