It is with great sadness that we share the news of Dr. Fawcett’s death on Sunday morning, March 22, 2026. She had recently suffered a fall, but we were all anticipating her recovery and return to continuing as our friend and colleague in the Nursology.net community. Dr. Fawcett was among the scholars who conceived of Nursology.net in the fall of 2017, and was a key developer of the design and content of the site, which was officially unveiled in September 2018. When you visit many of the pages devoted to nursing theories, you will see her name as the contributor, and she regularly contributed blog posts. Her latest blog was published on February 27, honoring Gertrude Torres as a Guardian of our Discipline. You can see all of her blog posts, starting in the fall of 2018, here (most recent first)
There will be many tributes to her life and work over the coming days and weeks, and we will continue to share the many ways in which Jacqui inspired and supported us all. She was a dedicated and unrelenting advocate for nursing, and she had a unique and engaging way of describing and explaining the wonderful world of nursing theory. We welcome you to contribute your reflections and tributes to Dr. Fawcett in the comments below! We will miss her physical presence terribly – but her spirit and virtual presence will remain in the many pages and sections of Nursology.net. May she rest in Peace and Power!
I am so sad to hear of Jacqui’s death. I have enjoyed getting to know her through our shared interest of nursing history at the Boston University Nursing Archives. She was a graceful scholar who was a mentor and teacher to countless nurses. I enjoyed working with her our recent blog posting on Jo Ann Ashley. Her quick and quiet wit made our times more enjoyable. She left a legacy of scholarship on nursing theory that will live on.
Oh no!!! Jackie showed such a wonderful ability to change and develop her thinking! Tragic!!
What a tragic loss to Nursology and all of us. Condolences to her family and loved ones, many I know are on this thread.
Thank You Dr. Jacqueline for all. Your work has inspired generations of nurses, just as you used to say: “Onward!” We will continue through Nursology!
With profound sorrow, we have received the news of the passing of Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett, an eminent figure in nursing and academic thought. Her legacy will endure as a guiding light and source of inspiration for present and future generations.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, colleagues, and students, sharing in the grief of this irreparable loss while also expressing gratitude for the luminous imprint she leaves upon our profession and the lives of those who had the privilege of learning from her.
May her memory always be honored through the commitment to care and teach with the same devotion that characterized her life.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Fawcett. She played a significant role in teaching our postgraduate students about theory development and the concept of Nursology. Her sessions were truly enriching, and she generously left us with her PowerPoint presentation, which I have held in high esteem and continue to use for educational purposes.
I am sincerely grateful for the privilege of learning under Professor Fawcett. Her impact will remain lasting and deeply appreciated.
Iyanuoluwa O. Ojo
Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan
Nigeria
For Professor Jacqueline Fawcett
Though our paths crossed only once,
your voice endures in quiet spaces—
a compass not of noise, but of truth.
You taught that worth is not borrowed,
but born within—
steady, unshaken, whole.
In a world seeking approval,
you stood for integrity,
and a compassion without borders.
Now you are beyond our sight,
yet your wisdom remains—
alive in every nurse who dares to stand,
and to care, without limits.
Cyruz P. Tuppal
Professor, Institute of Nursing, University of Makati
You’ve been our anchor even miles away!
Cyruz Tuppal
En.
The nursing world has lost another of its greats. This earthly loss represents only the absence of an extraordinary woman who never tired of contributing to the discipline. Her legacy will remain forever within the field, and many of us will ensure that it reaches as far as she would have wished
Farewell, dear Professor Jacqueline
Es.
El mundo de la enfermería ha perdido a otra de sus grandes figuras. Esta pérdida terrenal representa la ausencia de una mujer extraordinaria que nunca se cansó de contribuir a la disciplina. Su legado perdurará para siempre en el campo de la enfermería, y muchos de nosotros nos aseguraremos de que llegue tan lejos como ella hubiera deseado.
Hasta siempre apreciable Profesora Jacqueline
The world has suffered a great loss in the field of nursing science. Today we bid farewell to an exceptional woman a scientist, mother, and nurse whose work transcended borders and strengthened the visibility of nursing as an essential science dedicated to the well-being of society.
Her legacy will remain a source of inspiration for present and future generations.
May she rest in peace.
Jacqui has been an inspirational force for all of us who advocated for the importance of the discipline of nursing grounded in its theoretical development. Her book on the analysis and evaluation of nursing models and theories was my bible as a graduate student; it remains tattered on my bookshelf along with later editions of her work. As a metatheorist she was engaged in the ongoing study of many nursing models and theories, and was an active member of the Neuman, Roy and Rogers theory groups. It’s hard to imagine meetings that I attend of the Nursology Management Team, Society of Rogerian Scholars (SRS) and the American Academy of Nursing’s, Expert Panel in Nursing Theory-Guided Practice without Jacqui’s physical presence there..passionately speaking up as a guardian of our professional discipline, what she consistently referred to as nursology. She supported SRS for many years as Treasurer and gave her time, talent, and treasure to its development. Just a few weeks ago she sent me important updates for the SRS website. I was always amazed at the quantity and quality of her published work…she never stopped writing alone and with others. Jacqui mentored so many scholars, helping them to conceptualize, write, and advance their careers. I’ve attended a lot of conferences with Jacqui. About 40 years ago, at one of the first SRS conferences held at NYU, she took a few of us doctoral students out to dinner; it was there that I began to appreciate her humor, candor and warmth. Jacqui Fawcett is a true legend, and I hope all of us will seriously honor her legacy with her admonition to move our discipline ONWARD!
Jacqui was a consummate professional and tireless nurse advocate as well as great joy to work with and just be with. I will miss her greatly.
As nurses and professors of Nursing Fundamentals, we are deeply struck by the news of Dr. Fawcett’s passing. We do believe she will always be with us in the way we think, teach, and care, through the knowledge she helped shape and the generations she will continue to inspire.
Jacqueline was a rock star! I will miss her and her unbelievable contributions to nursing. A fellow NYU alum and Maine-er — she was special. I owe you – until we meet again…sweet dreams, Dr. Fawcett.
So saddened by this news 💔… a dear mentor and friend; Jacqui (Dr. Fawcett) leaves a huge legacy as a legendary nurse theorist, professor, and mentor to so many. I admired her elegance, her passion for teaching and learning, and her fun, optimistic spirit; always “onwards!” Jacqui loved the ocean 🌊 and was a seasoned sailor ⛵️May her memory be a blessing always… condolences to her husband, John and family ☮️💔☮️🙏
A tremendous loss for nursing. Dr. Fawcett was such a remarkable scholar whose work helped shape and strengthen our discipline. Her legacy will continue to inspire current and future generations.
I’m very sad to hear this news. Sending care and comfort to all who knew and loved her.
Jacqui, will always be with us. Her contributions to nursing and nursing theory carry on. Her work with so many organizations is incalculable. The manifestations she shared and generously gifted to me and so many of us will be fondly remembered. I too am saddened by this change and find comfort in her energyspirit and celebrate her earthbound legacy. Thoughts and prayers are with her family and as Jess Dillard-Wright said all who knew and loved her. And, for Jacqui, “Onward”
Con gran tristeza recibo la noticia del fallecimiento de la Dra. Fawcett. Conocí este sitio hace algunos años, mientras buscaba en internet más información sobre el término nursology después de ver una entrevista de ella. Desde entonces, este espacio y sus valiosos aportes han enriquecido profundamente mi labor como enfermero y docente, permitiéndome transmitir conocimientos con mayor claridad y sentido a otros. La huella que deja en nuestra disciplina es inmensa y seguirá inspirándonos.
Leandro Pusch, Argentina
Con gran tristeza recibo la noticia del fallecimiento de la Dra. Fawcett. Conocí este sitio hace algunos años, mientras buscaba en internet más información sobre el término nursology después de ver una entrevista con ella. Desde entonces, este espacio y sus valiosos aportes han enriquecido profundamente mi labor como enfermero y docente, permitiéndome transmitir conocimientos con mayor claridad y sentido a otros. La huella que deja en nuestra disciplina es inmensa y seguirá inspirándonos.
Leandro Pusch, Argentina
How can words possibly capture the loss of a scholar whose passing feels like a blow to the heart? The death of Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett leaves an ache that is difficult to describe. For six years, I had the great privilege of knowing Jacqui—not only as a pioneering nursing scholar but as a generous mentor, colleague, and friend.
Jacqui once graciously edited a blog I wrote, “Speaking Nursology into the Dictionary: Why Everyday Usage Matters.” She was delighted to learn that Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Professions has included the term Nursology since 2013—a reflection of how deeply her influence had already taken root within our discipline.
To honor Jacqui’s extraordinary legacy, we must continue to advance her vision: to sustain her metaparadigm as the enduring foundation of nursing knowledge, and to keep the language and spirit of Nursology vibrant within our profession. Jacqui reminded us that the ways we name, think, and speak about nursing shape what nursing becomes. Her spirit will continue to guide us across the dimensions of knowing, being, and the pleuriverse of nursing theory.