Sherry Dahlke, PhD, RN, GNC(C)

Area of Study / Keywords

Nursing practice with older people

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About

Degrees

• PhD (Nursing), University of British Columbia (2013)
• MN, University of British Columbia (2004)
• BScN, University of Victoria (1996)
• Certificate in Gerontology, Malaspina University-College (1996)
• BVEd, University of Regina (1992)
• Certificate of Administration, University of Regina (1990)
• Nursing Diploma, Wascana Institute, (1979)

Sherry Dahlke joined the Faculty of Nursing after completing her PhD and a career that included practice in acute and community care, teaching, administration and research. Dr. Dahlke has held many roles in is the the Gerotological Association of British Columbia, the Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association and the Canadian Gerontological Nurses Association. In 2019 she received the McCalla Teaching Professorship Award and the International Award for Excellence in Gerontological Education

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Research

Dr. Dahlke's program of research aims to improve nursing practice with older people. Dr. Dahlke’s program of research focuses on three main themes: (1) how nurses in interprofessional teams can enhance care of older people; (2) examining and improving nursing education related to older people; (3) how nurses’ perceptions of safety and harm and their context influences their practice with older people. For the past three years much of her work has focused on improving how nurses are educated to work with older people. As a result, she has developed and tested three e-learning activities (based on finding from her previous studies) to enhance undergraduate nurses’ education about older people. These e-learning activities have been tested and refined. Student nurses rate them as an interesting and helpful way to learn about older people. Current research studies include:

• Awakening Canadians to Ageism
• Understanding the impact of the faculty navigator program
• Understanding nursing practices with managing continence in older people
• Understanding warning signs for readmission in older people in rural settings

Current Funding

• Social Sciences Health Research Committee Partnership Development Grant

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Teaching

Dr. Dahlke has taught foundational nursing theory courses, older adult clinical and theoretical courses, and research courses.

NURS 334 - Foundations of Nursing I

The course explores the meanings of health and healing. It highlights the diversity of beliefs, values, and perceptions of health. The course introduces the Canadian Health Care System, conceptual frameworks of health promotion, determinants of health, disease and injury prevention, and primary health care. The focus is on the nurse/client relationship in a relational practice context. Note: Available only to nursing students in the After Degree/After Degree Honors Program. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in order to progress in the program. Credit may be obtained for only one of NURS 334 or 303.

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NURS 400 - Leadership in Nursing and Interprofessional Practice

The course prepares learners with the knowledge and capabilities for working within complex interprofessional environments in healthcare. It focuses on six key interprofessional competencies (patient/client/family/community-centred care, interprofessional communication, role clarification, team functioning, interprofessional conflict resolution and collaborative leadership). The course culminates with the application of knowledge to authentic scenarios and demonstration of effective collaborative teamwork. Prerequisite for students in the Collaborative/Honors and After Degree/After Degree Honors Programs: NURS 300. Prerequisite for Bilingual Program students: SC INF 300 or SC PO 320. Credit may be obtained for only one of NURS 400 or INT D 410.

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NURS 595 - Foundations of Scholarship/Critical Thought

Develop critical thinking skills through exposure to approaches to knowledge and knowledge production in diverse disciplines and cultures, including Indigenous ways of knowing. Emphasis is placed on issues of inequality, inclusion, and power in knowledge production, and systematic scholarly analyses of everyday nursing experiences.

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Browse more courses taught by Sherry Dahlke

Dahlke, S., Kalogirou, M.R., & Swoboda,N.L.

International Journal of Older People Nursing. 2021 January; open access

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Dahlke, S., & Hunter, K.F.

Nursing Inquiry. 2020 February;

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Dahlke, S., Davidson, S., Wisnesky, U.D., Kalogirou, M.R., Salyers, V., Pollard, C., Fox, M.T., Hunter, K.F., & Baumbusch, J.

International Journal of Nursing Education. 2019 March;

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Dahlke, S., Hunter, K., & Negrin, K.

International Journal of Older People Nursing. 2019 January;

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Dahlke SA, Phinney A, Hall WA, Rodney P, Baumbusch J

International Journal of Older People Nursing. 2015 January; 10 (4):252-62