Welcome! You are entering a program that will prepare you for a rewarding and satisfying career in a collaborative, dynamic, caring and empathetic profession. Early on in my nursing career, I realized that through education and experiential opportunities, you can go in many professional directions within the nursing profession; including clinical care, administration, education, research, policy and leadership.
Why I Became a Teacher
I became I professor because I believe that it is important to continually engage in life-long learning as “education is the most powerful weapon in which you can use to change the world” (Nelson Mandela, 1994). To be able to inspire future nurses to engage in life-long learning and become caring, compassionate and competent practitioners is an ultimate goal of mine.
My Educational Background & Qualifications
After completing the Compressed BScN program at Lakehead University in 2005, I completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree from York University in 2007, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from The College of St. Scholastica in 2011. As a perinatal nurse, I have completed various courses to ensure my competence including the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Fetal Health Surveillance in Labour course, the 20 hour Breastfeeding Course and the Managing Obstetrical Risks Effectively (moreOB) Program.
My Experience in the Field
I have worked in various healthcare settings, including acute perinatal care, community care management, sexual assault and domestic violence treatment, and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Women's and Children's Programs. I am currently practicing as a Registered Nurse in acute perinatal care.
My research interests include quality practice improvements in acute care settings, student experiences within the BScN program, and perceptions of peer facilitators supporting families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. I enjoy engaging in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
My Hobbies & Other Interests
Volunteering is a passion of mine. It allows me to use my knowledge, skill, judgment and compassion to promote health and wellness in our community. I currently volunteer as a Peer Facilitator with the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network, an Executive Member of the Lakehead Chapter of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and on multiple committees at our local hospital; including a Patient and Family Advisor, a Nursing Practice Council member, and as a Bioethics Committee Member. In the past, I have enjoyed being an item writer for both the CPRNE and NCLEX examinations, as an advisory member at the College of Nurses of Ontario, and as a Board Member at various community organizations within the city.
Publications and conferences presentations:
- Dampier, S., Cooney, T., Seeley, J., Gallagher, C., Filice, S., & Schoales, C. (2017). Distance Rural Nursing Learner’s Academic Success.
- Cates, M., Johnson, C., & Cooney, T. (2017). Evaluation of Occlusion Rates in Percutaneously Inserted Central Venous Access Devices Using Normal Saline vs. Heparin Lock Flush.
- Cooney, T. (2011). The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Structured Orientation Program Designed for Registered Practical Nurses.
Current projects I am working on include:
- Registered Nurses’ Perception of Caring for Self and Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Eat, Sleep, Console: Practice Change to Treat Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- Follow-up to Distance Rural Nursing Learner’s Academic Success.
- Peer Facilitator’s Perspectives on Providing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support
Current Courses
I have taught a variety of courses from years 1 to 4 within the Collaborative BScN Program and the Community-Based BScN Program, including:
- N1050 Relational Nursing Theory I
- N1351 Nursing Inquiry
- N1511 Relational Nursing Practice II
- N2213 Health & Wellness Concepts II
- N3031 Childbearing Family Theory
- N3032 Child and Youth Theory
- N4051 Nursing Research
- N4501 Preceptorship