Faculty of Nursing Research Report 2022-2023

WE ARE INNOVATIVE GAME-CHANGERS REDEFINING HEALTH SCIENCE RESEARCH

The Faculty of Nursing continues to create exciting opportunities in health sciences research. Our experts are leaders in the field, recognized for their novel research initiatives that support real-world health-care solutions to meet the needs of our diverse communities.

With our rich history, we pride ourselves in conducting research that focuses on solving complex health issues and transforms health services practice. We are consistently recognized as leaders and experts in nursing research, education and clinical practice in Canada and on the international stage, as No. 1 in Canada and No. 5 globally, according to QS rankings.

Over the past few years we have continued to pivot, support and actively respond to numerous national and global health challenges. Together, through our research and purposeful action, we are able to address these challenges.

We encourage you to immerse yourself in this report and discover inspiring research and researchers who are changing the face of nursing, in Alberta and beyond.

Greta G. Cummings, Dean, Faculty of Nursing
Colleen Norris, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Nursing

Effective Jan. 2, 2024, Shannon Scott is serving in the role of acting dean of the Faculty of Nursing.

Highlights

Here are some of our biggest achievements from the past year!

Nursing program leads strong performance in latest Maclean’s rankings

The U of A Faculty of Nursing offers one of the best nursing programs for students, according to the latest Maclean’s rankings.

U of A nursing program ranks one of the best in Canada according to Global Ranking Academic Subjects (GRAS)

New developments and curriculum updates help the Faculty of Nursing rank in the top 50 in the world.

U of A Faculty of Nursing tops latest QS subject rankings

The U of A’s nursing program remains first in Canada for the second consecutive year and fifth worldwide in the QS subject rankings.

Reflecting on the U of A's partnership with the Aga Khan University

The Faculty of Nursing has trained many PhD and master's students from AKU, creating local and global impact.

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Research Impact

The Faculty of Nursing leads transformational research to address complex global health challenges and to meet the health needs of diverse communities.

Here are some of our research highlights from 2022-23.

$9 million +

in total funding from currently active grants, with almost $3 million in new funding awarded during proposal fiscal year

164

active research grants, including 58 newly funded during proposal fiscal years

students have received internal awards over the past year

nursing program in Canada (QS)

nursing program worldwide (QS)

536

media mentions worldwide

492

research publications

1263

citations

tenure track researchers

postdoctoral fellows

PhD students

graduate students

undergraduate students

3 Canada Research Chairs

Carole Estabrooks — Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation
Shannon Scott — Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation in Children’s Health
Edith Pituskin — Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Chronicity

2 Research Chairs

Mark Haykowsky — Endowed Nursing Research Chair in Aging and Quality of Life
Colleen Norris — Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women’s Health

6 Fellows In the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Alex Clark — Adjunct Professor at UofA FoN
Greta Cummings — Professor & Dean, College of Health Sciences
Carole Estabrooks — Professor & Canada Research Chair, UofA FoN
Anita Molzahn — Professor Emeritus, UofA FoN
Colleen Norris — Professor & Assoc. Dean of Research, UofA FoN
Shannon Scott — Professor & Vice-Dean, UofA FoN

Areas of Research Excellence

Children and Women’s Health

Healthy Aging

Health Equity and Health Systems

Global Health and Migration

Mental Health

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Research Features

Knowledge of digital health landscape is critical to the nursing profession

Associate professor Manal Kleib explores how nursing students in Canada can benefit from additional education in digital health technologies and why becoming more savvy positively impacts patients and the future of nursing.

Putting the spotlight on mature women’s health research

Colleen Norris — professor, associate dean (research) and Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women’s Health Research — says sex and gender factors are too often ignored.

Living well — and dying well — with schizophrenia

Associate professor Tanya Park pushes for better palliative care for people with chronic mental health conditions.

Virtual visit program helps people living with dementia in care homes connect with family and friends

A facilitated video call program developed by assistant professor Hannah O’Rourke aims to help address social isolation and loneliness for people living with dementia in care homes.

Music, massage and relaxation techniques reduce stress for ICU patients

Professor Elisavet Papathanasoglou is testing therapeutic techniques to improve the odds of survival and reduce long-term health complications in patients.

Reddit posts reveal youth struggles with mental health and getting support

Shannon Scott, nursing professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation in Children’s Health, is working on collaborative research that explores why stigmas are still a big problem despite awareness campaigns and literacy efforts.

Nursing Research News

Our nurses, our future: U of A nurses lead the way to better health care through research, teaching and practice

In research laboratories, classrooms, hospitals — even workplaces and beyond — University of Alberta nurses are leading the way to improve health care for Canadians.

An Rx against racist behaviour in Alberta emergency departments

After years of studying systemic racism in hospital emergency care, a team of researchers and First Nations organizations will create ways to ensure all patients are treated equitably and with dignity.

Adolescents missed vital vaccines during COVID-19 school closures: study

The public health system must take extra measures to catch up before students finish school, says researcher.

City Wide Nursing Rounds

This past year the faculty launched ‘research in practice’ nursing rounds. Learn more about virtual presentations that bring nurse researchers and front line nurses together to build a strong connection between nursing research and practice.

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