About

Back in 1996, just after having my second child, I entered the Practical Nursing Program when my daughter was 9 weeks old and my son only 2. Being a very young mom and student, I learned so much about hard work, dedication and perseverance. Although nursing was not my first choice of a career, I learned to love the work I was doing and was blessed to have encountered so many wonderful opportunities as a LPN. Shortly after graduating, I took my first job in Northern B.C as a casual LPN in med/surg. Shortly after that, I was the first LPN ever hired into emergency at FSJ hospital. It is here I learned so much about diversity and culture. The 20+ years following this were spent as a home care nurse in Alberta on an acute team. It is here I learned my passion for community care and wound care. My curiosity for education and teaching also started here when I took a temp position as a credentialed trainer for the roll out of the provincial EMR. I spent 3 years learning, teaching and supporting all the staff and physicians on how to use the program. Teaching and education truly started for me here.

As it would turn out, life had different plans for us and the once vibrant oilfield crashed, forcing my husband out of work. It was then that we decided to leave Alberta and return to B.C. This is where I truly found my passion for teaching and education. I worked as an instructor for the HCA program in Kelowna then moved onto a position developing education for HCA's in a brain injury facility. I saw the need for all HCA's to be properly educated on med admin, concussion, seizure and falls protocols, this education I developed helped bridge the gap. Along with this, I saw the need for support and understanding and continued education for the HCA role. This further led me to really focus on teaching the HCA and Practical Nursing program, where I am truly proud and honored to share close to 30 years of nursing knowledge and experiences.

Born and raised in Nanaimo, I have lived in northern BC, Edmonton and the Okanagan. It has been so rewarding to return to Nanaimo. In my spare time, you will find me out with my very sassy bulldog, golfing, camping and my favorite, traveling. We were blessed with 4 children, whom we try to see as often as we can.