ROLE: Registered Nurse, Surgery
JOINED SHN: 2018
COMING FROM: Alberta, Canada
HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE: 8 years
LOVES OUTSIDE WORK: Playing with Milo, my cat!
“Today I am a charge nurse with SHN’s surgical department where I communicate assertively, know my strengths and weaknesses well, and trust my judgement.”
There’s no magic button for sparkling self-confidence. Sometimes I reflect back on my time as a novice nurse, and while I was a skilled healthcare professional with a supportive team, I didn’t necessarily start off with the confidence to lead.
One day, one of my managers pulled me aside after our team huddle and said, “You know that you can speak freely with us. How you show respect at home doesn’t need to dictate how you advocate for patients at work.”
Let me give you some context. In most cultures, you show respect to those who are senior or older than you. Well, this value is particularly strong in Asian culture. My manager was also Asian and understood where I was coming from.
She encouraged me to express myself openly at work with my colleagues and those in more senior roles. By challenging me to think critically about the assumptions I had about myself, people, and situations within the workplace, she cracked my perception of professional relationships.
I can’t think of a better example of the diversity that exists at SHN, and the importance of seeing yourself reflected in leadership as a person of colour.
Since those early days as a novice RN, I have been able to establish good relationships with my interdisciplinary team, including other nurses, allied health, pharmacists, and physicians.
Today I am a charge nurse with SHN’s surgical department where I communicate assertively, know my strengths and weaknesses well, and trust my judgement.
It’s not always easy to be confident in yourself, particularly if you’re naturally self-critical. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to build it and people along the way here at SHN who will make sure you find it.
Start your journey!
Check out these related career opportunities.
Bring your passion to work at SHN’s operating room (OR)! The Anesthesia Assistant (AA) will provide technical and clinical assistance to the Anaesthesiologist, including assistance in a block room and with inductions within the OR.
You will be able to bring your passion for surgical nursing to the department while advocating for patients and caregivers alongside RN′s and RPN′s. On our inpatient surgical unit, you will be a part of caring for our post-surgical adult population with a broad spectrum of medical diagnoses. You will be able to participate in continuous education opportunities and workshops to help further your education. This opportunity includes ongoing skill advancement, with in-house courses and workshops to advance skills like wound care and ACLS certifications.
Be part of a team whose focus is providing excellent care to a diverse patient population within our multi-service environment. You will be part of a busy department for patients with fractured hips, back surgery, and total joint replacements, and a team that provides acute orthopaedic care, as well as short-term rehabilitation. CP3 Orthopaedics is part of the Total Joint Network, and participates in projects related to care of joint replacement patients and patients with hip fractures.