Nursing Faculty, students and Dean gather in celebration of the Faculty of Nursing’s Research Collaborative, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing nursing scholarship and strengthening a culture of research at the University of Windsor. (SARA MEIKLE/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
The University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing is advancing its research ecosystem through the launch of the Nursing Research Collaborative.
The new Collaborative marks a significant milestone in the Faculty’s strategic plan. It formalizes three core research pillars while creating intentional space to grow research capacity, foster collaboration and enhance impact across programs and communities.
“Growing the research capacity of the Faculty of Nursing is a critical part of the strategic plan,” said Dr. Kathy Pfaff, associate dean. “Building a deeper and more productive research culture requires proactive action. Creating space and support for research activities is essential, and that commitment must be modeled by leaders within the Faculty.”
The Collaborative formalizes a shared commitment to advancing nursing research and mentorship among faculty and students.
“Expanding student research opportunities is a way to enhance the student experience and promote growth,” says Dr. Pfaff.
The Nursing Research Collaborative is grounded in three interconnected research pillars that reflect the breadth and depth of nursing scholarship.
Community & Population Health
Focuses on people, families, communities and populations, with attention to equity, diversity, inclusion, justice and lived experience.
Research in this pillar explores issues related to health and illness, social determinants of health, identity and belonging, health inequities, Indigenous health, cultural safety and decolonizing approaches.
Health Systems & Health Outcomes
Examines how care is organized, delivered and improved across diverse contexts.
Research areas include care delivery models and transitions, integration of health and social care, interventions and implementation, workforce and leadership, and equity-oriented systems of care.
Nursing Education & Practice
Centred on nurses, learners and evolving practice environments. Research within this pillar might ask, how do we prepare nurses and advance nursing practice in equitable and socially responsive ways?
Research themes include pedagogy and curriculum innovation, advanced nursing roles, trauma-informed and inclusive education and the integration of emerging technologies in learning and practice.
Together, these pillars provide a framework for advancing scholarship in its many forms — discovery, integration, application and teaching and learning.
Nursing researchers generate new knowledge through empirical studies and clinical trials, knowledge synthesis and theory development, applying knowledge to practice and policy through implementation and evaluation projects with community partners, and examining how nurses learn to strengthen educational approaches.
The Collaborative also reflects a deliberate investment in research growth. Prioritized initiatives include creating dedicated research space within the Faculty, developing resources and incentives to support grant writing and research productivity, enhancing support for graduate research and establishing clear research priorities within and across faculties.
For Pfaff, the work is both strategic and rooted in nursing’s core purpose.
“Nursing research and scholarship improve people’s health and inform decisions that strengthen health care for all,” she said.
At its core, the Nursing Research Collaborative advances health through excellence and innovation in nursing research and scholarship. It equips scholars to create and translate evidence that strengthens communities, transforms health-care systems and shapes the future of nursing practice and education — locally, nationally and globally.
One year into its strategic plan, the Faculty of Nursing is moving forward intentionally. By formalizing its research pillars and building infrastructure to support scholarship, it is amplifying the voice and impact of nursing research at UWindsor and positioning itself to lead for years to come.
Students interested in joining the Nursing Research Collaborative can apply with a letter of support from a faculty member through an online form.