“I was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada in 1975. When I started college back then to become a registered nurse, there was just a handful of black nurses and it wasn’t easy. We banded together and supported each other though, and went on to accomplished so much. For me, this has included 40 years providing care at Scarborough Health Network (SHN).
I joined SHN in 1984, working for a short time on the medical unit and then went to the emergency department for many years. From there I moved to the cardiac unit and telemetry unit, where I chose to stay. During my career I’ve seen so many things and helped to make decisions to improve safety at the hospital.
I had great managers who were very supportive, and I have met a lot of friends. I’m one of those people who tends to draw together people from all different backgrounds. I have been a mentor and helped others within their careers to become stronger, which of course goes both ways.
As a Black and Caribbean nurse, I know that representation is important in healthcare. It helps patients to see staff and doctors on the unit who share their background. I can explain things to patients and make sure they understand their care plan and even advocate for them. I was raised to show respect, especially for elderly age groups, so I use my experience and knowledge to support my patients and colleagues.
We have the opportunity to celebrate every culture and every community, and that’s important because many of us are immigrants. When we come to work and see ourselves celebrated here, it brings that feeling of home back and it’s a big comfort.
I’m very proud of my last 40 years at SHN, because I’ve had a part in so many things here. It’s also where I had my three boys – so for me, SHN is not just about the hospital where I work, it’s also about my family and my home.”