Nicola Straiton

She/Her

I am queer and I am a PhD student.//

I am a PhD student at Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Australia. My research is looking into cardiovascular disease in older people and specifically heart valve disease. Aortic Stenosis (AS) is one of the most common heart valve disorders globally and numbers are forecast to increase alongside aging populations. Newer treatment options for minimally invasive surgery have emerged over the last decade to treat this condition, which means many more older patients are undergoing procedures. Whilst these contemporary minimally invasive procedures provide prognostic benefit for higher surgical-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), far less is understood about the impact to important patient outcomes – such as physical health and quality of life. Hopefully my work will attempt to understand the outcomes and expectations of older people deciding to undergo treatment for heart valve problems and how as a nurse we can provide more evidence-based care and support for patients and their families. Truthfully though – I am having a blast engaging older people in my research and hearing their stories! Surprisingly we both openly discuss our lives and giggle at adventures we have both taken and may embark upon.

Twitter: @NicStraiton