Sigma Theta Tau International Doctoral Award

I entered the nursing profession to support the health and wellness of individuals experiencing adversity. After graduating with a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2013, I attained employment in pediatrics and neonatal intensive care. In these environments, I observed detrimental health and developmental outcomes in children who had experienced early life adversities, such as parental substance abuse and family violence. These experiences motivated me to enter graduate school to research early interventions for families facing adversity and advance nurses’ knowledge and capacity to promote healthy outcomes for vulnerable children.

In January of 2020, I accelerated from the Master of Nursing program into the Nursing PhD program at the University of Calgary. As a graduate student, I have collaborated and shared knowledge with social service agencies, health care professionals and researchers, and nursing students. For my doctoral research, I will evaluate the impact of an online parenting intervention on parent-child interactions and children’s developmental outcomes for families with young children experiencing adversity. Findings from this research will advance nursing knowledge on innovative digital interventions to support children’s health. I am grateful to the Canadian Nurses Foundation and Sigma for their support and confidence in my ability to contribute to the nursing profession.