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Biography

Dr Frances Finn is a lecturer in the Department of Nursing and Healthcare at Waterford Institute of Technology and Course Leader for the MSc in Nursing. She holds a Doctorate of Education from the University of Bristol, UK (2017); a Masters in Teaching and Learning from WIT (2008) a Masters in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, USA (1998) and a BSc (Hons) in Nursing from the University of the State of New York (1996). Frances has extensive professional nursing experience in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Ireland. Her main clinical roles have been in Accident and Emergency Nursing and Critical Care.  She has also worked as an Educator for the Emergency Services for paramedic training, a Director of Education for an acute health care facility and an Education Consultant for a variety of healthcare organisations, including international Telehealth services. Her current role and responsibilities include teaching and supervising students on the undergraduate/postgraduate nursing and applied healthcare programmes, in addition to maintaining links with clinical practice through partnership working and curriculum development. Frances is also actively involved with quality initiatives, curriculum development, programme validation and external examining.

Frances is trained in Multiple Intelligence Teaching and Assessment (MITA). She teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and uses a range of teaching and assessment  methods involving blended approaches: on-line learning; skills-based training; simulation; enquiry-based learning; and practice/work-based learning. Frances was the recipient of a NAIRTL Award: Innovations in Teaching and Learning: Enhancing the Student Experience.

Current  modules include:

  • Connected Health
  • Medication Management
  • Consolidation of Nursing Skills for Professional Practice
  • Nurse as Educator in Practice
  • Professional and Patient Safety
  • Developing Clinical Practice
  • Research Methods

Research Interests

Dr Finn’s research interests primarily lie in the area of work-based learning and work integrated learning and the multifaceted impact of these educational approaches. Her Doctoral Research focused on work-based learning influences, outcomes and sustainability in postgraduate nursing education.  Frances has published in this area and developed a conceptual model of work-based Learning as a means of investigating and understanding work-based learning across a landscape of practice.  She is currently undertaking a project ‘Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Industry Partnerships and Apprenticeships: Exploring WIL Management Models, Practices and Policy within Ireland and South Africa’.

Frances also has an interest in Connected Health and Care of the Older Adult and has been involved in several projects in this field, including an Evaluation of Telehealth Training and Learning Transfer; and an Exploration of Supportive Housing for Older Adults.  Current projects include an ‘Evaluation of a Telehealth Pilot Project for Chronic Disease Management’ lead by Dr Suzanne Denieffe.

Research Methods

Specialising in Qualitative Case Study Design, Causal Process Tracing Analysis and Sociocultural Theoretical Frameworks.


 

  •     Lecturer/Course Leader in Nursing/Health Care, 2002- present, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. 
  •     Director of Education: 1999 – 2002, Brotman Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
  •     Nursing Faculty: 1999 – 2002, Harbor Community College, Los Angeles, CA
  •     Education Specialist: 1997 – 1999, USC University Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.
  •     Emergency Department Staff/Charge Nurse: 1989 – 1998, Brotman Medical Center. Los Angeles, CA
  •     Medical Surgical Staff Nurse: 1988 – 1989, Brotman Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
  •     Medical Staff Nurse:  1986 – 1988, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, England.

Finn, F & Winberg, C (2020) Enhancing Work Integrated Learning through South-North collaboration: a Comparative Analysis. Paper presented at the Science Forum South Africa 9th - 11th December 2020, Webinar.

Finn, F (2018). Investigating Learner Trajectories through Work-based Learning: Methodological Reflections and Models Paper presented at the 18th Annual International Conference on Education, 21-24th  May 2018, Athens, Greece

Finn, F (2018). Transforming Practitioners and Practice through Work-based Learning. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals,  6 to 8 June 201, Bologna, Italy.

Geraghty, L., Finn, F and K O’Mahony, E (2018) Launch of eHealth Terms Booklet presented at the 23rd HISI Annual Conference & Scientific Symposium Health Informatics Society of Ireland15-16 November 2018

Finn, F and Thompson, E (2017) Training essentials for new ways of working: reflections and recommendations. Paper presented at the 22nd HISI Annual Conference & Scientific Symposium Health Informatics Society of Ireland15-16 November 2017.

Finn, F (2016). Work-based Learning in Postgraduate Nurse Education and Practice: Influences, Significance and Sustainability. Paper presented at the 18th Annual International Conference on Education, 16-19 May 2016, Athens, Greece

Finn, F (2016). Developing practitioners and practice: The significance of work-based learning in postgraduate nurse education. Paper presented at Royal College of Surgeons 35th Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference, 22nd – 23rd February, Dublin, Ireland 

Finn F. (2013) Connected Health: Educating Practitioners for New Ways of Working. Paper presented at the University of Barcelona, School of Nursing Scientific Meeting, April, Barcelona, Spain.

Finn, F (2012) Educating practitioners for new ways of working within connected health environments. Paper presented at the Health Information Society Ireland Conference,  14th – 15th, November, Dublin, Ireland. 

Finn, F (2012) Telehealth: perspectives on education, continuing professional development and performance Improvement. Paper presented at the UPMC Telemedicine Symposium, 6th – 8th June, Brussels, Luxembourg.

Finn, F (2012) International Partnerships in Telehealth: Health Care, Industry and Education. Paper presented at Royal College of Surgeons 31st Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference, 22nd – 23rd February, Dublin, Ireland

Finn, F, & O’Byrne C (2012) International Partnerships in Telehealth: Health Care, Industry and Education. Paper presented at The Kings Fund International Congress on Telehealth and Telecare 6-8th March, London, United Kingdom. 

Finn, F. & Wall, C. (2010) Continuing education and support of preceptors in the clinical setting: a collaborative action research project. Paper presented at Federation of International Nurse Educators Conference, 6th – 9th October, Lisbon, Portugal.

Murphy, L. & Finn, F. (2010) Linking assessment methods with innovative teaching and learning strategies in postgraduate nursing education. Paper presented at NAIRTL: Flexible Learning, 6th October, Dublin, Ireland.

Winberg C, Finn F, Sheridan I, Engle-Hills P, Jacobs H, Kent E (2022) Enhancing work-integrated learning through South-North collaboration: A comparative contextual analysis. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning 23(4)463-479

O’Gorman C, Finn F, Denieffe S (2022) Informing Best Practice for Supportive Housing with care for Older Adults: A Qualitative Investigation of Service Provider Views. J Gerontology Geriatric Medicine 8: 124

Finn F (2020) Work-based Learning Influences, Outcomes and Sustainability: A Conceptual Model. Work Based Learning eJournal International 9(1)1-34. Available at http://www.wblearning-ejournal.com/uploads/text_with_images/volume9issue11592302734.pdf

Finn F, O’Gorman C, Deneiffe, S and McCarthy, M (2020) Informing best practice for Supportive Housing with Care for older adults: a qualitative investigation of service user views. Journal of Aging and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2020.1772442

Denieffe S.,  Finn F,   McCarthy M,  O’Gorman C, & O’Riordan C. (2017) Older Adult Care: Informing a Supportive Housing with Care Model, Waterford Institute of Technology 

Finn, F. (2016) Training Transfer for Quality Telehealth Provision. In: Encyclopedia of E-Health and Telemedicine (eds. Manuela Cruz-Cunha M., Miranda I. M, Martnho R. & Rijo R.  IGI Global DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9978-6.ch008

Savage, E., Harnett, G., Denieffe, S., Weathers, E., Hegarty, J., Mulligan, L., Condon, C., Fehin, P., FitzGerald, S., Marsh, L., McCarthy, B., Noonan, B., O Reilly, A., O’Shea, M., Wills, T., Clancy, M., Crosby, N., Herrity, L., Lyons, T., Sheehy, A., Thompson, E., Bergin, M., Finn, F., Madden, K., Wells, J. and Sheahan, L. (2016) Clinical Systematic Literature Review to Support the Development of Best Practices in Nursing Documentation across Hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group. Report prepared for South/South West Directors of Nursing Group.

Finn, F & Chesser-Smyth, P (2013)   Promoting Learning Transfer in Preceptor Preparation Journal for Nurses in Professional Development 29(6), 309-315

Finn, F., Fensom, S. & Chesser-Smyth, P. (2010) Promoting learning transfer in post registration education: A collaborative approach. Nurse Education in Practice 10(1), 32-37

Finn F (2024) Investigating learner trajectories through work-based learning in postgraduate nurse education: methodological reflections and models. Virtual presentation at the 11th International Nursing Conference & 7th Postgraduate Studies & Research Conference, 4-5th March 2024, Mansoura University, Egypt. 

Finn, F & Winberg, C (2020) Enhancing Work Integrated Learning through South-North collaboration: a Comparative Analysis. Paper presented at the Science Forum South Africa 9th - 11th December 2020, Webinar.

Finn, F (2018). Investigating Learner Trajectories through Work-based Learning: Methodological Reflections and Models Paper presented at the 18th Annual International Conference on Education, 21-24th  May 2018, Athens, Greece

Finn, F (2018). Transforming Practitioners and Practice through Work-based Learning. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals,  6 to 8 June 201, Bologna, Italy.

Geraghty, L., Finn, F and K O’Mahony, E (2018) Launch of eHealth Terms Booklet presented at the 23rd HISI Annual Conference & Scientific Symposium Health Informatics Society of Ireland15-16 November 2018

Finn, F and Thompson, E (2017) Training essentials for new ways of working: reflections and recommendations. Paper presented at the 22nd HISI Annual Conference & Scientific Symposium Health Informatics Society of Ireland15-16 November 2017.

Finn, F (2016). Work-based Learning in Postgraduate Nurse Education and Practice: Influences, Significance and Sustainability. Paper presented at the 18th Annual International Conference on Education, 16-19 May 2016, Athens, Greece

Finn, F (2016). Developing practitioners and practice: The significance of work-based learning in postgraduate nurse education. Paper presented at Royal College of Surgeons 35th Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference, 22nd – 23rd February, Dublin, Ireland 

Finn F. (2013) Connected Health: Educating Practitioners for New Ways of Working. Paper presented at the University of Barcelona, School of Nursing Scientific Meeting, April, Barcelona, Spain.

Finn, F (2012) Educating practitioners for new ways of working within connected health environments. Paper presented at the Health Information Society Ireland Conference,  14th – 15th, November, Dublin, Ireland. 

Finn, F (2012) Telehealth: perspectives on education, continuing professional development and performance Improvement. Paper presented at the UPMC Telemedicine Symposium, 6th – 8th June, Brussels, Luxembourg.

Finn, F (2012) International Partnerships in Telehealth: Health Care, Industry and Education. Paper presented at Royal College of Surgeons 31st Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference, 22nd – 23rd February, Dublin, Ireland

Finn, F, & O’Byrne C (2012) International Partnerships in Telehealth: Health Care, Industry and Education. Paper presented at The Kings Fund International Congress on Telehealth and Telecare 6-8th March, London, United Kingdom. 

Finn, F. & Wall, C. (2010) Continuing education and support of preceptors in the clinical setting: a collaborative action research project. Paper presented at Federation of International Nurse Educators Conference, 6th – 9th October, Lisbon, Portugal.

Murphy, L. & Finn, F. (2010) Linking assessment methods with innovative teaching and learning strategies in postgraduate nursing education. Paper presented at NAIRTL: Flexible Learning, 6th October, Dublin, Ireland.