Dr. Gwen R. Rempel
Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs (Interim), Professor
Contact information
E-mail: grempel@athabascau.ca
Current courses
Dr. Gwen R. Rempel
Dr. Gwen R. Rempel
Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs (Interim), Professor
Contact information
Email: grempel@athabascau.ca
Phone:
Gwen conducts qualitative and mixed methods research with children and youth with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) and their parents. Intervention studies include testing nurse-led sessions with adolescents to support their transition from pediatric to adult care, a home-based high intensity exercise protocol for children with CHD, and Circle of Security-Parenting™. Now focusing on the supporting parents in meeting the emotional needs of their children, Gwen is developing a protocol to test an 8-week relationship-based parenting intervention. Gwen’s research collaborators are at AU and Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Gwen nursing career began in Bella Bella, BC – home of the Haíɫzaqv, Heiltsuk Nation. She then worked in pediatric cardiology at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) and became a Clinical Nurse Specialist, the favourite role of her nursing career. Her research career began at BCCH/University of British Columbia, identifying “knowing but not knowing” as the experience of parents receiving a prenatal diagnosis of CHD. Her PhD focused on parenting young children with complex CHD – a process of “safeguarding precarious survival”.
Gwen’s nurse educator role began at UBC as a clinical instructor in pediatric cardiology at BCCH. Her first academic position was at Trinity Western University as their Bachelor of Nursing program was established. Gwen was a faculty member at the University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing before coming to Athabasca University Faculty of Health Disciplines in 2013.
Research interests
- Parenting children with complex health issues
- Resilience and attachment
- Family management of health conditions
- Transition from pediatric to adult care
- Qualitative and mixed methods
Educational credentials
- PhD - Nursing, University of Alberta
- MSN - Clinical Specialization, University of British Columbia
- BSN - Honors, University of British Columbia
Professional affiliations
- Association of Alberta Nurses
- College of Registered Nurses of Alberta
- Society for Pediatric Cardiovascular Nurses
- Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
- International Institute of Qualitative Methodology (IIQM)