About this page . . .
What a time we are in! While this page maintains the original purposes related to my professional interests, it has now evolved as a way to share resources and ideas. You can learn more, and get involved in discussion at my blog.
Befor you scroll down to see some of the more familiar content, take some time to stop and browse 3 videos .. 2 of my most recent favorites, and one of an interview that I did at Vanderbilt University in the spring of 2010.
A Woman's Place (Sara Thomsen)
Social Media ... are you ready? (updated version)
Scholarship
See a video filmed in April, 2010 at Vanderbilt University. I was giving a keynote address on LGBTQ Cultures and the necessity for health care providers to provide a welcoming environment for all LGBTQ people and their families.
My scholarly interests include:
- Feminist, critical/emancipatory, & postmodern theories and methodologies
- Women's health
- Art and Aesthetics
- Nursing theory
- Wholistic/caring theories and modalities
- LGBTQ Health
Current research/scholarship:
- Co-Guest Editor of a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Homosexuality focusing on LGBTQ Health
- Co-author of text/continuing Education program titled "LGBTQ Cultures: What Health Care Professionals Need to Know about Sexual and Gender Diversity".
Major publications:
Peace and Power: New Directions for Building Community (8th edition, 2013). This book has been used internationally by women's peace groups, nursing groups, hospital committees, church and community groups to guide their shift toward cooperative, egalitarian ways of working together. Available through Jones and Bartlett.
Integrated Theory and Knowledge Development in Nursing (8th edition). Co-authored with Maeona K. Kramer. Visit Mosby's web site to order this book. The current edition, released in November 2010. includes a chapter on emancipatory knowing, and integrates emancipatory knowing with the four fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing.
Teaching
The following list shows examples of my typical approaches to teaching at all levels of education.
Baccalaureate
- A senior level theoretical foundations course (Nursing 235) that focuses
on Aesthetic Knowing in Nursing. View Nursing
235 syllabus (WebCT HTML
format)
- A freshman level "Introduction to Health" course that is required
of all nursing majors, and open to all students in the University. I
have taught the section that is synchronous on 5 campuses, and uses WebCT
for all assignments, quizzes, and communications. View the Nursing
110 syllabus (WebCT HTML format)
- Introduction to the Art of Nursing. This was an elective course (offered
once) that I developed from my Aesthetic Inquiry. You can click here to
view the Art of Nursing Syllabus
for the Spring of 1998. Please contact
me if you are interested in this approach to teaching, or in "content" related
to the art of nursing.
Master's
Nursing Theory (Nursing 350) that explores the development of grand, mid-range
and situation-specific nursing theories, nursing's fundamental patterns
of knowing, and the links between advanced nursing practice and developing
nursing knowledge.
Doctoral
Theory Development course (Nursing 414) that focuses on advanced concepts of nursing knowledge development.
Service
- Consultation and presentations worldwide on doctoral curriculum development,
feminism and nursing, publishing, and a number of topics related to wholistic
healing modalities in nursing.
- Actively involved in various efforts to support LGBT nurses, including
co-manager of the “GLMA Nursing” Google group.
- Co-founder of the Nurse Manifest Project. Developer and manager
of web site for the project.
- Web designer for Eastern Nursing Research Society and the University of
Connecticut School of Nursing, 1997-2002.
- Co-founder of Cassandra: Radical Feminist Nurses Network, 1982-1989. The sidebar links are for pdf files of the Cassandra Newsjournal. You need Adobe Acrobat 7.0 or later to read these files. They are large, so be patient!
Avocations
- Community leadership in a number of venues, including
- Moderator of a networking group of lesbians 40 and older in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2004-present
- Member of production team for Third Thursday Women's Open Mic at Montclair Women's Cultural Arts Club, 2005-present
- Web manager and advisory board member for FreeWheelers, a chapter of RVing Women, International, 2006-present
- Web manager and core leader for the Lavender Health Resource Center (under development)
- Quilting -I began quilting in the mid-1960's; resumed seriously in 2003. See
pictures
of my quilts.
- Folk harper - In 1997 I began playing the folk harp for nursing home residents and informal occasions such as receptions, parties and luncheons. I studied with Sally Perreten, a master harpist who focuses on the ancient harp traditions of Ireland and Scotland. My performances for professional groups have included:
- International Nurse Historian Association Conference, Hartford, CT,
September 26, 1997
- Fleet Bank Annual Investor’s Celebration, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford,
CT, December 17, 1997.
- St. Joseph College Graduation Reception, December, 1997
- Graduate Reception, University of Connecticut School of Nursing, May
17, 1998; May 16, 1999; May 21, 2000, May 20, 2001
- Lead and participate in women's drumming and chanting circles, and an
avid consumer of women's music and exploring healing dimensions of music.
For more information about women's music, visit Ladyslipper on the Web.
- Certified Massage Therapist (completed 1000 hour program at the Colorado School of Healing Arts in December, 1996).
Background
BS in Nursing, University of Hawaii, 1964, Distinguished Alumna Award, June, 1997
MS in Child Health Nursing, University of Utah, Distinguished alumna Award, May 1988
PhD in Educational Psychology, University of Utah, 1971