Research highlights
Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention
The Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention has started the next phase of its FACET research program funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research. Co-PrincipaI Investigators John Oliffe and Joan Bottorff along with UBC Co-Investigators Cristina Caperchione, Susan Wells and other researchers are exploring the development of interactive web-based technologies for the Dads in Gear (DIG) program to support new fathers who want to reduce and quit smoking.
Palliative care champion
Barb Pesut, Canada Research Chair in Health, Ethics and Diversity and an associate professor with the School of Nursing at UBC’s Okanagan campus, was awarded two research grants:
- $200,000 over two years from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research through the BC Nursing Research Initiative as research co-leader for Enhancing Educational Capacity for a Palliative Approach in Rural Nursing: A Research Demonstration Project.
- $110,000 from the Peter Wall Solutions Initiative, which includes partners the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and Genome British Columbia, for Palliative Care without Borders: Rural Integrated Palliative Approach Team with research partners the Trail Hospice Society and the Interior Health Authority.
Pesut is a leader in educating and preparing nurses for roles in palliative care and has a long-time research interest in palliative-care issues. She also leads one of three teams that were earlier awarded grants by the Michael Smith Foundation in a newly created province-wide network called the Initiative for a Palliative Approach in Nursing: Evidence and Leadership (iPANEL).
Aboriginal Initiatives
In 2011, the Okanagan campus School of Nursing received a one year competitive UBC Aboriginal Initiatives grant for the Connecting Nursing Students: A Journey for Success project aimed to support new Aboriginal nursing students in Year 1 of the BSN program. The transition into university can be difficult for many students, and for Aboriginal students this can include experiences of isolation, alienation, culture shock and systemic and overt racism (Native and Inuit Nurses Association [NINA], 2012; Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated [NTI], 2009; Smith, McAlister, Gold & Sullivan-Bentz, 2011).
This supportive admission project aimed to make this transition easier for students through direct mentorship and tutoring supports and building of relationships. The School of Nursing Aboriginal Liaison developed the funding application and facilitated and managed the project with support of the Dean of Faculty of Health & Social Development and the acting director of the School of Nursing in collaboration with Aboriginal Programs and Services. More than 25 applications were reviewed for admission.
The project was successful. 11/12 first-year Aboriginal BSN students (Regular and Supportive Admission) have progressed into year two. Word of the program’s success has spread to other schools and faculties on the UBC Okanagan campus who are designing similar programs for their Aboriginal students. Information about the program has been shared with several universities and there have been inquiries from schools of nursing across Canada.
Events
On October 11 and 12, two Australian men’s health researchers Vanessa Glennon from the University of Adelaide and Mitch Duncan from Central Queensland University will meet with UBC’s nursing research team in Kelowna for a two-day meeting on this project, along with collaborators from BC’s QuitNow program. At this time, we will be discussing the web-based resources that we are developing this summer, will refine plans for evaluating these resources, and discuss opportunities for developing a parallel evaluation in Australia. One of UBC’s undergraduate nursing students is also working with the team.
On November 26 and 27, Nancy Edwards, professor with the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing and Scientific Director for CIHR’s Institute of Population and Public Health, will visit the Faculty of Health and Social Development to present a seminar on building international research partnerships and meet with faculty and graduate students who are developing international programs of research.
New faculty member
Nelly Oelke (PhD, University of Calgary) joined the school as an assistant professor on December 1, 2011 after several years of policy research with Alberta Health. Prof. Oelke’s research and teaching focus on primary care, interprofessional teams, and community health.
Faculty promotions
- Elizabeth Andersen (PhD, University of Alberta) accepted a position as assistant professor, effective September 1, 2012. Dr. Andersen’s research and teaching focus on safety and quality in long term care. Most recent posting: UBC’s Okanagan School of Nursing as an instructor 1.
- Barb Pesut RN, PhD, was promoted to associate professor with tenure.
- Cathy Robinson RN, MSN (EdD in progress at UBC Vancouver campus) was promoted to senior instructor with tenure.
New faculty lecturers
- Nicole de Bosch Kemper RN MS
- Dennis Jasper RN BScN (MSN underway at UBC Okanagan)
- Irene Fensom RN BScN, MHSA
- Norma Hillsman RN MSN FNP
- Louise McIntosh RN BScN (MSN underway at UBC Okanagan)
- Ryan Wilson RN BSN (MSN underway at UBC Okanagan)
New instructor 1 tenure track
- Bonny Taylor RN BSN (MSN underway at UBC Okanagan)
- Charlene Strumpel RN BSN MSN
- Sarah Donnelly RN BScN was appointed as nursing practice placement coordinator
