Kathleen Hunter, PhD, RN, NP, GNC(C), NCA

Professor, Faculty of Nursing

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Nursing
Email
mcilveen@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-8941
Address
5-293 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy
11405 - 87 Ave NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 1C9

Overview

About

Degrees

  • PhD (Nursing) University of Alberta (2006)
  • MN, University of Alberta (1992)
  • BScN with Distinction, University of Alberta (1982)
  • Diploma in Nursing, Royal Alexandra Hospital (1978) 

Specialty Education and Certifications

  • Nurse Continence Advisor Program, McMaster University (2011)
  • Advanced Nursing Practice Certificate, University of Alberta (2001)
  • Gerontological Nurse Certification GNC(C) Canadian Nurses Association (1999 - recertified to 2024)
  • Clinical Geriatrics Certificate, Northern Alberta Regional Geriatric Program (1995)
  • Extended Care Nursing Certificate, Grant MacEwan Community College (1985)

My career has been in gerontological nursing, and I have worked with older adults in continuing care, home care and acute care settings. I hold specialist certificates in gerontological nursing and continence nursing. Prior to joining the Faculty of Nursing, I worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse first as a CNS in continuing care and acute geriatric services, and then as an NP in acute geriatric services and a medical inpatient unit. As part of my faculty position I have a secondment agreement as an NP with Specialized Geriatric Services at the Glenrose Hospital in the Continence Clinic. Combining and academic career with clinical advanced nursing practice is challenging but allows me to ground my research within clinical practice. 



Research

As an Advanced Practice Nurse, I had the opportunity to become involved with a number of program evaluation/outcomes projects examining falls, continence care and outcomes of acute care for older adult patients. My dissertation work focused on one of these areas, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older adults. My program of research which focuses continence care for older adults, the interplay between continence issues and other geriatric symptom syndrome such as falls and dementia,older adult transitions between community and hospital and advanced practice nursing. In 2014, I received the Canadian Association for Nursing Research Practitioner Researcher Award. I am a member of the Alberta Continence Research Network and have a number of projects with colleagues through this research group. I also have a joint program of research, Improving Hospital Care for Older Persons (InHOSP) with Dr. Sherry Dahlke. 

Current Research

  • Co-applicant. Cannabis in the closet? Seniors' perceptions of stigma and their influence on use and access to medicinal cannabis. Principal Applicant S. Dahlke. Co-applicants: K. Hunter, Toubiana, M., Collaborators: Kalogirou, M., Sheurman, M. Submitted to SSHRC Insight Development Grant Jan 5, 2021. Funds requested $70,550.00 Awarded June 21, 2021 to June 2022.
  • Co-applicant. Awakening Canadians to Ageism. Principal Applicant S.Dahlke, Partners, L. Tamblyn Watts from CanAge, N. Perry from HelpAge, L. Shindel-Martin from CGNA, Co -applicants, K. Hunter, M. Fox, S. Davidson, C. Raymond, A. Chasteen, V. Boscart, L. McCleary, E. Moody. Submitted to SSHRC Partnership Development Grant Nov 2, 2020. Funds requested $199,200 Awarded April 7, 2021. #890-2020-0001 
  • Nominated Principal Investigator. Contextual factors supporting implementation of geriatric/gerontological education for healthcare providers to improve functional outcomes for hospitalized older persons: A scoping review. Co-investigators: S. Dahlke, A. Wagg, A. Jones, F. Carr, M. Kennedy, N. Millar. Seniors Health Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) Knowledge Synthesis Competition 2020 Funds requested: $13000.00 Awarded July 17, 2020 for one year Aug 1, 2020-July 31, 2021. Extension to Dec 31, 2021
  • Co-Principal Investigator. A randomised cross over trial of briefs with tapes versus pull ups for the containment of urinary incontinence in community dwelling older people living with mild to moderate dementia.(Comparison of Urinary incontinence Products in Dementia CUPID) Nominated Principal Investigator: A. Wagg. Co-PI: K. Hunter. Co-investigators: S. Rajabali, W. Gibson. Essity. Funds requested $286,000. Awarded for Dec 1, 2019 for 2 years
  • Co-Investigator. Optimizing hospital-to-home transitional care to promote functioning in older persons with dementia in rural communities. Principal Investigators: M. Fox, S. Sidani. Co-Investigators: D. Brooks, C. Burpee, E. Durocher, B. Elias, K. Hunter, N. Kelly, M. Macdonald, M. MacDonald, A. MacLeod, J. MacLeod, D. McNeil, C.A. Murray, M. Rydall, M. Skinner, S. Stevens, W. Sutton, A. Wagg, L. Weeks. CIHR Projects Competition fall 2018, Award Jan 23, 2019. $321,000 for 3 years
  • Co-Principal Investigator. Promoting evidence based continence care in rehabilitation: Pilot of a patient centered continence assessment on geriatric rehabilitation units. Nominated PI: K. F. Hunter Co-PI: A. Wagg. Co-investigators: S. Dahlke, W. Gibson, J. Triscott. Glenrose Hospital Foundation 2019 Clinical Research Grant Competition, Awarded Nov 9, 2018. $10,000.00 for 18 months

Teaching

I am currently focusing my teaching predominantly in the MN – NP (Adult) program and in course work/guest lectures related to aging and gerontological nursing. I have in the past had the opportunity to NURS/HECOL 604 Fundamentals of Ageing for several terms, a graduate theory and policy course on ageing in Canada. 


Courses

NURS 516 - Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning

The focus of this course is on the development of advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills for common variations in health status. Students will apply concepts from advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacotherapeutics. Opportunities to apply clinical diagnostic reasoning skills and decision making required for the assessment of population focused health problems are provided through labs including clinical simulation, and a clinical practicum. An on campus intensive of 3-5 days may be held at the beginning of the term. Prerequisite or corequisite: NURS 507 and NURS 509.


NURS 533 - Consolidated Clinical Practicum I

The focus of this course is to provide a consolidated practicum experience in the role of the advanced practice nurse. By the end of this course students must practice progressively towards entry to practice nurse practitioner competencies. Prerequisite: NURS 532.


NURS 534 - Consolidated Clinical Practicum II

The focus of this course is to provide a consolidated practicum experience in the role of the advanced practice nurse. By the end of this course students must practice at the entry to practice level for expected graduate nurse practitioner competencies. Prerequisite: NURS 532.


Browse more courses taught by Kathleen Hunter

Scholarly Activities

Other - Board Member, The Canadian Continence Foundation

The Canadian Continence Foundation

Teaching - Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing NP Educators Interest Group

20170901 to 20210831

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing

Other - Co-Chair Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association Conference 2019

20170701 to 20190630

CGNA 2019

Other - Member, Scientific Committee, International Continence Society

20160901 to 20220901

International Continence Society

Publications

Testing an e-learning activity designed to enhance student nurses understanding of continence and mobility.

Author(s): Dahlke, S., Hunter, K.F, Kalogirou, M.R. & Pietrosanu, M.
Publication Date: 7/26/2021
Publication: International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship.
Volume: 0033
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2021-0033

The effects of education about urinary incontinence on nurses’ and nursing assistants’ knowledge, attitudes, continence care practices and patient outcomes. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing JWOCN, 47(4), 365-380. Published JulyAug 2020. doi: 10.1097/WON.0000000000000651 IF: 1.627

Author(s): Ostaszkiewicz, J., Tomlinson, E., Hunter, K.
Publication Date: 7/31/2020
Publication: Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing JWOCN
Volume: 47
Issue: 4
Page Numbers: 365-380
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1097/won.0000000000000651

The feasibility of implementing education on older person care to practice on medical units: Nurses perceptions and the influence of practice context.

Author(s): Hunter, K.F., Dahlke, S., Negrin, K., Reshef Kalogirou, M., Fox, M., Antonio, N., Buckborough, N., Morgan, A. & Wagg, A.
Publication Date: 8/22/2019
Publication: International Journal of Older People Nursing
Volume: 14
Page Numbers: e12265
External Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12265

Balancing safety and harm for older adults with dementia in rural emergency departments

Author(s): Hunter, K.F., Parke, B., Babb, M., Forbes, D. & Strain, L
Publication: Rural and Remote Health
Volume: 17
Page Numbers: 4055
External Link: http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/subviewnew.asp?ArticleID=4055

Nursing practice with hospitalized older people: Safety and harm.

Author(s): Dahlke, S., Hunter, K.F., Negrin, K.
Publication: International Journal of Older People Nursing
Volume: Online Jan 10/19
External Link: DOI: 10.1111/opn.12220

The association between lower urinary tract symptoms and falls: Forming a theoretical model for a research agenda

Author(s): Gibson, W., Hunter, K.F., Camicioli, R., Booth, J., Rafferty, D., Skelton, D., Dumoulin, C., Paul, L. & Wagg, A.
Publication: Neurourology & Urodynamics
Volume: 37
Page Numbers: 501-509
External Link: DOI: 10.1002/nau.23295