COOLUM Beach mother- of-four Gillian Puckeridge certainly does not back away from a challenge.

The orthopaedic clinical nurse consultant is not only raising four boys aged 7-11 and working at Nambour Hospital, but also undertaking a PhD.

With the help of a $55,900 scholarship through Wishlist, she will now be able to reduce her hours of work and accelerate her research.

Ms Puckeridge described the recently awarded grant as "life-changing”.

"My husband Karl passed away when he was 34 in 2010. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six months earlier,” she said.

"I love my kids and I love my job, but the problem has been trying to fit in full-time work and four kids and study, and that didn't leave much time for anything else.

"What this scholarship means is that I can now work five days a fortnight and focus on my research, and get some good outcomes with patients, but most importantly spend a lot more time with my kids.

"I'll be able to finish my PhD much sooner ... I think it's giving me a bit of breathing space to work out the whole work-life balance.”

Through her research, the 40-year-old hopes to develop new, evidence-based protocol for anaemia detection in elderly patients.

More importantly, however, she says she will be setting a positive example for her boys.

"They tell me all the time that they're really proud, and their mummy is going to be a doctor and they think it is really cool,” she said.

"Wishlist is an amazing organisation ... we're entering an era where research is really important and if they didn't support us, none of us would be able to do it.”

Medical research 'key' for Wishlist

WISHLIST has cemented its commitment to the medical research sector on the Sunshine Coast, investing more than $424,500 on innovative research projects.

"One of Wishlist's priorities is to pave the way for pioneering and ground-breaking research for the benefit of Sunshine Coast patients and their families,” Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said.

"This financial year we have four Wishlist Research Higher Degree recipients who will delve into studies of stroke patients, infant care and safe sleeping practices, conditions specifically affecting the elderly and the models of care for our youngest patients.”

Ms Rowe said the outcomes of pilot studies and supporting research were already benefiting patients and staff within the service.

"Last year we funded Dr Ogilvie Thom's $49,000 grant to study the process of Emergency Department (ED) triage when it came to those presenting with a mental illness,” Ms Rowe said.

"This complex project has now commenced at Nambour Hospital's ED, bringing together the expert knowledge of mental health nurses and emergency triage nurses to explore the current triage practices and mental health service delivery.

"This study is multi-faceted but invaluable when you take into account the complexities of mental illness and the fact that about 3500 people each year present to the Nambour Hospital's ED with a mental illness or related condition.

"It's very rewarding for Wishlist to be able to play an active role in promoting innovative health care through supporting evidence-based research.”