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As a child, I knew I wanted to be a nurse, but I did not foresee the diversity of opportunities that a career in nursing would bring. Obtaining my MSN from the UBC School of Nursing was a wonderful experience and a great foundation on which to build my 32 year career as a Health Executive. I worked at St Paul’s Hospital Vancouver as a staff nurse in critical care, a nurse educator in medical nursing, and a nurse manager in cardiac care. In 2006 I was appointed CEO of Providence Health Care. Providence is one of Canada’s largest faith based health care organizations, and now operates 17 facilities across Greater Vancouver including St Paul’s Hospital. I was privileged to lead this prestigious academic organization where I consistently maintained a chief executive nurse as part of the senior team. I am grateful to all the colleagues I worked with who advanced a culture that valued and recognized nurses; encouraged life long learning; enhanced professional practice; integrated research, practice and education; empowered strong interdisciplinary teams; focused on patient-centred care, attended to the mental wellness of staff, and advocated for the most vulnerable populations. Congratulations to the UBC School of Nursing on the centenary celebration. A big thanks to my former UBC classmates for the camaraderie…and shared learnings, and to the dedicated faculty who fostered critical thinking and broadened my perspective of the nursing profession. |
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