With clinical experience spanning areas like medical assessment and cancer care, Graeme is interested in any study or practice of nursing that leads to improvements in health and wellbeing; whether that be physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual. He teaches on undergraduate and postgraduate courses and conducts a wide range of research in collaboration with clinical colleagues, academics from multiple disciplines, voluntary organisations and charities; involving the recipients of care and services at all stages. 

In particular, his focus lies in cultivating resilience, managing long term conditions, complementary medicine and spirituality in healthcare. Graeme teaches mindfulness meditation to student nurses and people living with chronic illness, and researches the impact of its application. 

He is committed to the concept of clinical academic practice, where research informs practice and vice versa, and identifies as a pragmatic, quantitative-dominant, mixed-methods researcher, with experience in quantitative & qualitative research methods and evidence synthesis. 

• Mindfulness
• Complementary medicine
• Long-term conditions: e.g. cancer, HIV, stroke, symptom control, mental well-being 
• Person-Centred care
• Palliative care and advance care planning
• Feasibility study methodology
• Evidence synthesis
• Mixed method research 

Grants & Awards

• 2019 - co-I - Research Grant (£360K) - The Stroke Association Priority Programme Awards - HEADS: UP (helping ease anxiety and depression following stroke: non-randomised pilot study followed by a randomised cluster pilot trial 
• 2016 - PI - Research Grant (£1725) - Education, Innovation & Scholarship Committee, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, University of Manchester - Nursing Mindfully: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Student Nurses' Experiences of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention  
• 2014 – PI - CAMSTRAND – Best Conference Poster Presentation – The Meaning and Perceived Value of Mind-Body Practices for People Living with HIV: A Qualitative Synthesis 
• 2013 - PI - CAMSTRAND - Best Conference Oral Presentation – Positively Mindful: An Investigation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Supportive Care Option for People Living with HIV
• 2012 – British Journal of Nursing: Intravenous Therapy Award – The Christie CALM Chemotherapy Service (Team member) 
• 2012 – PI - Research Grant (£2000) – The Janek Latosinski Charitable Trust – Positively Mindful: An Investigation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Supportive Care Option for People Living with HIV
• 2011 – PI - PhD Scholarship (c. £60K) – Glasgow Caledonian University – Positively Mindful: An Investigation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Supportive Care Option for People Living with HIV

Conference Presentations

• Travers, A. Donald, G. (2018) What prevents advance care planning in Haematology? Poster - Association of Palliative Medicine Conference
• Travers, A. Donald, G. (2017) What do doctors and nurses identify as the barriers and facilitators to advance care planning for patients with haematological malignancies? Presentation - The UK IPA Conference
• Donald, G. Pusey, H. Timpson, J. Rowland, C. Lee-Woolf, E. Speed, S. (2017) Nursing Mindfully: a mixed method exploration of student nurses’ experiences of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Presentation - CAMSTRAND
• Donald, G. Pusey, H. Timpson, J. Rowland, C. Lee-Woolf, E. Speed, S. (2017) Nursing Mindfully: a mixed method exploration of student nurses’ experiences of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Presentation - RCN International Nursing Research Conference
• Donald, G. Lorimer, K. Lawrence, M. Stringer, J. Flowers, P. (2014) The Meaning and Perceived Value of Mind-Body Practices for People Living with HIV: A Qualitative Synthesis. Poster – CAMSTRAND
• Donald, G. Lorimer, K. Lawrence, M. Wong, R. Winter, A. Stringer, J. Flowers, P. (2013) Positively Mindful: An investigation of mindfulness-based stress reduction as a potential supportive care option for people living with HIV. Presentation – CAMSTRAND
• Stringer, J. Donald, G. Warn, P. (2013) The management of malodour in fungating malignant wounds using ‘NEOC’ cream. Poster - Wounds UK
• Mackereth, P. Donald, G. Wu, A. (2011) Calming panic states in the mould room and beyond. Poster - UK Radiation Oncology Conference
• Stringer, J. Donald, G. (2010) The symptom management of fungating malignant wounds using topical essential oils.  Poster – National Cancer Research Institute Annual Conference 

Academic Teaching

• Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology for nursing practice 
• Applied biosciences for nursing practice 
• Essential skills for nursing 
• Clinical judgement and decision making
• Health psychology and behaviour change
• Managing complex care
• BNurs dissertation supervisor
• Masters dissertation supervisor 

 Research Students

• A. Travers - MRes - What are the barriers and facilitators to advance care planning in adult haematology patients? - Funded by NIHR/HEE - Awarded with Distinction - 2017
• T. Garcia-Lopez - MRes - The experience of older participants in oncology clinical trials with the use of electronic patient reported outcome measures? - Funded by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - Projected submission September 2018
• A. Langstaff - MSc - What are the lived experiences of oncology nurses communicating with people with poor prognosis or at end of life? - submitted November 2020

 Clinical Skills & Simulation Training

• Basic life support
• Moving & handling
• Infection control
• Woundcare
• Clinical observations
• A-E assessment
• Acute illness management

 Leadership & Achievements

• Unit lead for Applied Biosciences for Nursing Practice I (2016), developing a new course unit to improve student experience and concentrate on applying theory to practice
• Delivery of mindfulness meditation sessions to student nurses and midwives, through student support services. Provision based on results from complementary research programme (Nursing Mindfully), demonstrating the potential for profound transformation in participating students

Graeme has developed an interest in early stage research like service evaluations, proof of principle / pilot work and feasibility testing; in addition to larger scale trials. He has experience of quantitative & qualitative research methods in addition to systematic reviewing and evidence synthesis.

BSc with Merit in Mathematics

Diploma of Professional Studies in Nursing

PgDip in Hypnotherapy

PhD in Applied Health Research

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy