MrTendayi Dziruni

I am an early career researcher and registered mental health nurse completing a PhD at Deakin
University, focusing on the realist evaluation of a pilot rapid response system (DIvERT) for managing
mental state deterioration (MSD)in acute hospital settings. My research sits at the intersection of
mental health, acute care, and system-level improvement. Through this work, I aim to identify the
contextual and mechanism that influence timely and appropriate responses to patients experiencing
MSD. The findings are intended to inform evidence-based models for managing patient MSD and to
improve frontline staff capability, reduce reliance on restrictive practices, and improve patient care
outcomes.

To date, I have presented at national conferences and authored peer-reviewed publications. My
research has contributed to broader discussions on improving care for people experiencing MSD in
general hospital settings. My long-term goal is to establish a program of research that strengthens
hospital responses to patient MSD, supports multidisciplinary decision-making, and informs mental
health policy and service design.