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Degrees

• 2006 PhD (Nursing) University of Alberta (2006)
• 1992 MN, University of Alberta (1992)
• 1982 BScN with Distinction, University of Alberta (1982)
• 1978 Diploma in Nursing, Royal Alexandra Hospital (1978) 

• Nurse Continence Advisor Program, McMaster University (2011)
• GNC(C) Recertification, Canadian Nurses Association (2009)
• GNC(C) Recertification, Canadian Nurses Association (2004)
• Advanced Nursing Practice Certificate, University of Alberta (2001)
• Gerontological Nurse Certification GNC(C) Canadian Nurses Association (1999)
• Clinical Geriatrics Certificate, Northern Alberta Regional Geriatric Program (1995)
• Extended Care Nursing Certificate, Grant MacEwan Community College (1985)

My career has been in gerontological nursing, and I have worked with older adults in continuing care, home care and acute care settings.I hold specialist certificates in gerontological nursing and continence nursing. Prior to joining the Faculty of Nursing, I worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse first as a CNS in continuing care and acute geriatric services, and then as an NP in acute geriatric services and a medical unit. As part of my faculty position I have a secondment agreement as an NP with Specialized Geriatric Services at the Glenrose Hospital in the Continence Clinic. Combining and academic career with clinical advanced nursing practice is challenging but allows me to ground my research within clinical practice. 

As an Advanced Practice Nurse, I have had the opportunity to become involved with a number of program evaluation/outcomes projects examining falls, continence management and outcomes of acute care for older adult patients. My dissertation work has focused on one of these areas, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older adults. My program of research which focuses continence care for older adults, the interplay between continence issues and other geriatric symptom syndrome such as falls and dementia,older adult transitions between community and hospital and advanced practice nursing. In 2014, I received the Canadian Association for Nursing Research Practitioner Researcher Award. 

Current Research

• Co-Investigator. Do older adults with overactive bladder demonstrate impairment in executive function compared to their peers without OAB? Principal Investigator: W. Gibson. Co-Investigators: K. Hunter, A. Wagg. Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Start up Funds. 
• Co-Principal Investigator. What practices either hinder of foster the maintenance of continence in older adults undergoing rehabilitation. Principal Investigators: A. Wagg, K. Hunter. 2017 Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Clinical Research Grant, awarded Nov 22, 2017. $10,000 for 1 year. 
• Co-Investigator. A population representative study of the epidemiology of urinary and fecal incontinence in Canadian adults. Principal Investigator A. Wagg. Co-investigators: K. Hunter, J Cahill. Multisource grant to the Canadian Continence Foundation (Astelles, Pfizer, 3M0 and the Muhlefeld family fund (Dr. Wagg). 
• Co-Investigator. Supporting healthy ageing by peer education and support. Principal Investigator: A. Wagg. Co-investigators: A. Juby, K. Hunter, W. Dafoe. Project funded by the Covenant Health Network of Excellence in Seniors’ Health and Wellness. Awarded Nov. 30, 2015. $199,424.49 for 18 months until June 2017 extension until December 2018. 
• Co-Investigator. A trial of effectiveness of a smart sensor for continence care: The ARCTICC study. Principal Investigator: A. Wagg. Project funded by SCA Hygeine Products. Grant: $221,416.00. Awarded August 2015 for 18 months – extended due to delay in obtaining Health Canada approvals to December 2018. Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT02511314

I am currently focusing my teaching in the MN – NP (Adult) program and in course work/guest lectures related to aging and gerontological nursing.