Dr. Fran Racher

R.N., B.Sc.N., B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Professor – Psychiatric Nursing

Dr. Racher joined the Faculty of Health Studies at Brandon University in 1997. She teaches in the graduate program for psychiatric nursing and the baccalaureate programs for psychiatric nursing, nursing, and post diploma students. Her areas of interest are rural population health, community development, health promotion, access to health services, nursing leadership, and philosophy of nursing science.

Dr. Racher is a research affiliate with the Rural Development Institute of Brandon University, and the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba. She has served on various faculty and university committees, including the Brandon University Research Ethics Committee, the Senate Research Committee, Stanley Knowles Visiting Professorship Selection Committee; and Graduate Studies Committee. She was the founding editor of the Faculty of Health Studies Newsletter.

As a co-investigator on the four-year research project funded by SSHRC, Determinants of Health of Rural Populations and Communities, Dr. Racher facilitated the development of the Community Health Action Model and resulting articles and book chapters. As a researcher, she has conducted a variety of studies receiving funding from SSHRC, CIHR, MHRC, the Rural Secretariat, and the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. Currently Dr. Racher is co-PI on the CIHR-MHRC funded project Rural Postsecondary Students Collaborate to Improve the Health of Their Campus Communities, 2010-2012. As PI, she and co-applicants Dr. Dean Care and Professor Nancy McPherson have received funding from the Alzheimer’s Society and are undertaking the first phase of a study Living with Dementia: The Experiences of Older Couples in Managing their Lives Together(2011-2012). Dr. Racher is a co-applicant on the CURA project Age-Friendly Communities, Active Aging Research Alliance, 2007-2012 with PI Dr. Verena Menec at the Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba.

Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Racher spent five years as a health consultant and project manager with WESTARC Group, of Brandon University, working extensively on projects related to community development, population health, and health system organization. Her previous nursing career included several years as an administrator in long-term care and direct care nurse in the community and in rural facilities. She completed her nursing diploma at Brandon General Hospital and holds a BScN and BA (Psychology) from Brandon University; a MSc from the Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba; and a PhD from the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary.

Dr. Racher may be contacted by phone at 727-7414 or by email racher@brandonu.ca

Moss, A., Racher, F., Jeffery, B., Hamilton, C., Burles, M., & Annis, R. (forthcoming). Transcending boundaries: Collaborating to improve northern access to health services in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In J. Kulig & A. Williams Health in Rural Canada. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

Racher, F. (2011). Ethics for community practice. In A. Vollman, E. Anderson, & J. McFarlane (Eds.), Canadian community as partner: Theory and multidisciplinary practice (3^nd ed., pp. 26-43). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Racher, F., & Annis, R. (2011). Honouring culture and diversity in community practice. In A. Vollman, E. Anderson, & J. McFarlane (Eds.), Canadian community as partner: Theory and multidisciplinary practice (3^nd ed., 154-176). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Healey, G., & Racher, F. (2011). Assessing the health of communities in northern Canada. In A. Vollman, E. Anderson, & J. McFarlane (Eds.), Canadian community as partner: Theory and multidisciplinary practice (3^nd ed., pp. 370-384). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Pachkowski, K., Moss, A., Racher, F., & Annis R. C. (2009). Indicators of northern health: A resource for Northern Manitobans and the Bayline Regional Round Table. Final report. Brandon, MB: Rural Development Institute, Brandon University Press.

Racher, F., & Annis, R. (2008). The Community Health Action Model: Health promotion by the community. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal,22(3), 181-192.

Moss, A., Hamilton, C., Racher, F., Jeffery, B., & Annis, R. C. (2008). Health care access of northern residents: MB/SK workshop. Final report.

Racher, F., & Annis, R. (2007). Respecting culture and honouring diversity in community practice. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 21(4), 255-270.

Racher, F. (2007). The evolution of ethics for community practice. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 24(1), 65-76.

Racher, F., & Gibson, R. (2006). Capacity building with Manitoba communities for chronic disease prevention: Final report. Submitted by RDI to Manitoba Health.

Racher, F., & Annis, R. (2005). Community partnerships: Translating research for community development. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research,37(1), 169-175.

Racher, F., Vollman, A., & Annis, R. (2004). Conceptualizations of ‘rural’: Challenges and implications for nursing research. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 4(2).

Ryan-Nicholls, K., & Racher, F. (2004). Investigating the health of rural communities: Toward framework development. Rural and Remote Health, 4(#244). Available: http://rrh.deakin.edu.au

Racher, F. (2004). Community resources for older adults [book review]. Canadian Journal on Aging, 23(3), 299-300.

Racher, F. (2004). Canadian community as partner: Theory and practice [book review]. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 95 (5), 396.

Racher, F., & Robinson, S. (2003). Are phenomenology and postpositivism strange bedfellows? Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25(5), 464-481.

Racher, F., & Robinson, S. (2003). Response by Racher and Robinson. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25(5), 489-491.

Racher, F. (2003). Using conjoint interviews to research lived experience of elderly rural couples. Nurse Researcher, 10(3), 60-72.

Ryan-Nicholls, K., Racher, F., & Robinson, R. (2003). Rural consumers’ utilization of mental health services and resources: Mental health service providers’ perceptions. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 41(6), 34-43.

Racher, F. (2002). An interdisciplinary rural health course: Opportunities and challenges. Nurse Education Today, 22(5), 387-392.

Racher, F., & Vollman, A. (2002). Exploring the dimensions of access to health services: Implications for nursing research and practice. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, 16(2), 77-90.

Racher, F. (2002). Synergism of frail elderly couples influences their interdependent independence. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 28(6), 32-39, 52-53.