Program Director, Master of Health Studies/Master of Nursing - Generalist; 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.
MSN - Clinical Specialization, University of British Columbia
BSN - Honors, University of British Columbia
Professional affiliations
College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
Society for Pediatric Cardiovascular Nurses
Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
International Institute of Qualitative Methodology (IIQM)
Rempel, G. R. (PI), Thirsk, L. (Co-PI), Fraser, S., Heselton, G., Gray, L., Lavery, R., Gregory, T. & R, Shippey-Heilman, A. (2021-2022). [AU A&PDF/SSHRC Exchange] 2021-2022 Special Call for Knowledge Mobilization " Innovative dissemination of AU-based Circle of Security® Parenting™ program effectiveness research." AU A&PDF, Application Ref No: 6711, November 15, 2021 – June 30, 2022 [$3,000 CAD].
Heselton, G. A., Rempel, G. R., Nicholas, D. B. (2022). “Realizing the problem wasn’t necessarily me": The meaning of childhood adversity and resilience in the lives of autistic adults. International Journal of Qualitative Methods on Health and Well-Being, 17(1), 2051237. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2051237
Mackie, A. S., Rankin, K. N., Yaskina, M., Gingrich, J., Williams, E., Schuh, M., Kovacs, A. H., McCrindle, B. W., Nicholas, D. B., & Rempel, G. R. (2022). Transition preparation for young adolescents with congenital heart disease: A clinical trial. Journal of Pediatrics, 241, 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.09.053
Heselton, G. A., Rempel, G. R., & Nicholas, D. B. (2021). Integrating community participation with interpretative phenomenological analysis: Reflections on engaging the autism community. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211055575.
Charles, S., Mackie, A. S., Rogers, L. G., McCrindle, B. W., Kovacs, A. H., Yaskina, M., Williams, E., Dragieva, D., Moustafa, S., Schuh, M., Anthony, S. J., & Rempel, G. R. (2021). A typology of transition readiness for adolescents with congenital heart disease in preparation for transfer from pediatric to adult care. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 60, 267-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.07.016
Rogers, L., G., Shearer, K., Southon Hryniuk, S., Ray, L., & Rempel, G. R. (2021). Beyond the interview guide: Experiences of practically and mindfully implementing interview guidelines when conducting research with children and adolescents with chronic conditions and their siblings. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920982148
I live in rural Alberta where I cycle and kayak for my mental health with books and podcasts close at hand. I love working with graduate learners who are passionate to gain hands-on research experience.