TYLENOL® Fund to Advance Diversity in Nursing and Health Equity Research

I am white settler and Indigenous with Ukrainian, Slovak, Prussian (Baltic), and Nuxalk ancestry, living in lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territories. My desire to become a nurse began in 2021, when I had a vision of being on my death bed; I heard myself say to the nurse attending to me, “I should’ve been a nurse.” I sat with this vision and encountered the feelings that arose. Next, I thought rationally about it. Finally, equipped with information, I went for a walk. On this walk, I paused to close my eyes and asked Spirit if I should journey down this nursing path. When I opened my eyes, an eagle was circling overhead. To me, it was a resounding, “Yes!” 

As a mid-life student, there were many considerations to make but the inner knowing exceeded everything else; this was a path for me. 

As a nurse, culturally safe environments that recognize, honour, and respect Indigenous ways of knowing and being, integrated with western medicine, is something I want to foster. Further, I want people to have access to palliative and end-of-life care in their own communities. My rural hometown of Merritt, BC sees healthcare access continually declining. Additionally, there are many remote communities in BC, including Bella Coola, where many of my relatives reside. Thus, increasing access to healthcare is a goal I want to help achieve. Finally, I envision a career of collaborating with colleagues and communities, assisting in removing barriers, inspiring others, learning and leading with integrity and humility, and actively making positive change.