of Victoria
RN, BSN, MN, PhD
Neonatal nursing; transition of the high risk newborn to the community; creating supportive environments for neonatal development; perinatal substance use; women’s health; leadership; quality improvement
Dr. Lenora Marcellus joined the University of Victoria in 2009 after a 25-year career in professional nursing practice and administrative and policy positions.
Lenora’s research and scholarship focuses on supporting pregnant and newly parenting women experiencing multiple adversities and their families in their transition to parenting. She holds a particular focus on the issue of substance use during pregnancy, which incorporates developing supportive community based services for women, supporting infants experiencing Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal (also known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome), after birth and supporting foster care providers who care for this population. A second specific focus is the support of young, first time, low-income mothers.
Lenora has held several leadership roles at the School, Faculty and University levels. In additional to her current role as Associate Director, Undergraduate Programs & Partnerships, she serving as the Acting Director of the School of Nursing from July 2021-June 2022. She currently chairs or co-chairs six School of Nursing committees, and provides extensive formal and informal mentorship to new faculty.
Lenora is involved in community services with the local community and various communities of practice that support families experiencing adversity. She is Director-at-Large on the Board of the Vancouver Island Foster Parent Support Services Society and the Board of Moms and Mentors, a women-led parenting mentorship program for young mothers in Victoria. She has long-standing relationships with the HerWay Home Program in Victoria, the Canada FASD Partnership and the Vermont Oxford Network
Lenora’s undergraduate teaching focuses on community health, leadership, research, and consolidated practice. Her graduate level teaching focuses on advanced practice leadership and research methods.
My program of research currently centers on infants considered high risk and their families and caregivers. In particular, I am interested in the issues of prematurity, substance use during pregnancy (including infants experiencing neonatal opioid withdrawal, supporting women with substance use challenges, and supporting foster care providers who care for these infants in a community setting) and adolescent pregnancy and parenting. I also have an emerging program of research related to the history of maternal-infant and neonatal intensive care nursing in Canada.
I approach these issues from social determinants, health equity, and critical intersectionality perspectives and work with a number of community based teams to develop strategies and interventions to support health in these populations. In addition to these specific clinical areas of study, I am also interested in nursing leadership, quality improvement and patient safety.
I have the following research affiliations:
Since arriving at UVic in 2009 I have taught primarily in the undergraduate program in community health and nursing leadership, and also in research methodologies and data analysis at the undergraduate and graduate level. I have also taught the child bearing family elective and grounded theory directed studies course. I co-facilitate the Grounded Theory Club, an informal interdisciplinary and cross-institutional methodology seminar offered on campus and virtually.
I teach from an appreciative standpoint and find that strength-based approaches - such as consensus and team building, encouraging a spirit of inquiry in everyday practice, and applying creative strategies to problem solving – are ones that the students respond to positively. By fostering an intrinsic motivation of students to learn in the moment I hope to support them in beginning their transition to think as lifelong learners.
2018
Marcellus, L. (2018). A social ecological examination of factors influencing the treatment of infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 47(4), 509-519.
Kramlich, D., Kronk, R., Marcellus, L., Colbert, A., & Jakub, K. (2018). Rural postpartum women with substance use disorders. Qualitative Health Research, 28(9), 1449-1461.
Marcellus, L. & Shahram, S. (2018). Starting at the beginning: The role of public health nursing in promoting infants and early childhood mental health. Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership, 30(3), 43-53.
2017
Marcellus, L., Shaw, L. MacKinnon, K., & Gordon, C. (2017). Characteristics of interventions and programs that support the health and development of infants with prenatal substance exposure in foster care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15(11), 2666-2706.
MacKinnon, K., Marcellus, L., Rivers, J., Gordon, C., Ryan, M., & Butcher, D. (2017). Student and educator experiences of maternal-child simulation-based learning: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13(1), 14-26.
Marcellus, L. (2017). A grounded theory of mothering in the early years for women recovering from substance use. Journal of Family Nursing, 23(3), 341-365.
Marcellus, L., MacKinnon, K., Gordon, C. & Shaw, L. (2017). Interventions and programs that support the health and development of infants with prenatal alcohol and/or drug exposure in foster care: A scoping review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 15(12), 2848-2855.
2016
Marcellus, L. (2016). Supporting families at Sheway and beyond: Self, recovery, family and home. A three year longitudinal study of early parenting experiences. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria.
Marcellus, L. (2016). Guest editorial: Special issue on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Neonatal Network, 35(5), 266-277.
Marcellus, L. & Cross, S. (2016). Trauma informed care in the NICU: Implications for early childhood development (Part II). Neonatal Network, 35(6), 359-366.
Marcellus, L. & MacKinnon, K. (2016). Using an informed advocacy approach to advance the practice of family-centered care. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 30(3), 240-242.
Marcellus, L. & Poag, E. (2016). Adding to our practice toolkit: Using the ACTS script to address stigmatizing peer behaviors in the context of maternal substance use. Neonatal Network, 35(5), 327-332.
2015
Marcellus, L., Loutit, T., & Cross, T. (2015). National survey of NICU practices for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Advances in Neonatal Care, 15(5), 336-344.
Benoit, C., Magnus, S., Phillips, R., Marcellus, L., & Charbonneau, S. (2015). Complicating the dominant morality discourse: Mothers and fathers' constructions of substance use during pregnancy and early parenthood. International Journal for Equity in Health, 14, 72.
Marcellus, L. (2015). Border crossing: Translating addiction, trauma and gender knowledge for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit context. In L. Greaves, N. Poole & E. Boyle (Eds.), Transforming addictions: Integrated perspectives on addictions, gender and trauma. Routledge.
Nathoo, T., Marcellus, L., & Poole, N. (2015). Harm reduction and pregnancy: Community-based approaches to prenatal substance use in Western Canada. Victoria BC: University of Victoria and the Canada FASD Partnership.
Marcellus, L. (January 2015). Growing together: Supporting the mental health and wellness of young children, mothers, and their families. Victoria, BC: BC Council on Families, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Children and Family Development.
2014
Marcellus, L., MacKinnon, K., Benoit, C., Phillips, R., & Stengel, C. (2014). Redefining indicators of success for programs supporting pregnant women with problematic substance use. Qualitative Health Research. Online version.
Benoit, C., Marcellus, L., Phillips, R., Stengel, C. & O’Connor, S. (2014). Analyzing provider’s constructions of problematic substance use among pregnant and early parenting women. Sociology of Health and Illness, 36(2), 252-263.
MacKinnon, K., Marcellus, L., Rivers, J., Gordon, C., Ryan, M., & Butcher, D. (2014). Student and educator experiences of maternal-child simulation-based learning: A systematic review of qualitative evidence protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13(1), 14-26.
Marcellus, L. (2014). Nurture the mother – nurture the child: A trauma-informed, family-centered approach to supporting women with substance use issues who are pregnant and newly parenting. Facilitator’s guide to DVD. Burlington, Vermont: Vermont Oxford Network.
2013
Bottorff, J.L., Poole, N., Kelly, M.T., Greaves, L., Marcellus, L., & Jung, M.E. (2013). Tobacco and alcohol use in the context of adolescent pregnancy: Review of the literature. Health and Social Care in the Community. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12091
Nathoo, T., Poole, N., Bryans, M., Dechief, L., Hardeman, S., Marcellus, L., Poag, B., & Taylor, M. (2013). Voices from the community: Developing effective community programs to support pregnant and early parenting women who use alcohol and other substances. First Peoples Child and Family Review, 8(1), 93-106.
2012
Marcellus, L., & Harrison, A. (2012). An introduction to the quality improvement process for neonatal nurses. Part I: Quality improvement: A framework for advancing the quality and safety of care. Neonatal Network, 31(2),81-88.
Marcellus, L. (2012). Chapter 10: Fetal development and genetics. In J. Chow (Ed.). Maternity and pediatric nursing (1st Canadian Edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer- Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Marcellus,L. & Loutit, T. (2012). Chapter 18: Nursing management of the newborn. In J. Chow (Ed.). Maternity and pediatric nursing (1st Canadian Edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer- Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
2011
Marcellus, L. & Nelson, C. (2011). Pilot project to provincial program: Sustaining Safe Babies, 107(9), 28-31.
2010
Marcellus, L. (2010). Supporting resilience in foster families: A model for program design that supports recruitment, retention and satisfaction of foster families who care for infants with prenatal substance exposure. Child Welfare, 89(1), 7-29.
2007
Marcellus, L. (2007). Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Reconstructing the evidence. Neonatal Network, 26(1), 33-40.
2018
2017
Does a collaborative learning unit (CLU) impact development of a knowledge informed culture and implementation of evidence based practice for nurses in priority patient settings? Marcellus, L. (PI), McLaren, J.(CO-PI), Sawchuk, D., Jantzen, D., & Duncan, S. Michael Smith Health Research Foundation, Nursing Research Initiative. (2017-2018), $54,000.
Extension of inCARE project: Knowledge mobilization phase. Marcellus, L., Malone, D., Shaw, L., & Fuller, A. MCFD/UVIC Shared Research Grant (2017-2018), $15,000.
Does receiving a diagnosis of FASD improve quality of life for women who are pregnant or new parents?
Marcellus, L., Down, J., Seymour, A., Davoren, J. & Woods, H. Island Health internal research grant (2017-2019), $25,0002015
Grant extension to the Scientific Evaluation of the Nurse Family Partnership Program in British Columbia, the British Columbia Healthy Connections Randomized Control Trial. PIs: Charlotte Waddell, Harriet MacMillan, CoPIs: Susan Jack, Debbie Sheehan, Co-Investigators: Michael Boyle, Ronald Barr, Colleen Varcoe, Lenora Marcellus, Andrea Gonzales, ;Amiram Gafni, Lil Tonmyr. British Columbia Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development (2016-2021), $1,800,000
Implementation of an Indigenous wrap around case manager in the HerWay Home Program. PI: Marcellus, L.. Co-PIs: Seymour, A., Milne, L., & Schissell, C. Green Shields Canada (2015-2017), $80,000.
2014
Developing a BSN undergraduate pathway for research and evidence-based practice. PI: Marcellus, L. Co-PIs: Young, W., Plamondon, K., Jantzen, D., Durnford, K., Hackett, S., Bond, M., & Hannah, E. UVIC Learning and Teaching Grant (2014-2015), $10,000.
2013
Process evaluation of British Columbia Healthy Connections Project. Jack, S.M.,Sheehan, D., Gonzalez, A., MacMillan, H.L., Marcellus, L., Tonmyr, L., Varcoe, C., & Waddell, C. (Notified December 17, 2013, Funding for January, 2014-January 2018, $866, 396, Public Health Agency of Canada)
BC Healthy Foundations Study. PIs: Andrea Gonzales, Charlotte Waddell, Harriet MacMillan, CoPIs: Susan Jack, Debbie Sheehan, Co-Investigators: Michael Boyle, Ronald Barr, Colleen Varcoe, Lenora Marcellus, Amiram Gafni, Lil Tonmyr. Canadian;Institutes of Health Research (2013-2016), $356,000.
The experiences of new nursing faculty on their journey to tenure. Co-PI: Marcellus, L., & MacPhee, M. Internal research grant from UVIC. $7,500
What should I be worried about? Improving change of shift report in ICU. Co-PI: Hill, W. & Marcellus, L., Co-Investigators: Marck, P., Reid, C., Krause, C., Cochrane, D., Plamondon, K., & Chernoff, J. Commissioned grant from British Columbia Patient Safety and Quality Council (2012-2014). $40,000.
2012
Reducing health inequities: The contribution of core public health services in BC. PIs: Bernie Pauly, Marjorie MacDonald and Trevor Hancock. Co-PIs: Michael Hayes, Joan Wharf Higgins, Aleck Ostry, Lenora Marcellus, Lydia Drasic, Michael Pennock, Ted Bruce, Victoria Lee, Roger Wheeler, Lorna Storbakken, Simon Carroll. CIHR Operating Grant, Programmatic Grants in Health and Health Equity (2011-2016), $2,000,000
2011
2010
Interventions to promote health and healthy equity for pregnant and early parenting women facing substance use and other challenges. Benoit, C., Marcellus, L. (Co-PIs), Anderson, K., Hallgrimsdottir, H., MacKinnon, K. (Co-Is) CIHR operating grant on Population Health Intervention Research (2010-2012)
In this study our team is following alongside the early stages of development of a comprehensive "one stop shop" program in Victoria BC for pregnant and early parenting women with substance use issues.
Psychometric comparison of the Finnegan and the FIR Square neonatal withdrawal tools. Marcellus, L. (PI). Queen Alexandra Foundationn.
In this study we are comparing a new neonatal withdrawal assessment tool with the most widely used Finnegan tool. We aim to establish the utility of this simpler tool for use in community hospital settings.