Nicole McIntosh is the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) support staff member for the clinical team at Western Sydney University and a registered nurse with 30 years of diverse clinical experience. Passionate about advancing nursing knowledge and patient-centred care, Nicole recently completed a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), producing a thesis titled An Exploration of Registered Nurses' Experiences Caring for Patients Taking Medicinal Cannabis. Her research was published in Nursing Open in 2024.

Building on this foundation, Nicole is part of a research team conducting an integrative review exploring the experiences of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use medicinal cannabis. Her work aims to deepen understanding of patient needs and the role of nurses in emerging therapeutic landscapes.

In 2026, Nicole commenced her PhD at Western Sydney University, focusing on medicinal cannabis with particular interests in stigma, cost, barriers to access, patient experiences, and the essential role nurses play in supporting individuals who choose medicinal cannabis as part of their care. Through her research, Nicole seeks to inform safer, more equitable, and evidence‑based nursing practice for patients navigating medicinal cannabis use.