CNSA Diversability Award

Hello there, my name is Elizabeth Murray-Richard. I was inspired to become a nurse as, at 18 months old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Being diagnosed with a lifelong chronic condition meant spending countless days in and out of the hospital, from follow-up appointments to emergency room visits. I still remember the amazing nurses from all the interprofessional team members I met. They helped teach me how to give myself injections, count carbohydrates and still be a child while balancing a chronic condition. Their caring attitudes and competence left a lifelong impression on me and inspired me to follow their path.

Whether it’s an ear to listen to frustrations, a hand to hold when clients are scared before an upcoming procedure or a knowledgeable figure who can explain diagnoses and follow-up care in common terms, I want to be there for my clients. The World Health Organization said the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being. As nurses, it is our duty and calling to help bridge the gap between illness and health. Whether navigating the medical system or advocating for the social determinants of health, I want to be there. That’s why I became a nurse. Thank you for selecting me for the Diversability scholarship. I am proud to call myself a CNF scholar.