Education

• Ph.D. in Nursing [University of Wisconsin-Madison], [United States]
• MSN in Palliative Care Nursing [University of Jordan], [Jordan]
• Professional Diploma in Palliative Care and Pain Management [Applied Science University], [Jordan]
• BSN in Nursing Science [University of Jordan], [Jordan]

Research Interests

My research interests lie in the fields of pediatric and adolescent/young adult oncology, palliative and hospice care, spiritual well-being, and family-centered communication. My work focuses on the following main areas:

• Spirituality and Spiritual Identity in Adolescent/Young Adult Oncology: Investigating the awakening of spiritual identity, spiritual well-being, and perceptions of spiritual care among adolescents and young adults navigating cancer diagnoses.
• Pediatric Palliative and Supportive Care: Exploring symptom management, memory integration, and communication dynamics within child-caregiver dyads during oncology treatments.
• Healthcare Provider Spiritual Competence and Caring Behaviors: Evaluating nurses' spiritual well-being, attitudes toward spiritual care, and their direct impact on caring behaviors in oncology settings.
• Youth Resilience and Psychosocial Well-being:

Examining protective factors, community-based youth thriving, dyadic conversational interventions, and mechanisms of spiritual resilience in adolescents.

Selected Publications

Selected Publications

• Alshakhshir, N. S., Hendricks-Ferguson, V. L., Ward, E., Ersig, A. L., & Montgomery, K. E. (2025). Awakening the spiritual identity in adolescents with cancer: A phenomenological study. Cancer Nursing, 48(2), 110-120.
• Alshakhshir, N. S., Ersig, A. L., Ward, E., Hendricks-Ferguson, V. L., & Montgomery, K. E. (2024). An evolutionary concept analysis of spiritual competence in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80(12), 4812-4825.
• Looman, W. S., Geiger-Simpson, E., Eull, D., Alshakhshir, N. S., Lee, J., & Roberts, J. (2026). Facilitating supportive conversations with youth: A dyadic mixed-methods study of a brief narrative sharing intervention. Journal of Family Nursing, 32(1), 45-58.
• Skeens, M. A., Olsavsky, A., Kochashvili, M., Alshakhshir, N., Basha, M., Newman, A. R., & Montgomery, K. E. (2026). Toward better conversations: Assessing caregiver-child communication in pediatric oncology. Supportive Care in Cancer, 34(3), 210.
• Montgomery, K. E., Alshakhshir, N., Basha, M., Geenen, E., Nyholm, L., & Skeens, M. A. (2024). An exploratory qualitative study on factors influencing the level of agreement in symptom reports in child-caregiver dyads. Palliative and Supportive Care, 22(4), 612-622.
• Alshakhshir, N. S., & Montgomery, K. (2023). An integrated literature review revealing the process of awakening the spiritual self/identity among adolescents with cancer. Advances in Nursing Science, 46(3), 215-228.

Professional Experience

Fellowships & Postdoctoral Training

• Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, School of Nursing, USA
• Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Fellow: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Department of Pediatrics, USA
• Leadership Academy Fellow: Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS), USA
• Clinical Judgment Teaching Fellow: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, USA

Clinical & Academic Experience

• Registered Nurse: Palliative and Hospice Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan
• Registered Nurse: Palliative Care and Pain Management Clinic, Jordan
• Teaching Assistant & Graduate Student Assistant: University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
• Research Assistant: University of Jordan, School of Nursing, Jordan

Teaching Courses

Teaching Courses

Undergraduate Level (BSN):

• Health Systems, Policy, Economics, and Nursing Research
• Health Care Systems: Interdisciplinary Approach
• Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families, and Communities
• Social Justice in Local and Global Settings
• Foundations of Nursing Practice: Physical Assessment & Experiential Learning (Skills Lab/Simulation)

Postgraduate Level (MSN / PhD):

• Mixed Methods Research
• Qualitative Research for Nursing and Health Care
• Health Care and Public Policy
• Nursing Research
• Health Program Planning, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement

Memberships

Memberships

• Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), USA
• Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), USA
• Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON), USA
• Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS), USA
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing