This is the 'Invitation and information' that I used in the participant recruitment phase of my PhD studies. I used a purposive snowballing technique to recruit participants. As such, this ivitation was initially e-mailed to my professional networks.

1. Invitation and
Information
AUSTRALIAN CIVILIAN NURSES LIVED EXPERIENCE OF
WORKING IN THE OUT-OF-HOSPITAL DISASTER ENVIRONMENT
INVITATION AND INFORMATION
Are you a nurse who primarily works as a clinician in a hospital?
Have you participated in the health response and/or recovery to a disaster, in the last five years?
Did you respond with a civilian (non-military) organisation, association, group or health service?
Did your response involve you working in the out-of-hospital environment?
If you have answered yes to all of the above, you are invited to participate in this research project that will
explore your experience of working in the out-of-hospital environment during disasters.
Overview
Historically, Australian nurses have been active participants in the response and recovery to health
related disasters, both nationally and internationally. However, the experience of Australian nurses who
participate in disasters remains poorly understood. Having a better understanding of the experience of
Australian nurses in disasters, may assist in the further development of curriculum, policy and resources
to support nurses.
Aim
This project aims to explore the lived experience of Australian civilian registered general nurses (division
1), who have worked in the out-of-hospital disaster environment. In particular, this project will explore the
transferability of nurses’ experience between the in-hospital and out-of-hospital disaster environment.
Your participation
Participation in this research will involve two face-to-face interviews with the researcher at a mutually
agreeable time, at a mutually agreeable location. Each interview will:
 Take place in your city of residence,
 Last approximately 60 – 90 minutes per interview, and
 Be digitally recorded.
It is anticipated that the two interviews will take place within the same week. Participation in this research is
voluntary. During the interviews you do not have to answer any question/s that you do not wish to answer,
and you may withdraw any comments from the research at any point in time.

2. About the researcher
Jamie Ranse is a PhD student at the Flinders University Disaster Research Centre. He is a Registered
Nurse with a background in Emergency and Intensive Care nursing. Jamie has an interest in disaster
health, from a nursing perspective. Jamie’s PhD research is being supervised by Professor Paul Arbon, Dr
Lynette Cusack and Dr Ramon Shaban.
If at any time you have queries about this project, you may contact either:
Mr Jamie Ranse (PhD candidate / researcher): jamie.ranse@flinders.edu.au or +61 2 6201 5380
Professor Paul Arbon (supervisor): paul.arbon@flinders.edu.au or +61 8 8201 3558
Emotional wellbeing
Prior to, during and/or following your interview with the researcher, you may experience an emotional
response relating to your experience. You are encouraged to seek the support of your General Practitioner
or your hospital / health service employee assistance program if this occurs.
Results
Following completion of this research project, the findings will be submitted in thesis format, as part of the
requirements of the researchers PhD. Additionally, the results may be published in a journal and presented
at a conference. Any publications and/or presentations will not individually identify you. All publications and
presentations relating to this project can be found at: http://bit.ly/JamiesPhD
Ethics
Approval to undertake this research has been obtained from the Flinders University Social and Behavioural
Research Ethics Committee (project number: 5423). Should you have any problems or queries about the
way in which the research is being conducted, and you do not feel comfortable contacting the research
staff, you may contact:
Executive Officer, Research Services Office
E-mail: human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 8201 3116
Fax: +61 8 8201 2035
Indicate your interest to participation in this research
If you wish to participate in this research, please contact:
Mr Jamie Ranse
PhD Candidate
E-mail: jamie.ranse@flinders.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6201 5380
Please circulate this invitation and information sheet to your colleagues and associates that may be
interested in participating in this research.