Rate My Professor Suzanne Volejnikova-Wenger

Suzanne Volejnikova-Wenger is an Associate Lecturer in Nursing within the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast. A registered nurse (RN) with qualifications including a Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNS), BNS (Honours), and Master of Clinical Nursing (MClinNurs) from the Sunshine Coast, she possesses diverse experience in primary and community nursing care, focusing on vulnerable populations, innovative models of care, and community collaborations to enhance health and wellbeing. Her international career encompasses roles in public and private regional hospitals in Switzerland, followed by work in the not-for-profit sector in the Czech Republic, where she contributed to the early development of the Dum Portus Project by Zivot 90 in Prague to support independent living for older adults. Currently, she volunteers as a Street Nurse with Sunny Street, a nurse- and doctor-led outreach service delivering primary healthcare and coordination for homeless and vulnerable individuals and families. Suzanne has developed online staff education and teaches in the Bachelor of Nursing Science program, covering topics such as Nursing in the Community, Healthy Ageing, Professional Communication, and Professionalism.

Suzanne's research specializations include serious games, nursing education, community care, and professional wisdom. She is a PhD candidate investigating nurse education and professional wisdom. Key publications comprise 'Student nurses' experience using a serious game to learn clinical reasoning during patient deterioration: A qualitative study' (Nurse Education Today, 2021, with Patrea Andersen and Karen-Ann Clarke), 'Age is just a number, or is it?' (2021), 'A nursing student's reflection' (The Hive, 2016), and 'Mentoring the Next Generation of Nurse Researchers' (2023, with Gordana Dermody). She has earned recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, Advance HE, 2021), High Achiever Awards in the Australian College of Nursing's Emerging Nurse Leader Program across five stages (2017-2021), Vice-Chancellor's Honours Scholarship and Faculty Medal (University of the Sunshine Coast, 2017), Student Leadership Award (2018), Annual Bursary Winner for women returning to study (Zonta Club of Maroochy, 2015), and membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society (2017).