Rachel Joseph, PhD, CCRN

Biography

Rachel Joseph is an Associate Professor of Nursing and has been at Liberty University since 2019. Previously she worked as a full-time Assistant Professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA), an adjunct professor at Wilmington University, and a clinician at a large Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a large health system in Delaware. Rachel began her career in nursing as a cardiac ICU Nurse in India, and thereafter, served in several roles in Sultan Qaboos Hospital, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman. Upon migrating to the United States in 1998, she obtained specialty certification in neonatal nursing (CCRN), completed MSN and PhD, and served as clinician, nurse educator, Performance improvement and patient safety coordinator, and adjunct clinical and classroom faculty in Delaware and PA.

During her career, Rachel has chaired and contributed to committees and facilitated national programs successfully in Oman where she received the Best Nurse Award. In the U.S. she is one of the founding members of the annual research conference in Delaware, the annual neonatal conference, chaired and contributed to local, regional and national committees, facilitated several research projects, and published and presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences. Her interests include research on the quality of life, student engagement, health literacy, and the family of babies in NICU. She is a contributing editor for the Neonatal Network and is a reviewer for journals that include the Journal of Christian Nursing. Rachel also attended the prestigious Summer Genetics Institute by the National Institute of Health. She has received several funding and honors that include Honors College outstanding faculty (twice) and was a Fulbright Scholar in Jordan in 2019. In LUSON currently Rachel facilitates the Nurses Christian Fellowship meetings.

Professional Memberships

• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• Academy of Neonatal Nursing
• Sigma Theta tau International Honor Society
• Nurses Cristian Fellowship
• Liberty University Honor Society of Nursing
• National league of Nursing

Courses Taught

• NURS 210 Physical Assessment
• NURS 357 Pediatric Nursing
• NURS 415 Transcultural Nursing
• NURS 618 Nursing Educator II: Teaching strategies
• NURS 619 Nursing Educator III:  Curriculum Development
• NURS 742 Nursing Seminar:  Issues in Global Health
• NURS 817 Qualitative Methods Research
• NURS 947 Scholarly Project Planning
• NURS 948 Scholarly Project I
• NURS 949 Scholarly Project II
• NURS 987 Dissertation Planning

Publications

• Hatamleh, R., AbuAbed, A. S. A., Abujilban, A., & Joseph, R. A. (2022). Using Social Media Platforms to Enhance the Delivery of a Childbirth Education Program. Journal of Perinatal Neonatal Nursing (Accepted)
• Highton, M., Joseph, R. A., Haydon, D., & Dyer, N. (2022). Snip the tip: Neonatal circumcision. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing, 2022;00(00):00-00. DOI: 10.1097/JPS.0000000000000355
• Joseph, R. A., Kim, J., Turner, T. M., Akers, S. W., Whorley, W. G., Lumpkin, K., Goodrich, C., Rosa, J. H., McElroy, C. (2022). Religiosity: A Predictor of the Quality of Life of University   Students During Pandemic Times. (Submitted)
• Joseph, R. A. (2022) Needs of Parents of Children with Spina Bifida: A Review. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing, 00(0): 00-00. DOI: 10.1097/JPS.0000000000000360
• Joseph, R. A., Turner, T. M., Akers, S. W., Whorley, W. G., & Goodrich, C (2022). Living During a Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Nursing Students Across All Program Levels. Journal of Christian Nursing
• Joseph, R. A., Turner, T. M., Akers, S. W., Lee, C.W., Whorley, W. G., & Goodrich, C (2022). Impact of a Pandemic on Nursing Students: A cross sectional mixed method study of anxiety, stress, and PTSD. Journal of Christian Nursing, 39(4), 250-257, DOI: 10.1097/CNJ.000000000000951
• Shattnawi, K., Al-Shdayfat, N. M., & Joseph, R. A. (2022). Maternal Experiences of Providing Skin-to-Skin Contact to their Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Jordan, JJNR, 1(1) https://jjnr.just.edu.jo/jjnr/
• Joseph, R. A. & Carter, B. (2021). Prosopagnosia: Child mental Health, and Mask Wearing in Pediatrics: A Review, Nursing Children and Young People, Accepted July 2022
• Kavitha, K., Sikandar, B. J., & Joseph, R. A. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic and Nursing Students: stress, depression and coping behaviors-An Exploratory study.  BLDE University Journal of Health Sciences. 7(1), 45-50. DOI: 10.4103/bjhs.bjhs_83_21
• Kim, J., Mullen, L., Akers, S. W., Joseph, R. A., Bishop, L., Bistany, B. R., Chambers, A., Harvey, J., & Houghton, A. (2021). The Efficacy of a Forgiveness Bibliotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Nursing Students, Journal of Holistic Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211072288
• Mullen, L., Bistany, B., Kim, J., Joseph, R. A., Akers, S. W., Harvey, J., & Houghton, A (2021). Facilitation of Forgiveness: Impact on health and well-being. Holistic Nursing Practice https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211072288
• Shattnawi, K., Mrayan, L., Al-Sheyab, N., Alnatour, A., Okor, H., & Joseph, R. A. (2021). Caring for a Child with Cancer: Experiences of Jordanian Mothers, Clinical Nursing Research, https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738211002021
• Akers, S. & Joseph, R. A. (2020). Intentionality in Staying Connected during Times of Social Distancing. Journal of Christian Nursing  PMID: 34477583 DOI: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000882
• Almomani, M., Wejdan, A. K., Qasem, B. A. & Joseph, R. A. (2020). Nurses’ knowledge and practices of physical restraints in intensive care units. Nursing Open, 2020: 00-1-11. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.625
• Hatamleh, R., Abujalbana, S., Abuhammad, S., Ariaq, D., & Joseph, R.A. (2020). Effect of the helping babies breathe training program: An experimental study on Jordanian midwives’ knowledge, J Perinat Neonat Nurs, 20 (2) (2020), pp. 1-7, 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000485
• Hoskins, N., Joseph, R. A., & Akers, S. (2020) Firearm safety: Implications for pediatric nurses, Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing, 10 (3), p 105–111 DOI: 10.1097/JPS.0000000000000305
• Joseph, R. A. & Highton, M. (2020). Masks and Face Covers: Challenges for Health Care Workers. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing, 9(3), 97-106. DOI: 10.1097/JPS.0000000000000262
• Joseph, R. A. & Mullen, L. (2020). Unnecessary Female Genital Alteration: Implications for Health Care Workers. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing doi: 10.1097/JPS.0000000000000283
• Joseph, R. A. (2020). Lessons Learned from a Fulbright Experience, Journal of Professional Nursing, Accepted
• Joseph, R. A. Goodrich, C. (2020) Precipitating Factors Related to the formation of Grandfamilies, (accepted)
• Joseph, R. A., Highton, M., & Goodrich, C. (2020). Let’s talk about scrubs: A reflection during COVID-19. Nursing Management. 52(3) 26-32.
• Joseph, R. A., M. Hudson & E. Brady (2020). Perinatal Substance Exposure and Long-Term Outcomes in Children: A literature review, Pediatric Nursing, Accepted
• Kassab, M. & Joseph, R. A., (2020). Oral Sucrose use for pain management by Jordanian NICU Nurses. Neonatal Network 40(1)25-30. http:// dx. doi. org/ 10. 1891/ 0730- 0832/ 11-T-663
• Shattinawi, K., Saeed, W. B., Al-Natour, A., AlHammouri, M., AlAzzam, & Joseph, R. (2020). Parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Perspective of Jordanian mothers, Journal of Transcultural Nursing 1–10, DOI: 10.1177/1043659620970634
• Wejdan, A. K., Akhu-Zaheyq, L., Shattinawi, K., & Joseph, R. A. (2020). Barriers to Implement Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units: Perceptions of Physicians and Nurses. International Journal of Palliative Nursing
• Abuhammad, S., Khraisat, O., Joseph, R. & Al Khawaldeh, A. (2019). Factors that predict infant temperament: A Jordanian study, Journal of Pediatric Nursing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31421919 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2019.08.002
• Daniel, M. N. & Joseph, R. A. (2019). Horizontal Integration of Concepts: an innovative Teaching Strategy, Nurse Educator, September/October, 44(5) p 284–287 DOI: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000000608
• Joseph, R., Wellings, A., & Votta, G. (2019 MAY-June). Mindfulness-Based Strategies: A Cost-Effective Stress Reduction Method for Parents in the NICU, Neonatal Network, 38 (3), 135-143. DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.38.3.135
• Joseph, R. A., Miller, A. & DiCesare, E. (2018). Hunter syndrome: an integrated review, Advances in Neonatal Care, Dec;18(6):480-487. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000569
• Joseph, R. A., Rafanello, A., Morris, C., & Fleming, K. (2018). Surrogacy: Pathway to Parenthood, Neonatal Network, 37(1) 19-23. DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.37.1.19
• Joseph, R.A., Fernandes, S., McSpadden. M., Derstine, S. (2018). Health seeking behavior of Indian Immigrants in the US, Journal of Christian Nursing DOI:10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000546
• Joseph, R. A. (2017). Expanding Newborn Screening Requirements: NICU Nursing Implications. Advances in Neonatal Care, 17(3). p 151-161. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000381
• Joseph, R. A. Derstine, S. & Killian, M. (2017). Ideal site for temperature probe placement: a Review. Advances in Neonatal Care. 17(2), p 114–122. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000369
• Joseph, R. A., Evitts, P, Bayley, E.  & Tulenko, C. (2017). Oral feeding in infants after Tracheostomy, Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 33, p 70-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2016.12.012
• Joseph, R. A., Killian, M., & Brady, E. (2017). Care of infants with a Ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Advances in Neonatal Care, 17(6), P430-439. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000439
• Joseph, R. A. (2016). New technology in the NICU; Challenges to parents and clinicians, Neonatal Network, 35(6) p. 367-372. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1891/0730-0832.35.6.367
• Joseph, R. A., Brown, M. & Giovinazzo, M. (Oct. 2016) A Literature Review on the Practice of Placentophagia, Nursing for Women’s Health, p 476-483. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2016.08.005
• Joseph, R. A., Fernandes, S., Hyers, L. & O’Brien, K. (Oct. 2016). Health literacy: a cross-disciplinary study in American undergraduate college students. Journal of Information Literacy, 10(2), p. 26-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.11645/10.2.2103
• Murray, C. & Joseph, R. A. (2016) Transition from NICU to home: Are the parents ready to manage any emergency? An evidence based project. Neonatal Network, 35(3), 151-155.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0730-0832.35.3.151
• Joseph, R. A. (2015). Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: Challenges to nurses and outcome in extremely preterm babies, Critical Care Nurse, 35(4), 58-66. DOI: 10.4037/ccn2015396
• Joseph, R.A., Goodfellow, L. M., & Simko, L. (2014). Application of a theory: Double ABCX Model in the context of families, who care for children with tracheostomy at home, Advances in Neonatal Care, 14(3), p172-180. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000062
• Joseph, R.A., Goodfellow, L. M., & Simko, L. (2014). Parental QOL: Caring for an infant/ toddler at home with a tracheostomy. Neonatal Network. Mar-Apr;33(2), p 86-94. DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.33.2.86
• Marom, T., Joseph, R. A., Grindle, C, R. Shah, U. K. (2014). Tracheotomy after Laryngotracheoplasty: Risk factors over ten years, Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 49(8), p 1206-1209 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2013.11.065
• Lyons, D., Painter, J. Crannell, C., Mooney, R., Bucher, L., Joseph, R.A., et al., (2013). The People in your Neighborhood: Impact of physician cohorting on nursing units, MEDSURG Nursing, 22(5), p 281-302.
• Joseph, R. A. (2011). Tracheostomy in Infants: parent education for home care, Neonatal Network, 30(4), p 231-242. DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.30.4.231
• Mackley, A.M., Spear, M. L., Locke, R. M., & Joseph, R. A. (2010), Forgotten Parent; NICU paternal emotional response. Advances in Neonatal Care, 10(4), 200-203. DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0b013e3181e946f0
• Joseph R. A. (2008). Stress in fathers of NICU babies, Advances in Neonatal Care, 7(6),p 321-5. DOI: 10.1097/01.ANC.0000304973.77202.1b

Research Interests

• Student engagement
• Nursing Education
• Spirituality
• Stress and coping
• Quality of life
• Families
• Parents of babies in Neonatal intensive care unit