Patricia Poirier, Ph.D, AOCN, RN

Dr. Patricia Poirier is Professor Emerita of Nursing. She has taught extensively in the undergraduate and graduate programs of nursing. She served as Interim Chair of Communication Sciences and Disorders from 2001-2003. Her clinical research has focused on supporting patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer, especially older adults as well as exploring the concept of caring in nursing practice. Her educational research focused on increasing the confidence of nursing students in caring for patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses. In addition, she has done research on the use of simulation in developing clinical skills of nursing students. Her PhD is in nursing health policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston where she studied the impact of fatigue and lack of sick leave benefits on the quality of life of patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. She is past member of St. Joseph Healthcare Aging Friendly Steering Committee, Eastern Maine Medical Center Research Advisory Committee, and the University of Maine Institutional Review Board. She is actively involved in Omicron XI, the local chapter of Sigma, the International Honor Society for Nursing.