Faculty Bio Detail
Nicole Christensen - PT, MAppSc, PhD (cand)
Assistant Professor
Physical Therapy
Email: nchristensen@samuelmerritt.edu
Program:Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Telephone: (510) 869-6511 ext. 4723
Address: 450 30th Street
Oakland - CA 94609
I earned my B.S. in Physical Therapy from UCSF, and my Master of Applied Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia. Most recently I have completed my PhD, also at the University of South Australia. I have practiced in the area of musculoskeletal physical therapy for over 20 years, and have served as part-time or full-time faculty at the entry-level since 1994. I also teach at the post-professional level, currently the clinical reasoning content for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Programs, as well as at various other residency programs and for the transitional DPT program at Pacific University in Oregon.
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University:
Since 2006 I have taught in the SMU DPT program. The courses I coordinate and teach include:
Patient Client Management: Musculoskeletal I, II, and III
and
Case Studies I, II, and IV.
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships:
Member:
American Physical Therapy Association, Orthopaedic and Education Sections
American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists
Publications and Presentations:
Research Interests:
Clinical reasoning,
Clinical reasoning and pain,
Professional Entry-Level Education of Physical Therapists,
Residency and Fellowship Education of Physical Therapists,
Qualitative research.
Assistant Professor
Physical Therapy
Email: nchristensen@samuelmerritt.edu
Program:Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Telephone: (510) 869-6511 ext. 4723
Address: 450 30th Street
Oakland - CA 94609
I earned my B.S. in Physical Therapy from UCSF, and my Master of Applied Science in Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia. Most recently I have completed my PhD, also at the University of South Australia. I have practiced in the area of musculoskeletal physical therapy for over 20 years, and have served as part-time or full-time faculty at the entry-level since 1994. I also teach at the post-professional level, currently the clinical reasoning content for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Programs, as well as at various other residency programs and for the transitional DPT program at Pacific University in Oregon.
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University:
Since 2006 I have taught in the SMU DPT program. The courses I coordinate and teach include:
Patient Client Management: Musculoskeletal I, II, and III
and
Case Studies I, II, and IV.
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships:
Member:
American Physical Therapy Association, Orthopaedic and Education Sections
American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists
Publications and Presentations:
Peer Reviewed Publications
Book editor:
Higgs J, Jones M, Loftus S, Christensen N (2008) Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 3rd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier-Butterworth-Heinemann.
Authored Book chapters/monographs Christensen N, Jones M, Edwards I, Higgs J (2008). Helping physiotherapy students develop clinical reasoning capability. In: Higgs J, Jones M, Loftus S, Christensen N (eds.): Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 3rd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier-Butterworth-Heinemann.
Christensen N, Jones M, Higgs J, Edwards I (2008). Dimensions of clinical reasoning capability. In: Higgs J, Jones M, Loftus S, Christensen N (eds.): Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 3rd edition. Elsevier, Oxford.
Christensen N, Jones MA (2006). Clinical Reasoning and Evidence-based Practice. Home Study Course 16.2: Current Concepts of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Orthopaedic Section, APTA, Inc., La Crosse, Wis.
Christensen N, Jones M, Edwards I (2004) Clinical reasoning in the diagnosis and management of spinal pain. In: Boyling JD, Jull GA (eds.) Grieve’s Modern Manual Therapy: The vertebral column, 3rd ed. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Christensen, N, Jones, M.A., and Carr, J. (2002): Clinical Reasoning in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy. In: Grant, R. (Ed.): Physical Therapy of the Cervical and Thoracic Spine, Third Edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York.
Jones, M.A., Christensen, N. and Carr, J. (1994): Clinical Reasoning in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy. In: Grant, R. (Ed.): Physical Therapy of the Cervical and Thoracic Spine, Second Edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York.
Presentation:
Nordstrom, T, Christensen, N (2009): Integrating Clinical Reasoning and Ethical Reasoning in Physical Therapist Entry-Level Education. Presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. Las Vegas, NV. Presented February 12, 2009 (3 hours).
Research Interests:
Clinical reasoning,
Clinical reasoning and pain,
Professional Entry-Level Education of Physical Therapists,
Residency and Fellowship Education of Physical Therapists,
Qualitative research.