Shandeigh Berry

Dr. Shandeigh “Nikki” Berry is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Saint Martin’s University, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from Washington State University and is an award-winning nurse educator with over a decade of clinical experience in operating room, trauma, critical care, and palliative nursing. Her research focuses on reducing emotional trauma in parents facing life-limiting fetal diagnoses, particularly in perinatal loss, grief, and bereavement contexts. She has developed continuing education courses for organizations like AWHONN and ELNEC, and founded Project Poppyseed, a nonprofit addressing perinatal loss through advocacy and education.

Dr. Berry’s research spans interdisciplinary topics including trauma-informed care frameworks, palliative care strategies for neonates with anencephaly, and qualitative analyses of parental experiences. Her work emphasizes compassionate care rooted in Swanson’s theory of caring and integrates systemic reviews with mixed-methods approaches. She has been nationally recognized for contributions to reproductive loss education and palliative care training.

Key achievements include the 2023 Daisey Faculty Award and the 2021 ELNEC Excellence Award. Her educational contributions include courses on reproductive grief care, postpartum support, and clinical guidance for life-limiting fetal diagnoses. Dr. Berry’s work extends beyond academia through Project Poppyseed, which bridges research, advocacy, and community support for families affected by perinatal loss.