Dr. Baiba Zarins
Collaborations include the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, within the Best Practice Guidelines (BPG’s) and Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship programs to develop, implement and sustain evidence-informed practice initiatives. This collaboration fostered UHN in achieving designation as a provincial Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO). Other leadership initiatives include supporting UHN’s organizational capacity and knowledge networking with remote First Nation communities and international professional development opportunities; both which exemplified unique responsiveness to health human resource needs.
Current projects include supporting Nipissing’s journey to designation as a provincial Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO)-Academic stream. Baiba is a contributing author in several health care journals, publications and reference texts. She holds cross-appointments to Nipissing University, the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and most recently, invited international collaborations with the Riga Strazdins University (RSU) Faculty of Nursing, located in Riga, Latvia. Her extensive nursing career spans many roles within clinical, educational and administrative capacities in both acute and community care sectors. Baiba volunteers in leadership positions on the Board of Directors of Kristus Darzs Latvian Home, a long term care facility located in Woodbridge, Ontario.
Areas of Specialization:
Baiba’s expertise actively contributes to health care organizational practices within point of care evidence informed practice strategies, policy development, risk management and health care education strategies.
Research Interests:
Professional and research interests surround professional development education modalities and health care leadership attributes.
Current & Future Research:
Examining the state of readiness for practice by Nipissing University’s nursing students. (Co-investigator)
Preceptor satisfaction in precepting second degree accelerated nursing program students: An exploratory study. (co-investigator)
Zarins, B. (2018). Pētījumi un jaunumi medmāsu izglītībā. Laikam Līdzi.A selection of essays and poems. Toronto, Canada. Toronto Latviešu Biedrība
Pere, K,, Manankil-Rankin, L and Zarins, B. A Changing World Reflection: Understanding narrative inquiry based nursing education through the journey of program learners and preceptors. Manuscript in progress.
Zarins, B. (2016). Experiential research: Assessing narrative inquiry based nursing education curriculum through the reflective journey of program students (Doctoral dissertation, FIELDING GRADUATE UNIVERSITY). http://gradworks.umi.com/10/14/10146371.html
Zarins, B., Carter,L & McParland, T. (2015) An innovative approach to adult education in a two-year BScN program: Creating partnerships in learning. Journal of Quality Advancement in Nursing Education
Zarins, B., & Carter, L.M. (2015). A narrative-based bachelor of science in nursing program: Experiences and lessons. In Blessinger, P., & Carfora, J. M. (Eds.). Inquiry-based learning for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs: A conceptual and practical resource for educators. Innovations in higher teaching and learning. Emerald Group Publishing: West Yorkshire, UK
Zarins, B. (2014) Working in Northern Nursing Stations. in Menzies, P & Lavalle, L. (eds.) Working with Aboriginal Peoples with Mental Health and Addiction Problems. (pp. 397-412). CAMH Publications: Toronto, ON
Zarins, B. & Davies, B (2012) Sustain Knowledge Use in RNAO Best Practice Guidelines: Implementation Toolkit. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. Toronto. ON.
Ferguson-Paré, M., Mallette, C., Zarins, B., McLeod, S. and Reuben, K. (2010). Collaboration to change the Landscape of Nursing: A Journey between Urban and Remote Practice Settings. Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership 23 (Special Issue): 87-98.
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (2010) Strategies to Support Self-Management in Chronic Conditions: Collaboration with Clients. Clinical Best Practice guideline. Review Panel member. Toronto, Canada. Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
Program links Toronto, James Bay Nurses. As published in Northern Ontario Medical Journal. (Winter 2008) Vol. 2, No. 3
Tully, S., Ganson, C., Savage, P., Banez, C & Zarins, B. (2007). Implementing a Wound Care Resource Nurse Program. Ostomy Wound Management 2007; 53(8):46-53.
Davies B, Danseco E, Ray K, Zarins B, Skelly J, Santos J, Edwards N, Brez S & Lybanon V. (2006). Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Evaluation User Guide: The Confidence in Administering Insulin and Managing Diet Scale (CAI-MDS). Nursing Best Practice Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Canada.
Davies, B., Woodend, K., Bissonnette, J., Skov, T., Baily, P., Zarins, B. & Heslin, K. (2006). Nursing Best Practice Guidelines Evaluation User Guide: Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Inhalation Device Assessment Tool for Nurses (IDAT-N) in Adults with COPD. Nursing Best Practice Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Canada.