Faculty directory

Natalie Couper is an Assistant Professor and teaches (mostly) in Semester 3-Surgical of the BSN program.

Natalie's professional background is in complex health systems, ranging from Level 1 trauma centers in Canada to humanitarian fieldwork in the DRC, Malawi, Guatemala etc. This experience has demonstrated to her the value of preparing students not only for technical competence, but for ethical, equitable, and culturally safe care. She integrates trauma-informed principles into her teaching by fostering choice and relational safety in learning environments, as well as emphasizing reflective dialogue. This approach is especially critical when discussing sensitive topics such as health inequities, colonial legacies in healthcare, or crisis response.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)- University of Alberta
Masters of Disaster Management (M. DM)- Tel Aviv University

Health 4 Humanity (H4H)
British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)

Natalie's teaching philosophy is grounded in a deep commitment to student-centered learning, evidence-informed practice, and trauma-informed pedagogy. She views education as a collaborative process in which the educator facilitates curiosity, critical thinking, and resilience in learners, while remaining responsive to their diverse lived experiences and learning needs.

In every teaching interaction—whether in the classroom, lab, or clinical setting—she strives to create a safe, inclusive environment where students feel empowered to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and grow professionally. She believes that meaningful learning occurs when students are seen and heard, and when content is connected to real-world relevance. To that end, she employs active learning strategies, simulation-based instruction, and reflective dialogue that allow students to engage both personally and intellectually with the material.

She believes that educators must model the same commitment to lifelong learning that we expect of our students. She engages in ongoing scholarship through research, volunteering, and professional development. Her graduate research explored the intersection of climate change and domestic disaster response in Canada, with a focus on impacts to Indigenous communities. She brings these insights into the classroom to challenge students to consider the broader systems influencing health and to see themselves as agents of change.

Ultimately, she aims to guide students to become reflective, confident, and compassionate nurses who understand that their practice exists within a social and ethical framework. By combining rigorous academic inquiry with a deep respect for human experience, she strives to mentor the next generation of nurses to lead with both competence and conscience.

Application of theory into practice of acute care, evidence-based nursing interventions, perioperative care of trauma, disaster medicine.

Measurement and Evaluation of Humanitarian Aid, Use of Canadian Armed Forces for Domestic Disaster Response, Community resiliency assessment and promotion.