Rx&D Award

I am entering my second and final year in the UBC Masters of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program. I am extremely honoured and grateful to be the recipient of the Canadian Nurses Foundation Rx&D Scholarship for 2015 and I want to extend my thanks to all of the generous donors. It was my grandma, a nurse, and my grandpa, a family doctor, who sparked my interest in health care. My grandpa was very supportive of nurse practitioners and encouraged me to further my education and pursue this role. My previous experience as a registered nurse in acute medicine, rehabilitation medicine, and general surgery have provided me with a strong foundation as I move into the role of nurse practitioner. Although my practice thus far has been in acute care I have come to understand the importance of primary care through my volunteer experience with Options for Sexual Health, an organization that works to improve sexual health in the community.

Upon completion of my masters degree I plan to work in primary care clinics in my community with a focus on youth, women’s, and sexual health. This award will give me the freedom to focus on my final year of the nurse practitioner program, which requires a combination of full time courses and clinical experience, as well as allowing me to continue to volunteer with Options for Sexual Health. By having this freedom to study and learn I will be better able to provide care for the patients and families in my community.