Cathy Carter-Snell

Position:  Coordinator, Forensic Studies Program and Instructor ACCN Emergency Program

Degrees: RN, MN, ENC(C), SANE(A), PhD

Phones:  403.440.6679 or toll-free 1.800.240.6891

E-mail: ccartersnell@mtroyal.ca

Cathy Carter-Snell is a registered nurse who coordinates the Forensic Studies program, teaches in both the Forensic Studies and the Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing (ACCN) Emergency programs, and conducts research in these areas. She remains actively involved in clinical practice, working part-time as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) in Emergency Departments. Cathy's doctoral work focused on the physical and psychological effects of sexual assault on women, including post-traumatic stress disorder and injuries. Her dissertation research was "Understanding women's risks for injury from sexual assault" and her current program of research is focused on assessment and intervention with victims of violence. She has been recognized in both Court of Queen's Bench and Provincial Court as an expert in the area of sexual assault examination and treatment, including injury interpretation. 

Cathy has worked in trauma nursing since entering nursing in 1977, working mainly in Emergency (ER) settings but also in ICU, Recovery Room and fixed wing air transport nursing. She has worked in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

She has taught in both clinical and academic settings throughout her experience and has specialized in adult education and online/distance learning. Cathy is certified in ER (Canadian) as well as in sexual assault nurse examination (International) and has developed most of the curriculum for the ER stream as well as two chapters for the ENA's Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing II course. Clinical competence is important to Cathy and she has maintained her clinical practice throughout her teaching and research career, working with victims of violence both as an Emergency nurse and as a sexual assault examiner.

Cathy has received a number of research, academic and professional awards including the Canadian Nurses' Association Centennial award (2008), the International Association of Forensic Nurses' Achievement award (2007), the College and Association of Registered Nurses' Excellence in Teaching award (2007) and the National Emergency Nurses' Affiliation Research Excellence award (1997), the Helen Glass scholarship (2000) and two Province of Alberta Graduate Fellowships (2001, 1986).