Sheila Epp, MN

Associate Professor of Teaching

Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Nursing

Other Titles: Associate Dean Academic (pro-tem), FHSD
Office: Art 342
Phone: 250-807-9975
Email: sheila.epp@ubc.ca

Research Summary

Primary Care Nursing, Program Development, Curriculum Design, Leadership, Project Management, Global Health.

Courses & Teaching

I have taught in multiple areas across the undergraduate program. Most recently my teaching has included:
NRSG_O 432 Community Capstone
NRSG_O 431 Capstone Acute Care Preceptorship
NRSG_O 434 Practice Electives
NRSG_O 439 Global Health Practicum

Degrees

Master Nursing, University of Dundee, 2008
BSN, Okanagan University College, 2000
Diploma in Nursing, Okanagan College, 1982

Research Interests & Projects

Development of Micro-Credential Access Course(s) for LPN Feb 2025 – ongoing; Funded: in kind;Team Member

Development of Micro-Credential Non-Credit Certificate at UBCO 2024 –2027; Funded: $200,400.00 Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills; Project Lead with Lindsay Kenndey as Co-lead

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Primary Care Nursing 2021-2023; Funded: $30,000.00 Internal;  Lead

Examining Faculty and Administrator Perceptions of Primary Care Nursing Education within Canadian Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: A Qualitative Descriptive Study 2024-2025; Funded: $2,500.00 Newfoundland College of Nursing; Committee Member

Development of Team Primary Care Nurse Post-Licensure Educational Program 2022-2025; Funded: $3,000,000.00 by Gouvernement du Canada; Academics Co-lead

BSN Curriculum Revisions & Implementation 2013-2016; Funded: in kind;  Lead

Selected Publications & Presentations

Curnew, D. Lukewich, J., Mathews, M., Poitras, M.E., Stevens, K., Wright, T., Deveau, K., Epp, S., Morin, A. & Smith, K. (accepted). Examining the role of baccalaureate nursing education in primary care career-related confidence, perceptions, and interest among Canadian nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.

Poitras, M.E., Lukewich, J., Klassen, T., Braithwaite, S., Devey-Burry, R., Epp, S., Guérin, M., Ryan, D., Morin, A., Curnew, D., Vaughan, C., Langlois, A.S., Bulman, D., McGraw, M., Poirier, M.D., and Leamon, T. (2026). Evaluation of a Canadian Post-Licensure Educational Program for Registered Nurses in Primary Care: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol. Science of Nursing and Health Practices.

Poitras, M.E., Lukewich, J., Klassen, T., Guérin, M., Ryan, D., Langlois, A.S., Braithwaite, S., Morin, A., Curnew, D., Vaughan, C., McGraw, M., Devey-Burry, R., Poirier, M.D., Leamon, T., Epp, S., and Bulman, D. (2024). Co-development of a national, bilingual, post-licensure accredited educational program for registered nurses in primary care: A knowledge-to-action exemplar. Healthcare Management Forum, 37(1),43S-48S. doi:10.1177/08404704241259929

Lukewich J., Poitras M-E., Vaughan, C., Ryan, D., Guérin, M., Bulman, D., Klassen, T., Devey-Burry, R., McGraw, M., Curnew, D., and Epp, S. (2024) Canadian post-licensure education for primary care nurses addressing the patient’s medical home model and Canadian competencies for registered nurses in primary care: An environmental scan. (2024). Quality Advancement in Nursing Education – Avancées En Formation infirmière, 10(2), https://doi.org/10.17483/2368-6669.1429

Bryant, E., Rush, K., Reekie, M., Boychuk Duchscher, J., & Epp, S. (2024). The Transition Experiences of New Nurse Graduates Participating in an Emergency Department Pathway from Undergraduate to 3 Months Post-Pathway: An interpretive description study. Nurse Education Today, 138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106191

Reekie, M., de Bosch Kemper, N., Epp, S., Denison, J., Willson, M. & Moralejo, L. (2023). Learning Pathways: Leveling, scaffolding & mapping curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing,46,163–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.03.006

Epp, S., Reekie, M., Denison, J., de Bosch Kemper, N., & Willson, M., & Marck, P. (2022). An Innovative Leap: Embracing new pedagogical approaches for clinical education. Journal ofProfessional Nursing, 42, 168–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.005

Huber, B. & Epp, SM. (2021). Teaching & Learning Focused Assessments: An innovative clinical support tool. Nurse Education in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103131

Epp, S., Reekie, M., Denison, J., de Bosch Kemper, N., Willson, M., & Marck, P. (2021). Radical Transformation: Embracing constructivism and pedagogy for an innovative nursing curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37 (5), 804-809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.06.007

Murdoch, N., Epp, S. & Vinek, J. (Sept 2017). Teaching and learning activities to educate nursing students for interprofessional collaboration: A scoping review, Journal of Interprofessional Care, 31:6, 744-753, DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2017.1356807

Rush, K., Hickey, S., & Epp, S.(June 2017). Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Older People Care: An Integrative Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13939

Epp, S.M.& McAulay, J.E. (2008).  Teaching child growth and development: the Christmas Shoebox. Nurse Educator,33 (6), pp. 277-280.http://journals.lww.com/nurseeducatoronline/pages/default.aspx

Epp, S.M.(2008). The value of reflective journaling in undergraduate nursing education: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies,45(9), pp. 1379-1388. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.01.006

Selected Grants & Awards

Killiam Teaching Prize 2026 UBC Okanagan

Excellence in Nursing Education Award 2019 Nurses and Nursing Professionals of BC (NPPBC)

Teaching Honor Roll UBC Okanagan 2010 UBC Okanagan

Professional Services/Affiliations/Committees

Interior Health Ethics Review Committee; Representative for SoN

CFNPA; Member

NNPBC; Member

Serious Illness Conversation Community of Practice; Member

Media

Primary Care Nursing at UBC Okanagan; https://nursing.ok.ubc.ca/home/primary-care-nursing-programs/

News Release NRSG 439 Profile of Zambia Practicum Jan 2025; https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2025/01/13/global-nursing-pathways-lead-canadian-students-to-zambia/

News Release NRSG 432 Student Group Project with HOPE Outreach Jan 2024; https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2024/01/08/compassion-is-the-cornerstone-of-nursing/