Marty Downey, PhD, RN, AHN-BC
Associate Chair of Student Affairs
Office: Norco 320
Email:
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Phone: (208) 426-3595
Background
Marty Downey serves as advisor to the Boise State University Student Nurse Association. Along with years of advising for the BSU-SNA, Marty has attended several NSNA conferences and supported the Idaho SNA conference this past fall 2010 at Boise State University. Her passion is holistic nursing and student advocacy.
Marty’s teaching specialties are critical care nursing, medical-surgical nursing, health assessment, lab values, holistic nursing practices, stress management, and humor in health. Marty's Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is from Marycrest College and her MSN is from Idaho State University with a focus on Nursing Education. She received her PhD from University of Idaho in Adult and Organizational Learning. Marty worked in critical care and was nationally certified in critical care nursing for 20 yrs and now holds Alumnus CCRN status. She is equally proud of her certification as Advanced Holistic Nurse (AHN-BC) for over 15 yrs. Marty’s dissertation research included the education and use of complementary therapies such as massage, imagery, therapeutic touch, acupuncture, aromatherapy (to name a few) by Idaho nurses in personal and professional practice. The results of the study indicate that the nurses who responded to the survey and interviews utilize complementary therapies into their health promotion practices however those nurses who were educated in nursing programs longer than 10-12 years before this study did not have formal education in these therapies and most often are hesitant to use them for professional practice in spite of the upsurge of complementary medical practice use by consumers. She has completed Level 3 Healing Touch courses and promotes research in Healing Touch and other related therapies as a fellowship mentor for 2 research teams at St Luke’s Health System.
Professional Affiliations: American Nurses’ Association, Idaho Nurses’ Association, American Holistic Nurses’ Association, American Assoc. of Critical Care Nurses’ (local chapter), Sigma Theta Tau International & National Nursing Honor Society Mu Gamma chapter, Nurse Leaders of Idaho, Phi Kappa Phi, & others.
Interests: Health promotion, exercise, nutrition, good novels, sewing, biking and various outdoor sports are all favorites. As an advocate for creating calm (stress management) Marty says that she walks the talk of relaxation techniques by integrating them into her daily rituals of health.
Publications: Downey, M. (2007). Effects of Holistic Nurse course: A paradigm shift for health promotion. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 25(2): 119-125
