About the Authors

Peggy Simpson, RN, PhD

Dr. Peggy Simpson is passionate about families and family centered care. For the past 25 years she has implemented family nursing programs in both acute care hospitals and psychiatric care facilities. Her work has included family nursing education, research and clinical practice both in Canada and internationally. Dr. Simpson has held academic positions in the Schools of Nursing at the University of British Columbia and the University of Hong Kong. She held clinical nurse specialist positions at St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia and Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. She was a registered Family Therapist (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy).

The Family Nursing Practice Scale (FNPS) based on Family Systems Nursing, was first conceptualized and implemented at the Foothills Hospital, Calgary Alberta where Dr. Simpson and a colleague developed and evaluated family nursing programs throughout the acute care setting. The FNPS was further refined and validated in a psychiatric setting with nurses in Hong Kong. (Simpson & Tarrant, 2006). Since that time the FNPS has been used as an evaluation tool in family nursing education and clinical practice research both in Canada and internationally.

Marie Tarrant, RN, MPH, PhD

Dr. Marie Tarrant is a child and family health researcher whose program of research focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes. A strong focus on health promotion and disease prevention in the context of women and children’s health underpins all of Dr. Tarrant’s work. Her research has not only helped to improve health outcomes but has also impacted health service delivery for new mothers, specifically as it relates to improved breastfeeding support in the immediate postpartum period. She has an extensive publication record on a range of subjects, including infant feeding and maternal and childhood vaccinations. Dr. Tarrant is currently the Director and a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus.