Dorrie Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN

Dean of the School of Nursing
Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing
Associate Chief Nursing Officer at the University of Virginia Health Systems

A passion for critical care nursing underlies the distinguished career of Dorrie Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, as clinician, scholar, researcher, educator, and professional leader. 

Since coming to the University of Virginia School of Nursing as Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing and Dean, Dr. Fontaine has implemented Appreciative Inquiry methodology as the basis for the School’s strategic planning and launched an interdisciplinary process to create a transformational model to provide compassionate end-of-life care across the health care spectrum.  In addition, she has been a strong advocate for interprofessional education, engaging both medical and nursing students in collaboration with the Dean of the School of Medicine.

Prior to her 2008 appointment at UVA, Dr. Fontaine was associate dean for academic programs and clinical professor at the University of California San Francisco. Before coming to UCSF, Dr. Fontaine held associate dean positions and taught at Georgetown University School of Nursing. 

In 2003-2004, she served as president of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the largest specialty nursing organization in the world.  That association recognized her contributions with its Lifetime Member Award. 

Dr. Fontaine’s teaching has centered on issues related to critical care, including sleep promotion, pain relief, and family presence at the end of life.  Most recently, she has investigated strategies to promote nursing education partnerships, diversity, and inter-professional education in university settings.  Her priorities as dean at UVA include continued work in promoting healthy workplace environments, building more interprofessional collaborations, and increasing diversity in both the faculty and student populations. 

Dorrie Fontaine was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 1995, has received the Presidential Citation from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society.  Her alma mater, Villanova University, honored her with a Medallion for Contributions to the Profession in 1999.

Dr. Fontaine received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Villanova University, a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, and her PhD from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.  In 2006, she completed a Management and Leadership in Education Program at the Harvard Graduate Institute of Higher Education. 

• NIH BioSketch

Research Focus

Healthy Work Environment; Nursing Leadership; Critical Care Nursing; Interprofessional Education

Publications

Journal Articles

Harmon, R.B., Fontaine, D., Plews-Ogan, M., & Williams, A. (2012). Achieving transformational change: Using appreciative inquiry for strategic planning at a school of nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 28(2), 119-124.

Fontaine, D., Koh, E., & Carroll, T. (2012). Promoting a healthy workplace for nursing faculty and staff. Nursing Clinics of North America, 47(4), 557-566.

McAdam, J.L., Fontaine, D.K., White, D.B., Dracup, K.A., & Puntillo, K.A. (2012). Psychological symptoms of family members of high-risk intensive care unit patients. American Journal of Critical Care, 21(6), 386-393.

Fontaine, D., (2012). Standing in my power: Becoming a fearless dean. Kosmos Journal, fall/winter, 2012, 39-42.

Fontaine, D. (2012). Eighteen days of hurt and moving forward. Virginia Policy Review, 11(Special Issue), 12-14.

Fontaine, D.K., & Langston, N.F. (2011). The master's is not broken: Commentary on the doctor of nursing practice: A national workforce perspective. Nursing Outlook, 59(3), 121-122.

Ziehm, S.R., Uibel, I.C., Fontaine, D.K., & Scherzer, T. (2011). Success indicators for an accelerated masters entry nursing program: Staff RN performance. Journal of Nursing Education, 50(7), 395-403.

McAdam, J.M, Dracup, K.A., White, D.B., Fontaine, D.K., & Puntillo, K.A. (2010). Symptom experiences of family members of intensive care unit patients at high risk of dying. Critical Care Medicine, 38(4), 1078-1085.

Scherzer, T., Stotts, N., & Fontaine, D.K. (2010). Meeting the nursing faculty shortage challenge: An accelerated doctoral program in nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 26(6), 366-370.

Ziehm,S.,Fontaine,D. K. (2009). Clinical faculty: tips for joining the ranks. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 20(1), 71-81.

Fontaine,D. K.,Stotts,N. A.,Saxe,J.,Scott,M. (2008). Shared faculty governance: a decision-making framework for evaluating the DNP.. Nursing outlook, 56(4), 167-173.

Powell Kennedy,H.,Fisher,L.,Fontaine,D.,Martin-Holland,J. (2008). Evaluating diversity in nursing education: a mixed method study.. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19(4), 363-370.

Fontaine,D. K.,Dracup,K. (2007). The accelerated doctoral program in nursing: a university-foundation partnership. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(4), 159-164.

Gerardi,D.,Fontaine,D. K. (2007). True Collaboration: Envisioning New Ways of Working Together.. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 18(1), 10-14.

Barnato,A. E.,Kahn,J. M.,Rubenfeld,G. D.,McCauley,K.,Fontaine,D.,Frassica,J. J.,Hubmayr,R.,Jacobi,J.,Brower,R. G.,Chalfin,D.,Sibbald,W.,Asch,D. A.,Kelley,M.,Angus,D. C. (2007). Prioritizing the organization and management of intensive care services in the United States: The PrOMIS Conference.. Critical care medicine, 35(4), 1003-1011.

Howie-Esquivel,J.,Fontaine,D. K. (2006). The evolving role of the acute care nurse practitioner in critical care.. Current opinion in critical care, 12(6), 609-613.

Howie-Esquivel, J., Fontaine,D. K. (2006). The evolving role of the acute care nurse practitioner in critical care.. Current opinion in critical care, 12(6), 609-613.

Fontaine,D. K.,Gerardi,D. (2005). Healthier hospitals?. Nursing Management, 36(10), 34-44.

Maclean,S. L.,Guzzetta,C. E.,White,C.,Fontaine,D.,Eichhorn,D. J.,Meyers,T. A.,Desy,P. (2003). Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and invasive procedures: practices of critical care and emergency nurses.. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 29(3), 208-221.

Jacobi,J.,Fraser,G. L.,Coursin,D. B.,Riker,R. R.,Fontaine,D.,Wittbrodt,E. T. (2002). Clinical practice guidelines for the sustained use of sedatives and analgesics in the critically ill adult. Critical care medicine, 30(1), 119-141.

Stanik-Hutt,J. A.,Soeken,K. L.,Belcher,A. E.,Fontaine,D. K.,Gift,A. G. (2001). Pain experiences of traumatically injured patients in a critical care setting.. American Journal of Critical Care, 10(4), 252-259.

Fontaine,D. K. (1989). Measurement of nocturnal sleep patterns in trauma patients.. Heart & Lung, 18(4), 402-410.

Book Sections

Gerardi, D., & Fontaine, D. (2012). Interprofessional collaboration among critical care team members. In R. Irwin & J. Rippe (Eds.), Intensive Care Medicine (pp. 2123-2131). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Bizek,K. S.,Fontaine,D. K. (2009). The patient's experience with critical illness. In Morton,P. G., Fontaine,D. K. (Ed.), Critical Care Nursing: A holistic approach (pp. 18-32). Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia

Books Edited

Morton,P. G.,Fontaine,D. K. (Eds.). (2009). Critical care nursing: a holistic approach. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Editorials, Newspaper

Fontaine, D. (2013, January 6). Can compassion and empathy be learned? [Editorial]. The Daily Progress, p. B1.

Fontaine, D. K. (2012, July 5). Nurse practitioners: They'll save your life ... and money [Editorial]. The Hook, p. 39.