Dr. Debbie Rickeard

Academic Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 1978; University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 1978; University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
  • Master of Science in Nursing 2003; University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona
  • DNP 2016; American Sentinel University
  • Certification in Critical Care (CCRN) 1989 to present
  • Certification in Cardiovascular Nursing (CCN(C)) 2007 to present

Biography
Most of my nursing career has been in critical care with a primary focus in cardiology. I have practiced both in Ontario and in Detroit, Michigan at Henry Ford Hospital. Recently, I have worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse within the Cardiology department at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital. My career has taken me down many pathways at the bedside including intensive care nursing, cardiac transplant and heart failure management. Aside from my clinical practice, I have been a clinical educator, an educational specialist (critical care), manager, rapid response team member, and an educator both at the University and St Clair College (theory and clinical).

I am married to a wonderful husband Rick and together we have four children (Lisa, Richard, Anita and Brandon) as well as four granddaughters (Skye, Nicole, Ashley, Taylor), and a grandson (Brady Richard).

I approach my teaching responsibilities with the same enthusiasm, commitment and energy as I do in caring for my patients. I feel that quality in education and mentoring spurn nursing students to excel and provide quality/safe healthcare to patients and their families.

Research Interests

  • Care of patients with cardiac diseases particularly women with heart disease
  • Enhancing healthy work environments and lifestyles in healthcare workers

Research/Publications

  • E.F. Philbin, A. Asfour, A. Greenbaum, B. Czerska, D. Rickeard, G. Franklin, C. Drost, R.S.D. Higgins, A. Bernabei, Detroit MI, USA. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF ROUTINE CORONARY ARTERIOGRAPHY AFTER CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION Presented at the International Society of Heart Failure Inc. 7th World Congress on Heart Failure - Mechanisms and Management
  • Study Investigator for FUSION (Management of Patients with CHF After Hospitalization with Follow Up Serial Infusions Of Natrecor)at Henry Ford Hospital 2002. This study was a multi-center, randomized, open-label pilot study that was conducted at about 40 U.S. sites and enrolled over 200 patients. Patients were randomized to receive either their usual long-term cardiac medications (with or without IV inotropes) or serial infusions of Natrecor in addition to their usual long-term cardiac medications (excluding IV inotropes). All treatment groups had weekly outpatient visits, and Natrecor patients received infusions for at least 4 hours at each weekly visit.
  • Study Investigator for GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital from 2007 to 2009. From the data collected several articles were published on behalf of the study investigators, including:
    • Ambrosio G, Del Pinto M, Tritto I, Agnelli G , Bentivoglio M, Zuchi C, Fox KAA, Anderson FA, Gore JM, López-Sendón J, Wyman A, Kennelly BM; for the GRACE investigators. Chronic Nitrate Therapy is Associated with Different Presentation and Evolution of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from 52,693 Patients in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE). Eur Heart J 2009. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehp457
    • Vedre A, Gurm HS, Froehlich JB, Kline-Rogers E, Montalescot G, Gore JM, Brieger D, Quill AL, Eagle KA, for the GRACE Investigators. Impact of prior statin therapy on arrhythmic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (From the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE]). Am J Cardiol 2009;104:1613-1617.

Courses Taught

  • Complex care
  • Teaching Learning and Informational Technology
  • Clinical for First, Second, and Third Year including consolidations

Professional Memberships

  • AACN Member
  • RNAO Member
  • Honor Society of Nursing Sigma Theta Tau International