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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 Grants

• Co-Principal Investigator. The influence of hearing and visual impairment on the safety of older adults with dementia admitted to hospital inpatient units. Co-Principal Investigators: B. Parke, K.F.Hunter. Project under CIHR Canadian Consortium on Neurodegenerative Aging (Howard Chertkow, Principal Applicant) Team 17 Interventions at the Sensory and Cognitive Interface (Natalie Phillips, Concordia University, Team Leader) Subgrant: $128,928.00.
• Co-Investigator: What is known about nocturnal urinary incontinence (nocturnal enuresis) in residents of nursing homes: Scoping review. M. Howlett, B. Gibson, A. Wagg, K. Hunter. Summer student funded by Chair, Healthy Aging, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine Endowed Funds Award May-August 2014.  
• Co-Principal Investigator. Hospital readiness communication tools: A feasibility study. B. Parke, K.F. Hunter, M. Schultz. Alzheimers Society of Canada. $15,000.00. Award March 31, 2014- Dec 31, 2015.  
• Nominated Principal Investigator. Understanding emergency department care transitions for older adults with dementia in rural communities. Co-Principal Investigators: K.F.Hunter, B. Parke. Co-Investigators: L. A. Strain, D. Forbes, C. Beach. Funding: CIHR Catalyst Grant: Health Services and Systems for an Aging Population $85,847.00 (CHL 126211). Awarded 01/01/13 to 31/03/16.  

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