Deanna Bickford

Deanna Bickford, Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BScN)

Dr. Deanna Bickford

RN, BScN, MN, PhD
Professor, Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing

Email: deanna.bickford@georgiangollege.ca

Phone: 519.376.0840, ext. 2033

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Biography

Dr. Deanna Bickford has been in the nursing profession for over 25 years. She worked in a variety of practice environments (including medicine, surgery, pediatrics, home care, telehealth) before returning to further her education in 2006. She studied at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree with great distinction in 2008, Master of Nursing (MN) in 2012, and a PhD in Nursing in 2019.

Her PhD research, Where do I Get Porcupine Quills? An Exploration of Winter Counts as a First Nations Way of Sharing Knowledge for Youth, explored the use of traditional winter counts as Indigenous methodology, as well as youth beliefs and perceptions of what contributes to their health.

The aim of this research was to increase the understandings of First Nations knowledge and ways of knowing and sharing knowledge in research, together with the experiences of First Nations youth in this research process. She incorporated two-eyed seeing and taya na ćopi, which means to learn this well or to share good things, as guiding principles in this community-based participatory research partnership. This research was supported through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Doctoral Research Award and has implications for nursing practice, education and research.

From this research, she developed a wise practices framework for research with Indigenous peoples. Going forward, Deanna will continue to build on the lessons from this research and develop a deeper understanding of being well and how nursing can better support the youth in achieving it.

Deanna is committed to bringing awareness and understandings of Indigenous health as a product of social, political and historical contexts in all areas of her teaching. As an educator, she believes it’s important to not simply provide students with information, but to assist them in developing a greater understanding of health disparities that exist not only nationally, but also globally.

My favourite aspect of the nursing profession is that it has no limitations. It has allowed me to journey through different roles and different practice environments. Nursing has positioned me at the bedside, in people’s homes, on the end of the phone line, as a lifelong learner, as an educator, at the end of a pen, and working alongside communities. It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of people’s lives in these ways. The way I see it, so many possibilities still exist. Who knows what I will do when I grow up.

Dr. Deanna Bickford
Educational credentials and qualificationsGeorgian College Chevron
  • PhD in Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK, 2019
    • Concentrations: First Nations youth, First Nations perspectives on health, Indigenous methodologies, cultural safety, post-colonial theory, visual methodologies, two-eyed seeing, wise practices
  • Master of Nursing (MN), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK, 2012
    • Concentrations: First Nations youth, First Nations perspectives on health, visual methodologies, community-based research
    • Thesis:  A Secondary Analysis: Paths to Living Well for On-Reserve Youth
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK, 2008
  • Nursing diploma, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Regina SK, 1995
Professional affiliations and certificationsGeorgian College Chevron

Professional affiliations

Committees

  • Faculty Council (Year 2, 3 and 4 committees), College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 2017–2020
  • Curriculum Subcommittee, College of Nursing , University of Saskatchewan, 2018–2020
  • PhD Student Representative for the College of Nursing Faculty Council, University of Saskatchewan, 2016–2020
  • Search Committee for Associate Dean – Regina, College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 2012–2013
  • Review Committee for Dean – Saskatoon, College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 2011–2012
  • Nursing Advisory Committee, College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, 2008–2009
Career highlightsGeorgian College Chevron

Throughout her academic career, Deanna has volunteered in collecting, loading and distributing medical equipment and other supportive articles to Tanzania. This effort supports several different medical clinics, orphanages, and many other vulnerable groups. It has been through this experience, along with a teaching assignment Tanzania, that Deanna has come to recognize what health means on a global level and learned to appreciate the unique strengths that exist in all people. She recently had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania with a Canada 150 Scholarship, and continues to expand her understandings of global health and nursing in a global community.

Honours and awards

  • SRNA Award for Excellence in Truth and Reconciliation, Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, May 2019
  • Health and Life Sciences Research Expo – 2nd place poster competition, University of Saskatchewan, May 2019
  • University of Saskatchewan Graduate Student Award, College of Nursing, September 2018
  • Canada 150 Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, June 2017
  • University of Victoria Bursary, CIRCLE Learning Institute, May 2017                                       
  • Student Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, May 2017
  • Travel Award, Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health, May 2016
  • College of Nursing Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, October 2015
  • Student Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, October 2015
  • Alice Caplin Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, September 2015
  • Lucy D Willis Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, June 2015
  • Tuition Scholarship, Saskatchewan Government, May 2015                         
  • Deans Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, January 2013
  • Graduate Student Scholarship, Indigenous Peoples Health Research Center, September 2013
  • Doctoral Research Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, May 2013
  • Saskatchewan Innovation & Opportunity Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, May 2013
  • Student Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, September 2012
  • Graduate Student Scholarship, Indigenous Peoples Health Research Center, September 2012
  • Deans Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, January 2012
  • Norma Fulton Award, University of Saskatchewan, September 2011
  • Student Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, September 2011
  • Graduate Student Scholarship, Indigenous Peoples Health Research Center, May 2011
  • Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of Saskatchewan, September 2010
  • Student Travel Award, University of Saskatchewan, September 2012
  • Pearson Canada Book Award, University of Saskatchewan, June 2010
  • Great Distinction BScN, University of Saskatchewan, October 2009
  • University Prize in Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, October 2009
  • Entry Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan, September 2009
ResearchGeorgian College Chevron

Research interests

  • First Nations youth
  • Visual methodologies
  • Health and wellness
  • Indigenous methodologies
  • Cultural safety
  • Culturally appropriate research methods
  • Period poverty/menstrual hygiene management and Indigenous peoples

Research projects

  • Facilitating Eco-Friendly Menstrual Hygiene Efforts and Rights-Based Developments
    • Role: Co-investigator
    • Year funded: 2020
    • Funded by: Global Innovation Fund
  • Your Time – student research engagement
    • Year funded: 2019
    • Funded by: Internally funded grant, School of Public Health
  • Your Time – student research engagement
    • Year funded: 2018
    • Funded by: Internally funded grant, School of Public Health
  • Paths to Living Well for Dakota Youth: A Visual Collection and Recollection
    • Role: Co-investigator
    • Year funded: 2011
    • Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
PublicationsGeorgian College Chevron

Featured publications

  • Bickford, D. (2019). Where Do I Get Porcupine Quills? PhD Dissertation. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
  • Bickford, D. & Petrucka, P. (2016). Re-visioning the winter count. [Special Issue – Indigenous Knowledge as a Mode of Inquiry]. International Review of Qualitative Research, 9(4).
  • Petrucka, P., Bickford, D., Bassendowski, S., Goodwill, W., Wajunta, C., Yuzicappi, B., Yuzicappi, L., Hackett, P., Jeffrey, B., & Rauiluk, M. (2016). Positive leadership, legacy, lifestyles, attitudes, and activities for Aboriginal youth: A wise practices approach for positive Aboriginal youth futures. International Journal for Indigenous Health, 11(1), 5 – 17.
  • Bickford, D. (2014). Postcolonial Theory, Nursing Knowledge and the Development of Emancipatory Knowing. Advances in Nursing Science, 37(3): 213 – 223.
  • Petrucka, P., Bassendowski, S., Bickford, D., & Elder Velma Goodfeather. (2012). Towards building consensus: Revisiting key principles of CBPR within the First Nations/Aboriginal context. Open Journal of Nursing, 2(2), 143 – 148.
  • Bickford, D. (2011). A secondary analysis: Paths to living well for on-reserve youth (master’s thesis). University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
  • Petrucka, P., Bickford, D., Redman, R, Bassendowski, S., Redman, A., Yuzicappi, L.,…Borassa, C. (2011). “Ocanku Duta Amani” or paths to living well for Aboriginal youth in Saskatchewan. Research Update, 18(1), 3 – 4.
  • Petrucka, P., Redman, R., Bickford, D., Bassendowski, S., Redman, A., Yuzicappi, L., … & Bourassa, C. (2011). Standing Buffalo First Nations youth photovoice – Exploring health and well-being from their lens! Case study presented at 2011 Community-Based Health Research (CBHR) Summer Institute: Weaving the Tapestry, Regina, Saskatchewan.
  • Petrucka, P., Redman, R., Bickford, D., Bassendowski, S., Redman, A., Yuzicappi, L., … & Bourassa, C. (2011). Standing Buffalo First Nations youth – Exploring health and well-being. In Community-University Institute for Social Research, & Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (Eds.).