TD Meloche Monnex Award

Like many who pursue nursing education, my decision to become a nurse was influenced by my mother, a now-retired nurse.  Growing up in a small town in northern Manitoba, my mother was one of few nurses that supported the health and well-being of the community.  She embodied leadership within the community, was respected for the nursing care she provided (both on-shift and off-duty), and was always ready to jump in an ambulance should an emergency occur that required immediate transport.  She saw in me the qualities needed to become a nurse.

After receiving my Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2003 and working on a medical-surgical area, I pursued certification in critical care nursing in 2005 and took up a direct-care position in an intensive care unit.  I was, and continue to be, fascinated by the complexity of the human body, how the body works, the importance of person and family-centred health care, as well as what happens when our bodies fail us.  My ICU experience led me to become a travel nurse in Australia and a community health nurse for a fly-in, fly-out northern Manitoba community.  In 2013, I completed my Master of Nursing degree from the University of Alberta with a specialization in teaching-and-learning.  Subsequently, I also earned a Graduate Certificate in Simulation Education in 2017.  In my role as a nurse educator, I am driven by my curiosity for the human body, as well as my passion to prepare the next generation of incoming nurses for the realities of nursing work within the ever-changing health care climate of rural, remote, and urban practice settings in Canada.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you once again for selecting me for this award!