Professional Overview
Dr. Fatima Alzyoud joined the Loewenberg College of Nursing faculty in 2023, bringing extensive clinical and academic experience in women’s health and a focused research program dedicated to advancing respectful maternal care (RMC). She earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Dr. Alzyoud’s research explores the mistreatment of patients in healthcare settings and aims to promote equitable, compassionate, and respectful care—particularly for underserved and racial/ethnic minority populations. Her scholarship examines patient abuse by healthcare professionals as an emerging form of violence that profoundly impacts patients’ psychological, emotional, and physical well-being. To guide this work, she developed the Patient Abuse in Healthcare Theory, a conceptual model designed to deepen understanding of the causes and consequences of patient mistreatment.
A cornerstone of Dr. Alzyoud’s research is the development of the “Equitable and Respectful Maternal Care Training”—an innovative, online course that provides certification for nurses, midwives, and OB/GYNs. This program translates research into actionable strategies for improving patient care, professional development, and healthcare equity across practice settings. Additionally, she has designed a comprehensive assessment tool that examines the factors and predictors associated with nurse and midwife disrespect and abuse of women during childbirth.
Dr. Alzyoud’s work has been supported by competitive grants, including the 2024–2025 Communities of Research Scholars (CoRS) Grant from the University of Memphis and the Partnership Development Grants Travel Grant from the Jordanian American Commission for Educational Exchange (JACEE).
Drawing from her extensive clinical experience in OB/GYN practice, Dr. Alzyoud integrates evidence-based research into her teaching and mentorship. She teaches advanced courses in evidence-based practice, family health nursing, maternity and women’s health, nursing research, and professional communication, and she is dedicated to mentoring PhD students pursuing research in healthcare quality, ethics, and maternal health.
Through her teaching, research, and service, Dr. Alzyoud stands at the forefront of efforts to transform healthcare culture—promoting dignity, respect, and compassion for all patients.
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA | Ph.D., Nursing, Nurse Scientist Educator, 05/2022
- Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan | Master of Science in Nursing, 05/2015
- Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan | Bachelor of Science, Nursing Science, 06/2007
- Acute care
- Families
- Maternal global health
- Nursing education
- Nursing workforce
- Research Methods
- Underserved populations
- Vulnerable and marginalized populations
- Women's health
- Global Respectful Maternal Care Council
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
- Southern Nursing Research Society
- The Global Alliance for Nursing and Midwifery (GANM)
- The Quality Maternal and Newborn Care (QMNC) Research Alliance
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
- Dean's Dissertation Support Award, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences (2022)
- Nurses' Alumnae Association Scholarship, Truesdale Hospital (2019)
- Partnership Development Grants Travel Grant, Jordanian American Commission for Educational Exchange (JACEE) (2025)
- 2024-2025 Communities of Research Scholars (CoRS) Grant, University of Memphis.
Alzyoud F. (2025). Psychometric Analysis of Disrespect and Abuse Scale. Nursing research, 74(3), 213–217. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000809
Rasali P, Woodruff BM, Alzyoud F., Kiel D, Schaffzin KT, Osei WD, Ford CL, Johnson
S. (2024). Cross-Disciplinary Rapid
Scoping Review of Structural Racial and Caste Discrimination Associated with Population
Health Disparities in the 21st Century. Societies, 14(9):186. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090186
Alzyoud, F. A., McCurry, M. K., Hunter Revell, S. M., & Kellogg, M. (2023). Nurse
Disrespect and Abuse Toward Laboring and Child-Birthing Women. Nursing Research, 72(5),
347–354. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000674
Alzyoud, S., Alzyoud, F., & Shahin, D. (2023). The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Lebanese
Response. In Policy and Politics of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Eastern Mediterranean
States (First, pp. 118–128). E-International Relations. https://www.eir.info/publication/policy-and-politics-of-the-syrian-refugee-crisis-in-eastern-mediterranean-states/
Alzyoud, F., McCurry, M. K., & Hunter Revell, S. M. (2023). Patient abuse in healthcare:
A theoretical synthesis. Nursing Science Quarterly, 36(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184221131969
Alzyoud F., h Khoshnood K., Alnatour A., Oweis A. (2018). Exposure to verbal abuse
and neglect during childbirth among Jordanian women. Midwifery 58 (2018) 71–76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.008
Rasali P, Woodruff BM, Alzyoud F., Kiel D, Schaffzin KT, Osei WD, Ford CL, Johnson S. (2024). Cross-Disciplinary Rapid Scoping Review of Structural Racial and Caste Discrimination Associated with Population Health Disparities in the 21st Century. Societies, 14(9):186. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090186
Alzyoud, F. A., McCurry, M. K., Hunter Revell, S. M., & Kellogg, M. (2023). Nurse Disrespect and Abuse Toward Laboring and Child-Birthing Women. Nursing Research, 72(5), 347–354. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000674
Alzyoud, S., Alzyoud, F., & Shahin, D. (2023). The Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Lebanese Response. In Policy and Politics of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Eastern Mediterranean States (First, pp. 118–128). E-International Relations. https://www.eir.info/publication/policy-and-politics-of-the-syrian-refugee-crisis-in-eastern-mediterranean-states/
Alzyoud, F., McCurry, M. K., & Hunter Revell, S. M. (2023). Patient abuse in healthcare: A theoretical synthesis. Nursing Science Quarterly, 36(1), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184221131969
Alzyoud F., h Khoshnood K., Alnatour A., Oweis A. (2018). Exposure to verbal abuse and neglect during childbirth among Jordanian women. Midwifery 58 (2018) 71–76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.008
Equitable and Respectful Maternal Care Training [ERMCT]: A Clinical Trial 2024 -Present