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Why did you decide to enter the nursing profession?

I worked as a nursing assistant while in high school and was always the "counselor" to friends in need. A good friend was a psychiatric nurse and really liked it. This encouraged me to explore it as a career option. I found that psychiatric nursing blended nursing and counseling so I decided to become a psychiatric nurse initially.

How did you get to where you are today?

I have had the pleasure of many rewarding jobs in mental health, emergency room nursing, geriatric nursing, youth and forensic as well as working with the developmentally delayed where I blended my medical surgical and psychiatric nursing skills. In essence, true holistic care blending all aspects of my nursing knowledge and practice.

Many clients that I worked with in my early years as a nurse were mute or deaf which meant that my communication and observational skills had to be sharp and refined. I also undertook leadership roles wherever I worked, often acting as nursing leader or the nurse in charge of the shift.

I later became involved in regulation as well as the professional association. I also have over 30 years' experience as a technical writer for regulatory nursing articles, newsletters and in curriculum writing.

I got into teaching nursing through an instructor of mine! My first teaching assignment was a clinical group in geriatric psychiatry.

What has been the most rewarding thing in your nursing career?

There have been so many rewarding experiences in my career. I have fond memories of working in San Diego, California in a grassroots unit called "Generations" which was for seniors with a primary diagnosis that was mental health. I also worked as a relief night shift supervisor on a free standing medical rehabilitation multi-level building where at night I was the relief pharmacist among other assigned duties.

Probably the most rewarding experience to date is the breaking down of silos in health care and the groundbreaking work B.C. nurses are doing right now working toward one common association that will represent all nurses. Being on the cutting edge and ahead of the country is exciting!

What has been the most challenging?

The most challenging aspect is around the bureaucratic red tape that occurs in so many jobs which only serves to slowdown the entrepreneurs and forward thinkers. That said, I have no qualms about what lies ahead for the nurses of the future. They will pave a different path for nursing, but it takes time to work out the kinks.

What advice would you give to new nurses?

Follow your passion. Whether it is with the wee infants in a NICU or street nursing - go for it and explore all opportunities that nursing offers. You will never regret what you have seen and done. It's all part of growing as a professional nurse.

Nursing is...

Multi-faceted. Within nursing there are so many specialties and opportunities. You just need to want the opportunities, be passionate and jump in with both feet!