I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from McMaster University. Over the last year I have journeyed towards a Master’s in Nursing Degree from Athabasca University. I am in the ‘Generalist’ cohort of the Master’s program to best allow me flexibility in choosing a career focus upon completion of the degree. I enjoy the generalist stream’s depth in knowledge. For example, I have gained knowledge on health teaching, academics, leadership and health system management. The diverse knowledge allows for exposure to the noted areas nursing practice and management.

 

I work as a charge nurse working in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Humber River Hospital (HRH). The population we see is diverse across many ages. My ties to healthcare began at an early age. My grandparents lived with my family and with speaking English not being a strong suit, I assumed much responsibility in communicating with them. Unfortunately, my grandparents lived with long-standing illnesses which required care at the house. Together, with my mother, we would manage my grandmother’s Peritoneal Dialysis. And for my grandfather, we would manage gastric tube feeding. My motivation to embark on a career in healthcare was to assist individuals to adapt and live in spite of their conditions.  My interest in nursing coincides with my childhood fixation with medical dramas in that I prefer the fast-paced and acute areas of care.

 

Therefore, I chose my focus to be in Critical Care.

My interest in transforming nursing practice was peaked when I had the opportunity to participate in our ICU task forces. The purpose of the task force was to revamp, disseminate and make current, nursing practice. For example, I was on the ‘Early Mobilization’ task force and the focus of this was to work with allied team members, colleagues, educators, and management to upgrade existing standards and protocol regarding early mobilization. The data which encouraged the task force development was alarming and insisted that patients in our ICU are having complications and longer stays in the hospital. We created a protocol, taught staff on its use and have followed up with its use and find that average length of stay and complications to patient care and other aspects such as pressure ulcer development are less than before the use of the protocol. A large number of evidence-based practice data insisted that the use of said protocol and other evidence-based practice guidelines will lead to improving patient outcomes, as it did here. The overall success of the protocol was its sustainability and therefore its value.

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I am passionate about learning and better understanding the healthcare system, policy development and my health information knowledge. I am excited to be on this journey and curious to where it may take me.