Dr Isabel Castillo Escobar
Faculty of Health,
School of Nursing
Biography
I am a registered nurse, health coach and research fellow. I completed a Bachelor of Nursing in 2000 and worked in acute care settings (pediatric & adult intensive care, coronary care, and emergency & pre-hospital care) before moving into research in 2015. I completed a PhD program in 2015 at Griffith University.My research interests and publications are currently focused on:
- Posttraumatic growth and wellbeing after critical illness or injury
- Interventions that can be delivered during and after critical illness or injury to improve recovery after time in the intensive care unit.
- Coaching psychology
Alongside my academic work, I help ICU survivors and their families apply science to practice through both online and in-person coaching.
Personal details
Positions
- Research Fellow
Faculty of Health,
School of Nursing
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Griffith University)
Professional memberships and associations
Australian College of Critical Care Nurses
Health Coaches Australian & New Zealand Association
Paediatric Critical Care Research Group
PICOLO Network: Paediatric Intensive Care Optimising Long Term Outcomes
Teaching
HLN703 Project unit - Student supervision
Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support - PHTLS (SAMU Metropolitan)
Neonatal Advanced Life Support - NALS (American Heart Association)
Experience
Awards
2015: Best Nursing Review Paper
What is the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors? In the 40th Australian and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care. Auckland, New Zealand
Scholarships
The Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Dec 2010)
The Griffith Health Group full living Stipend Scholarship (Dec 2010)
Grants
Total: AUD$742,782
Castillo, M. I., Rickard, C., VASCULAR project (Registry - ongoing monitoring and benchmarking of PIVC insertion and management practices in Latin American countries. * Becton, Dickson and Company, VASCULAR project (AUD$51,000)
Castillo, M. I., OPTIMUM Systematic Literature Review. * Griffith University New Researcher Grant Scheme, Dec 2016 (AUD$8,836)
Castillo, M. I., Rickard, C., Marsh, N., Carr, P., Jackson G., Zhang L., Cooke, M., Wallis, M. Integrated versus nOn-integrated Peripheral inTravenous catheter. Which Is the most clinical and cost-effective systeM for peripheral intravenoUs catheter Management? (The OPTIMUM randomised controlled trial). * Becton, Dickson and Company, OPTIMUM study, Oct 2016 (AUD$661,846)
Castillo, M. I., Aitken, L. M., & Cooke, M. L. Intensive Care Anxiety and Emotional Recovery (ICARe) - a prospective study. * ACCCN Novice Researcher Grant, 2012 (AUD$7,500) * Intensive Care Foundation Research Grant, 2012 (AUD$11,100) * Health Practice Innovation Grant, Nov 2015 (AUD$2,500)
Conference presentations
Castillo M. I., Cooke M., MacFarlane B., Aitken L. Trait anxiety, but not state anxiety was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms over six months after ICU. Free paper presented at the ANZICS/ACCCN Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care, Auckland, New Zealand, 2015.
Castillo M. I., Cooke M., MacFarlane B., Aitken L. Anxiety and depression in survivors of critical illness: What role does anxiety in ICU play? Free paper presented at the ANZICS/ACCCN Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care, Melbourne, Australia, 2014.
Castillo M. I., Cooke M., MacFarlane B., Aitken L. Factors affecting anxiety in intensive care patients. Free paper presented at the Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 2013.
Castillo M. I., Aitken L., Cooke M., Macfarlane B., Patterns of self-reported anxiety in ICU patients, Free paper presented at the ANZICS/ACCCN Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care, Hobart, Australia, 2013.
Career path
Research Fellow (2021-present)
Queensland University of Technology
Health & Wellness Coach (2021-present)
Private practice
Clinical Trials Coordinator (2020)
Wesley Medical Research
Research Fellow (2016-2018)
Griffith University
Senior Research Assistant (2015-2016)
Griffith University & Princess Alexandra Hospital
Critical Care Nurse - ICU & CCU (2011-2013)
Wesley Hospital
Critical Care Nurse /Advanced Pre-hospital Care Instructor (2002-2009)
SAMU Metropolitano (Chile)
Paediatric Registered Nurse - PICU (2000-2002)
Hopital Padre Hurtado (Chile)
Credentials
Registered Nurse Registration
Health & Wellness Coach
Selected publications
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Isabel, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).