Early Career Researcher Group

To foster collaboration, professional development, and strategic engagement within the CCAPNR network; emphasizes the early stages of building an independent research program and academic career

Scholars within five years of completing their doctoral or PhD degree; may hold various academic or clinical research positions (e.g., postdoctoral fellowships, faculty roles, clinician-scientist appointments)

Monthly meetings

2 Co-chairs: minimum 1 year term

Host two meetings per year with trainees to explore opportunities for support and collaboration

Organize at least one trainee workshop per year that enhance research capacity

Organize at least one ECR session at CCAPNR meetings per year

CURRENT CO-CHAIRS

Joanie Pellet

Joanie Pellet

Co-Chair

PhD Student, Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, University of Lausanne

Alyssa Indar

Alyssa Indar

Co-Chair

CIHR Health System Impact Fellow (Post-doctoral), Nova Scotia Health/Dalhousie University

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER PROJECTS

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Capabilities

Project lead: Laura Hako

Supervisor: Krista Jokiniemi & Hannele Turunen

Goal: To examine and describe CNS capabilities in the international context

Methods:

  1. A mixed method systematic review on advanced practice nurse capabilities to explore the published literature about capabilities in advanced practice nursing roles
  2. A qualitative descriptive study to describe and explore the perspective of CNSs about the capabilities and the development of them
  3. CNS capability scale construction and content validation

Status:

  • Mixed method systematic review completed and published
  • Data collection completed for qualitative descriptive study
  • Data analysis in progress for qualitative descriptive study
    Understandind the added value of primary healthcare nurse practitioners (PHCNPs) for people in vulnerable situations: A descriptive multiple case study

    Project lead: Isabelle Savard

    Supervisor: Kelley Kilpatrick

    Goal: This study aims to understand how PHCNPs add value to the care provided to people in vulnerable situations. The objectives are to: 1) explore the perceptions of different stakeholders regarding what value PHCNPs add when providing care to people in vulnerable situations; 2) understand how individual and organizational characteristics influence stakeholder perceptions of the value of PHCNP care to people in vulnerable situations; and 3) empirically test a proposed conceptual framework of how PHCNPs add value to care to people in vulnerable situations.

    Methods: A descriptive multiple case study was conducted involving two clinics where PHCNPs work with people in vulnerable situations, following a pilot study. Data collection tools, informed by a conceptual framework, were tested and adapted during the pilot. Each case included institutional document reviews, 20-30 hours of non-participant observations, and 20 individual semi-structured interviews with patients, clinical staff, and decision-makers. Thematic analysis was conducted for each case and compared across cases to identify similarities and differences, ensuring rigor through a detailed study protocol, multiple data sources, and an audit trail.

    Status:

    • Data collection is completed
    • Analysis and thesis writing are in progress
      Role development and utilization of Master's-prepared Omani nurses working in clinical settings in Oman governmental health care system: a multiple case study
      Project lead: Salma Almukhaini

      Supervisor: Ruth Martin-Misener, Lori Weeks

      Goal: Role development and utilization of Master’s-prepared Omani nurses working in clinical settings in Oman governmental health care system: a multiple case study

      Methods:

      1. Multiple Case studies involved two hospitals.
        • Scoping review aimed to map available evidence about advanced practice nursing role in Arab countries in the Eastern Mediterranean  region: Published in evidence synthesis 
        • Online survey targeting master’s-prepared Omani nurses (Manuscript submitted to  Nurse Education Today, April 2024)
        • Semi-structured individual interviews with Master’s-prepared Omani nurses, their policymakers/managers/ and co-workers and nurse educators.
        • Document review (e.g., nursing career pathway and job descriptions)

      Status:

      • PhD thesis completed and submitted to Dalhousie university on November 2023; currently in embargo state 

      Outputs:

      • The scoping review is published
      • A manuscript title ” role development and utilization of master’s-prepared Omani nurses working in clinical settings : a multiple case study” accepted for publication in Journal of Nursing Education and Practice April 2024
      • A manuscript title: “factors impacting the role development and utilization of master’s prepared Omani nurses: a multiple case study” submitted for publication in Nursing Forum January 2024
      • A manuscript title ” utilization of master’s prepared Omani nurses: a national survey”  submitted for publication in Nurse Education Today”