The Faculty of Nursing (MUNFON) has made great strides in advancing research capacity and productivity over the last two decades.

Our research themes,  primary health care and knowledge translation, reflect our current research strengths and will serve as the foundation for future research aspirations, growth and achievements.

They closely align with Memorial University's strategic research priorities, specifically: (a) wellbeing, health and biomedical discovery; (b) governance and public policy; and (c) social justice.

Faculty members have engaged in a range of studies focused on promoting and improving the well-being and health of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, research aims that are consistent with the principles of primary health care. Intra-and inter-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders in health, community, education and government have been fundamental to research success and to ensuring robust knowledge translation of research results.

Primary health care and knowledge translation also encompass the research devoted to social justice, both in the past and as faculty move forward with initiatives, in particular, addressing Indigenous health issues stemming from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.*1 While these research themes for the FON reflect our strengths and future goals we recognize the importance of studies in other areas, such as nursing education.

Primary Health Care

Primary health care research applies the principles of primary health care to advance nursing practice, education, team-based care, health policy, and care delivery to individuals across the lifespan irrespective of their age, gender, and ethnicity in all health care settings. In the FON this research focuses, primarily, on health promotion and chronic disease management within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The following areas represent the breadth of our nursing research as we address important problems within our province. However, the creative climate is not limited to these areas alone.

Broad areas of research include: Primary Health Care

• Advancing Nursing Practice
• Cardiovascular Health
• Diabetes
• Ethics
• Mental Health
• Nursing roles

Exemplars: 

Achieving Excellence in Primary Health Care through Family Practice RNs

Developing a Student Self-reflective Framework and Tool for a Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Engaging Mothers and Professional to Make Maternal Mental Health a Critical Item in Primary Health Care

Foot Intervention using Commercially Available Infrared Thermometers for Individuals with Diabetes

Working with Nurse Practitioners and other Primary Health Providers to Improve Screening for Cardiovascular Disease in Newfoundland and Labrador

Knowledge Translation 

This is dynamic and iterative research that includes the generation, synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to improve health, health services and products, and the health care system.*3

The FON recognizes that there are many forms of evidence including research data and evaluation of findings. As an Affiliated Group of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) we promote and support the synthesis, transfer, and utilization of evidence through identifying feasible, appropriate, meaningful, and effective health care practices to assist in the improvement of health care outcomes globally.

Exemplars:

Aboriginal Women’s Experiences of Smoking during Pregnancy

Collaborating with Older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their Caregi

Designing a Dialectic Sensitive Diabetes Educational Tool for Older Adults in Rural Newfoundland and Labrador

Developing New Academic-Practice Partnerships that Aim to Improve Mental Health for Clients in the Province

Engaging the Hearing Loss Community in Discussions about Their Health Care Needs

Experiences of adults living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for cardiovascular disease: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

Memorial Partners with Family Resource Programs to Support NL Families

National and International Collaboration to Improve the Life of Women and Girls in Ghana, Including the Area of Obstetric Fistula

What do Mothers Think about Virtual Care? A Public Engagement Survey of Maternal Mental Health Care Experiences during COVID-19

1. trc.ca
2. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/primary-health/declaration/gcphc-declaration.pdf
3. https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45321.html
December 2020