Nicole Christensen, PT, PhD, Professor Department of Physical Therapy

Nicole Christensen

Professor Emeritus Adjunct Professor PT, MAppSc, PhD

Programs and Courses Taught

Doctor of Physical Therapy

 

About Me

I am a proud San Francisco Bay Area native, born in San Francisco, raised in San Jose, and I attended both San Jose State University and the University of California at San Francisco.

I have served as a full time faculty person at Samuel Merritt University since 2006, and served as Department Chair from 2012-2023. I am an Adjunct Professor with the Department, and was awarded Professor Emeritus in May 2024. I've been involved with physical therapy residency and fellowship education for the past 20 years, and I began my clinical practice over 30 years ago, focused in outpatient musculoskeletal settings.

My favorite thing to do to keep me feeling balanced and well is to go to the beach. I love to take long walks, watch the waves at sunset, hunt for sea glass and sand dollars, and watch my pup chase balls and dig in the sand.

Education

I consider myself a life-long, self-directed learner. My formal higher education journey began when I earned a BA in Biological Sciences at San Jose State University, with a Minor in Humanities. I then began my education in physical therapy at the University of California at San Francisco, where I earned a BS and Certificate in Physical Therapy in 1988.

I traveled to the University of South Australia in Adelaide to earn my Master of Applied Science in Physiotherapy in 1994, which included a residency in manual therapy. In 2009 I earned a PhD in Health Sciences at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, where my studies focused on the teaching and learning of clinical reasoning in professional education, and qualitative research. The title of my dissertation was "Development of Clinical Reasoning in Student Physical Therapists".

In 2014, I completed the American Physical Therapy Association's Educational Leadership Institute (ELI) Fellowship Program.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests and expertise are focused on clinical reasoning development in learners at all professional levels. Specifically, clinical reasoning characterized by collaboration, a holistic person centered approach to health, and a commitment to explicit and intentional facilitation of critical self-reflection to promote learning for all involved. Related interests include clinical mentoring, narrative reasoning, faculty development related to effective teaching and facilitation of learning of clinical reasoning in academic and clinical education contexts, and the integration of simulation/standardized patients and authentic patient care into the academic education setting.

Scholarly Interests

My scholarship and research interests include educational research and applied theory work related to the facilitation of clinical reasoning development in learners at all professional levels. I am currently involved in research focused on understanding the role of movement in physical therapists' clinical reasoning, embodied clinical reasoning, and the developmental outcomes of residents and important attributes of physical therapy residency programs.

Publications

  1. Peterson JA, Black L, Christensen N, Hartley GW, Jensen GM. Outcomes of Residency Education: Insights Into the Professional Formation of the Physical Therapist Resident. JOPTE. 2024 ():10.1097/JTE.0000000000000335| DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000335
  2. Christensen N, Jensen G. Developing clinical reasoning capability. In: Higgs J, Jensen G, Loftus S, Trede F (eds). Clinical Reasoning in the Health Profession, 5th ed. Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; expected publication 2024; in press.
  3. Christensen N, Black L, Gilliland S, Huhn K, Wainwright S. The role of movement in physical therapist clinical reasoning. Phys Ther. 2023; 103(12): pzad085. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzad085.
  4. Christensen N, Jensen G. Expertise in clinical reasoning: uncovering the role of context. In: Musolino G, Jensen G. Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making in Physical Therapy: Facilitation, Assessment, and Implementation. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated; 2020: 41-46.
  5. Black L, Christensen N. Facilitation of clinical reasoning: teaching and learning strategies across the continuum of professional and post-professional education. In: Musolino G, Jensen G. Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making in Physical Therapy: Facilitation, Assessment, and Implementation. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated; 2020: 177-182.
  6. Furze J, Wainwright S, Black L, Christensen N. Assessment of clinical reasoning: strategies across the continuum of professional and post-professional education. In: Musolino G, Jensen G. Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making in Physical Therapy: Facilitation, Assessment, and Implementation. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated; 2020: 183-192.
  7. Huhn K, Gilliland S, Black L, Wainwright S, Christensen N. Clinical reasoning: A concept analysis. Phys Ther. 2019; 99(4):440-456. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy148
  8. Christensen N, Jones MA, Rivett D. Strategies to facilitate clinical reasoning development. In: Jones M, Rivett D (eds) Clinical Reasoning in Musculoskeletal Practice. 2nd ed, Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; 2019: 562-582.
  9. Christensen N, Jensen G. Developing clinical reasoning capability. In: Higgs J, Jensen G, Loftus S, Christensen N. Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 4th ed., Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; 2019: 427-433.
  10. Christensen N, Loftus S, Gwin T. Peer learning to develop clinical reasoning skills. In: Higgs J, Jensen G, Loftus S, Christensen N. Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 4th ed., Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; 2019: 491-497.
  11. Christensen N, Villanueva C, Grieve S. Learning reasoning using simulation. In: Higgs J, Jensen G, Loftus S, Christensen N. Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 4th ed., Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; 2019: 455-464.
  12. Huggett K, Christensen N, Jensen G, Maio A. Learning to research clinical reasoning. In: Higgs J, Jensen G, Loftus S, Christensen N. Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, 4th ed., Edinburgh, UK: Elsevier; 2019: 475-482.
  13. Huhn K, Black L, Christensen N, Furze J, Vendrely A, Wainwright S. Clinical reasoning: survey of teaching methods and assessment in entry-level physical therapist clinical education. JOPTE. 2018; 32(3):241-247. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000043
  14. Christensen N, Black L, Furze J, Huhn K, Vendrely A, Wainwright S. Clinical reasoning: survey of teaching methods, integration, and assessment in entry-level physical therapist academic education. Phys Ther. 2017; 97(2): 175-186. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20150320

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Member, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Member, APTA Academy of Education

Member, APTA Academy or Orthopedics Member, American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)

Member, California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA)

Member, Clinical Reasoning Curriculum and Assessment Consortium (ACAPT)

Community Service

I serve as a reviewer for the following professional journals: Physical Therapy Journal, Journal of Physical Therapy Education, and Physiotherapy Theory and Research.

Honors & Awards

  • Professor Emeritus, Samuel Merritt University, May 2, 2024. The honorary title of Professor Emeritus is awarded to retired full time faculty who have achieved rank of professor, and who have demonstrated a record of exemplary teaching effectiveness, scholarly activities, clinical expertise, and contributions of service to the university, the community, and the profession. In addition, effective student advising, cooperation with colleagues in advancing the academic aims of the university, and dedication to the goals of the university are considered.
  • 2020 Distinguished Educator in Physical Therapy Education Award Academy of Physical Therapy Education. An award to recognize an individual demonstrating excellence in academic or clinical teaching in a physical therapy education program, and with a record of having distinguished themselves in a subject matter area as evidenced by publications or other appropriate demonstrations, and who has extended education by developing innovative teaching methodologies or materials. Awarded at the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Combined Sections Meeting February 14, 2020
  • Research Publication Award Physical Therapis:  Faculty Christensen N, Black L, Furze J, Huhn K, Vendrely A, Wainwright S. Clinical reasoning: survey of teaching methods, integration, and assessment in entry-level physical therapist academic education. Phys Ther. 2017; 97(2): 175-186. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20150320 California Physical Therapy Association October 12, 2019
  • Faculty Non-research Publication Award:  Christensen N, Nordstrom T. Facilitating the teaching and learning of clinical reasoning. In: Jensen G, Mostrom E, Shepard K. Handbook of Teaching for Physical Therapists, 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier-Butterworth-Heinemann; 2013:183-199.
  • California Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. October 2013.

Grant Awards:

  • Academy of Physical Therapy Education Grant Award December 2018: Christensen N, Black L, Gilliland S, Huhn K, Wainwright S.:  Exploration of the Role of Movement in Physical Therapists’ Clinical Reasoning
  • Academy of Physical Therapy Education Grant Award December 2018:  Peterson J, Black L, Hartley G, Christensen N. Outcomes of Resident Education: Exploring Learner Development During and Post-Residency
  • Samuel Merritt University Faculty Scholarship Grant Award June 2018:  Christensen N, Black L, Jensen G, Wainwright S.  Student Physical Therapists’ Clinical Reasoning: Development of an Entrustable Professional Activity Schema