Extendicare Nurse Practitioner Award

One of the most important moments in my nursing career occurred before I graduated with my nursing degree: I was contemplating my final placement and asked a nursing instructor for sponsorship so I could apply to consolidate in the ICU.  Her response has guided through much of my career path: “You are not an ICU nurse, you are an oncology nurse”.   Since then, I have gone on to practice for the last 12 years in oncology.

While I have practiced caring for patients over the entire lifespan, I have developed a passion for caring for the elderly living with cancer.  The unique needs of this population have inspired me to continue my education in the Masters of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program with the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.  I believe that as a nurse practitioner I can play an integral role in the care of older adults receiving oncology treatment providing a holistic perspective to the navigation through their cancer journey.  The management of oncology treatment, co-morbidities and palliation along with advocacy for health literacy and access to quality health care to meet the growing demands of an aging population are challenges I look forward to upon graduation.

I am very thankful to Extendicare and the Canadian Nurses Foundation for the CNF Extendicare (Gerontology) Award.