Senator Norman Patterson Fellowship
My name is Meagan Ryan, and I’m a Registered Nurse from Nova Scotia currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the University of Ottawa. I have been a nurse for over 10 years, starting my career in adult acute care and the emergency department. Early on, I discovered a fulfillment when teaching and mentoring new nurses and students, which led me to continue my education and certification in preceptorship and in obtaining a Master of Nursing with a teaching focus.
My passion for teaching and learning in nursing eventually guided me into education, and I now work as an Assistant Professor at the Rankin School of Nursing at St. Francis Xavier University. Over the years, my reasons for becoming a nurse have evolved. While I began with the goal of making a difference in the lives of individual patients and families, I’ve grown increasingly focused on supporting the nursing profession as a whole—through teaching, research, and advocacy.
As a Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF) scholar, I’m exploring how new graduate nurses engage with digital health technologies. My doctoral research aims to better understand how these tools can support early-career nurses and ultimately improve patient care. I’m committed to helping shape a healthcare system where nurses feel confident, supported, and prepared to meet the challenges of modern practice.
