Frances Moran Award

I always knew I wanted to get into the health care field since I was in high school. I started out as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, a 6-month program, to see if I can handle a short duration but intense health care program. I absolutely loved it! I worked at the main hospital in my city, Vancouver General Hospital, in all departments. Fascinated by the Emergency Department the most, by watching all the ER doctors and nurses do their work seamlessly. I decided then to go into nursing, and started my educational adventure. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Vancouver Community College, an accelerated and condensed program to finish one year earlier. My nursing career has predominantly been in community health, and working closely with and for Indigenous people and communities. My passion area includes ensuring advocacy for Indigenous health, equitable policy, culturally safe care and enhancing cultural safety and humility in the workforce and in the nursing curriculum. I am nearing completion of my Masters in Nursing degree, and my focus is around Indigenous cultural safety and humility and how it is weaved into nursing education at local schools within British Columbia. I aim to do a culture sharing, co learning one day data collection event in my home community of xʷməθkʷəyə̓ m by inviting nursing educators to the event. The event will be rooted in Coast Salish traditions, sharing culture and traditional foods while holding a focus group with my guided questions. I became a nurse to carry on the trail blazed by Indigenous nurse leaders like Madeline Dion Stout and Jean Cuthand. I became a nurse with the inspiration to be a change agent for Indigenous health.