QEII Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner Dr Grace Xu has taken out the Metro South Health International Nurses Day Excellence in Research Award for her exceptional achievements in the field.
With 16 years' experience as an emergency nurse, Grace's passion for advancing emergency care has produced a PhD and more than 50 publications, attracting over $10 million in research grants. She is also Chair of the Metro South Health Research Grants Committee for 2026.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Metro South Health Chief Executive Noelle Cridland said peers described Grace as compassionate, accountable, engaged, and exemplary in her field.
“Her studies on how to prevent cannulas inserted in emergency departments that are not used has led to further studies to reduce this no value care by patient engagement and other strategies.”
Grace said her focus as Metro South Health Research Grants Committee Chair is to translate rigorous, patient‑centred research into improved clinical practice, compassionately address unwarranted care, and advance nursing excellence across both research and frontline care.
“I have a meaningful opportunity to contribute at a strategic level and to advocate for high-quality, clinician-led research across Metro South. I am particularly proud to represent Metro South Hospital researchers in research decision-making, ensuring that diverse perspectives from across our hospitals and services are heard and valued,” Grace said.
“I want to strengthen collaboration, break down silos, and ensure research reflects the breadth of expertise within Metro South.
“By supporting a range of projects and investigators, we can foster innovation at all levels, not just in major centres, but across wards, departments, and services. Strong local research leads to better evidence, better systems, and better outcomes for our patients and communities.”
On behalf of everyone at Metro South Health, congratulations on your exceptional research achievements Grace!