Dr. VJ Gibbins, PhD, MS(Disaster Medicine), BScN, RN

Area of Study / Keywords

Nursing Education Motivation Failure Game-based Learning Educational Psychology

About

Hello. My name is VJ Gibbins. I graduated from the UofA in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BScN). My career began as a summer camp nurse in Maine at an all boys sleep-away camp owned by my extended family. I have returned there every year and consider myself a camp nurse who works in hospitals and teaches at a university during the off-season! 😀  My clinical practice prior to joining the Faculty of Nursing in 2013 was all in pediatrics, pediatric ICU, and pediatric cardiac ICU. During that time, I was a staff nurse at a hospital in Wisconsin for a couple of years, taught clinical for a couple of years, and the rest of the time, I was a travel nurse and moved around the United States fulfilling 13-week assignments at my company’s client hospitals - always in peds or peds ICU. In case you were wondering… Boston and San Diego were my favourite places to go!

I completed a Masters of Science in Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management from Philadelphia University (now named Thomas Jefferson University). While in the USA, I deployed on several national and international disaster response missions including deployment to San Diego, CA following massive wildfires; Lousianna following Hurricane Katrina;  Sichuan, China following an earthquake; San Salvador, El Salvador on a pediatric medical relief mission; and to Port au Prince, Haiti following an earthquake. 

Research

I completed my PhD in 2025 and my doctoral research project explored why some nursing students struggle and / or fail in their clinical courses. Understanding what factors contribute to student clinical performance challenges and the barriers to achieving the clinical learning outcomes is a first step towards developing targeted interventions that may remove barriers to success for those students at-risk of failing in their clinical learning.

Teaching

Currently, I am a Full Teaching Professor and I am responsible for the pediatric lab and clinical sections of Nurs 322/432, the Maternal/Child Health course. nd for the past few years I have been teaching clinical in Nurs 321/431 and Nurs 325/435 - the advanced acute care clinical courses. My overarching philosophy is that learning occurs when students feel connected to their peers and surroundings, are able to see their growth and accomplishments, and are gaining a sense of autonomy in making decisions and knowing when and where to ask for guidance. I hope to bring that to my clinical teaching and work with this amazing team of students, faculty, and staff at the Stollery Children’s Hospital! 

NURS 124 - Foundations of Nursing I

The course introduces the Canadian Healthcare System, including conceptual frameworks of primary health care across the lifespan and the concepts such as health law that apply to nursing and nursing practice. Within the context of relational practice, and the Fundamentals of Care Framework, concepts related to professional identity, the nurse/client relationship, the nursing process, and patient and family centered care will be explored. The course will continue to highlight the meanings of health and healing and the diversity of beliefs, values, and perceptions of health. Note: Available only to students in the Collaborative Program. Prerequisites MMI 133 (or equivalent), NURS 106 (or NURS 140 and 150), and NURS 120. Corequisite: NURS 123, NURS 125. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in order to progress in the program.

NURS 220 - Foundations of Nursing II

The focus is on evidence-informed assessment and management of health challenges in both episodic and chronic illness. Aligns with concepts from NURS 206 and NURS 221 intentional clinical learning activities. Note: Available only to nursing students in the Collaborative/Honors Program. Prerequisite: NURS 116 (or NURS 113), NURS 124 (or NURS 103), and NURS 125 (or NURS 105). Corequisites: NURS 206 and NURS 221 (or NURS 202). Credit may be obtained for only one of NURS 220 or NURS 201.

NURS 322 - Maternal/Child Nursing Practice

The course focuses on maternal and newborn health, particularly in the perinatal period, and on concepts of child health and wellbeing. Clinical hours listed are the total number of hours and will be offered over 3 weeks. Note: Available only to nursing students in the Collaborative Program, Collaborative Honors Program, and Bilingual Program. Prerequisites: NURS 216, NURS 224, and NURS 225.

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