Dr. Tia Cooney

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 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, Managing Obstetrical Risks Effectively (moreOB) Program, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Healthcare ethics training and many more.

My Experience in the Field

I have worked nearly 20 years as a perinatal nurse and in community health nursing and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have also worked as a sexual assault and domestic violence treatment nurse, as a nurse in the COVID-19 Assessment Centre and Vaccination Clinic, and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Women's and Children's Programs. I continue to develop my knowledge and skills as a nurse by working casually within home and community care services. My research interests are led by my experiences in the field; including quality improvement projects, student experiences within nursing programs, and perspectives of healthcare providers working within various healthcare settings. 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, a Board Member at the South Neebing Community Centre, and sit on multiple committees within our community, including as a Prenatal Coalition Member, Patient and Family Advisor, and as a Bioethics Committee Member at TBRHSC. 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. I also enjoy being a stakeholder reviewer for Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Guidelines, and scholarly article reviewer.

Publications

• Cooney, T., Larizza, J., Cote, U., Gervais, AM., Rae, L., Warkentin, J., & Dubois, S. (2024). A quality improvement project evaluating the effects of Eat, Sleep, Console on nurses and neonates with NAS. Nursing for Women’s Health, 28(5), 167-170.
• Cooney, T., Cote, U., Bergen, E., Dampier, A., Inkila, L., & Edwards, C. (2023). Effects on NAS of parental caregivers’ ability to leave the postpartum unit during COVID-19. Nursing for Women’s Health, 27(4), 283-290.
• 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. Vascular Access, 11(3), 6-10.
• Cooney, T. (2011). The development, implementation, and evaluation of a structured orientation program designed for Registered Practical Nurses. ProQuest Dissertations.

Academic Presentations

• Eat, Sleep, Console: A Family Centred Approach to Care; presented at CASN conference 2024
• Reducing Disparities Through the Assessment of Social Determinants of Health in Acute Care Settings; presented at CASN conference 2024
• A Quality Improvement Project Evaluating the Effects of Eat, Sleep, Console on Nurses and Neonates with NAS: presented at CANN conference 2023, CAHR showcase 2024 and Northern Constellations 2024
• Effects on NAS of Parental Caregivers’ Ability to Leave the Postpartum Unit During COVID-19; presented at NANN conference 2022, CAHR showcase 2022 and CANN conference 2023
• Registered Nurses’ Perception of Caring for Self and Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic; presented at CAHR showcase 2022
• Follow-up to Distance Rural Nursing Learner’s Academic Success; presented at CASN conference 2021
• Distance Rural Nursing Learner’s Academic Success; presented at CASN conference 2021
• Evaluation of Occlusion Rates in Percutaneously Inserted Central Venous Access Devices Using Normal Saline vs. Heparin Lock Flush; presented at CVAA conference 2017

Current projects that I am working on include:

• Does Intrapartum opioid analgesic increase adverse outcomes for neonates antenatally exposed to SSRIs/SNRIs?; quantitative study
• Staying Alive Initiative; qualitative study
• Healthcare providers perspectives on working with patients undergoing MAID in a faith based healthcare organization; qualitative study
• Screening for social determinants of health in Northern Ontario; quantitative study
• Eat Sleep Console: A Trauma Informed Approach to Care; research paper

Current Courses

I have taught a variety of courses from years 1 to 4 within the Collaborative BScN Program, the Community-Based BScN Program, and our new Honors Bachelor of Science in Nursing including:

• N1050 Relational Nursing Theory I
• N1351 Nursing Inquiry
• N1512 Relational Nursing Practice II
• N2213 Health & Wellness Concepts II
• N3031 Childbearing Family Theory
• N3032 Child and Youth Theory
• N4051 Nursing Research
• N4501/4502 Preceptorship
• AR200 Lifespan Development