Judy Hill Award

I’m entering my second and final year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of British Columbia.  Looking back on my convoluted, yet purposeful journey into the nursing profession, I can’t help but smile.  I initially applied to nursing because I was fascinated by the opportunities for genuine connection – many of my closest friends and family members working as nurses shared stories of standing alongside others through joy, sorrow, grief and celebration.  Now that I’m on my own journey to becoming a nurse, I’m amazed how nursing allows me to straddle (or attempt to straddle) the world of upstream thinking, as well as the here-and-now moments with my patients.

One of my favourite parts of nursing is that there are countless opportunities to learn from, and alongside, others.  It’s an exciting time to be in the nursing profession, as we are uniquely positioned to shape policy and redesign health systems to meet the needs of the populations we serve.  I’ve always had an interest in rural and remote nursing.  While I continue to discover where my passions intersect within the profession, my experiences living and working in various northern communities have fuelled my desire to advocate for equitable health care in the North.  I am honoured to receive the Judy Hill Memorial Award.  Thank you to the Canadian Nurses Foundation for their support.  I look forward to what lies ahead!