Name and Credentials: Patrice K. Nicholas, RN, DSNc, MPH, ANP, FAAN
Candidate Position: Director-At-Large
Professional Background
Dr. Patrice Nicholas is Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing and Director, Global Health and Academic Partnerships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She holds the following degrees: BSN, Fitchburg State College; MS, DNSc, Boston University; ANP Certificate, MGH Institute of Health Professions; and Postdoctoral and MPH, Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Nicholas is the recipient of two Fulbright Senior Scholar Awards: in Germany (2003) and South Africa (2007).
In what ways are you qualified for this position and what leadership experience do you have in the honor society and other organizations?
As a member of three chapters, Epsilon Beta Chapter, Theta Chapter-at-Large and Charter Member of Upsilon Lambda, I am honored to be considered as a candidate for Director. My past experiences as Region 15 Coordinator and in leadership positions (President and President-Elect [twice: Epsilon Beta and Upsilon Lambda], Vice President, and Secretary; I also advanced the charter of Upsilon Lambda) have offered opportunities to prepare for a position on the Board of Directors. Regionally, I have served two terms as Region 15 Coordinator and on the Global Advisory Council at the International level. I have served as a collateral reviewer for Awards and as a Chapter Key Judge for the past two Biennium Celebrations. In the area of scholarly contributions, I have presented research through Epsilon Beta Chapter, receiving the Distinguished Nurse Researcher Award and research grants. In past leadership roles at the chapter level, I gained experience, communication skills, and collaborative ability to contribute to the role of Director. I will offer expertise from my roles as nurse educator, clinician, and researcher to our region. I will bring skills related to multiculturalism, diversity and global/international experience. My past experiences include serving as Visiting Professor at international universities (St. Luke’s Hospital and School of Nursing in Tokyo, Japan; Visiting Professor at Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium; Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds, as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Germany addressing demographic challenges and health issues, and as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa). My current position is as Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing and as Director of Global Health and Academic Partnerships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. If elected as Director, I would continue to focus on the goals of Vision 2020, including being an intentionally global organization; building STTI’s knowledge resources; developing the leadership skills of our members; and creating service opportunities to advance the mission of helping others.
Over the past four years, I have served as Region 15 Coordinator, which I have found to be stimulating, intellectually challenging, and extremely rewarding. Region 15 is a diverse and exciting region, which includes chapters in the northeast US, eastern Canada, western Europe and Africa. I have had the opportunity to travel to many of the chapters locally, regionally and internationally—including Africa to meet with our STTI membership. Our chapters in the US and Canada have highly successful chapters; our chapters in Europe have developed a regional meeting/global group; and our African chapters have a robust, award-winning chapter. My leadership as Region 15 Coordinator has focused on outreach to chapters, supporting chapters/members and speaking to membership at inductions and business meetings. I have worked with a vibrant, committed Regional Coordinating Committee. Our region also had several chapters that were honored during Showcase Regional Excellence in the past and excellent attendance at Leadership Academy. I have enjoyed the visibility and contact with the important work of our organization.
In the area of scholarship, I have co-authored a text on A History of Nursing Ideas, which focuses on the advancement of nursing from the time of Florence Nightingale to the present, and authored over 70 manuscripts and chapters in my area of research related to symptom management and quality of life in HIV disease and chronic illness. Currently, my research program focuses on the problem of distal sensory peripheral neuropathy, quality of life, and symptom management in HIV disease. I am an active member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and Eastern Nursing Research Society. I also serve on the editorial panel and review panels of 13 professional journals (nursing and interdisciplinary). I am an invited member of several Fulbright Senior Review Panels, including the Fulbright Scholar Award Review Panel for candidates to Germany; in 2007, I was appointed to South African Fulbright Review Panel by the US Consulate, Durban for review of South African candidates to the US; and in 2008, I was appointed to the Fulbright Senior Review Panel for Southern Africa by the Fulbright Commission and the US Department of State. In 2008, I was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Should you be elected to serve, what would you like to accomplish?
My vision for the future of STTI and in the role of Director is parallel with the Strategic Directions of Sigma Theta Tau International. I support STTI’s commitment to becoming intentionally global, building on knowledge resources, developing the leadership skills of our members, and advancing our service and mission for helping others. I hope to further the strategic directions developed by STTI at the international, regional, chapter levels. The following goals are important to me: develop members across their careers at the international, regional, local and individual levels; focus on building strong chapters globally and advance collaborative work among chapters; advance global linkages through technology and international exchange of members; assist in developing leadership competencies and mentoring among chapters; strengthen the scientific basis of practice by promoting clinical practice and research at the chapter level; and focus on community building and a mission of service among our chapters. In my work as an educator, clinician, and researcher, I have worked to ensure that global health is one of our priorities for advancing nursing, expanding our knowledge repository, sharing resources via technology with members around the world, and furthering the goals of Sigma Theta Tau International.