Taggart Parkes Foundation Nursing Award

My journey into nursing was rather unconventional. I had completed my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology, and Master’s in Viral Immunology when I decided I wanted to be a nurse. While my passion for research remained intact, I knew I belonged on the frontlines, caring for patients firsthand.

Through the rigorous nursing program, I explored various nursing specialties. From caring for elderly patients living with Alzheimer’s, to caring for newborns with congenital anomalies, I was able to internalize the human side of healthcare. Without realizing it, caring for patients completely transformed me as a person.

When the COVID-19 Pandemic began, I worked at an assisted living facility, caring for the most vulnerable populations of our country. In the summer of 2020, I worked for the COVID-19 Task Force on PPE decontamination at the National Research Council. Later in summer 2021, I began work as a Clinical Research Assistant, studying long-term immunity of various vaccine regimens and observing the social implications of SARS-CoV-2 across Canadian universities.

Someday, I hope to become a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner and lead research in the same field. By being involved in patient care and conducting research in the same specialty, I strive to become an objective, compassionate, and ethical clinical nurse researcher.