Nan’s Story

As nurses, we often do specialized things to help our patients – monitoring special equipment, complex dressings. But I have found that it is the moments of connection that stand out to me in my role as a caring professional. It was the middle of the night and Mary, an elderly woman with leukemia, was having trouble sleeping. She asked if it was possible to get up to a chair to sit at the window for a bit. It was the first snow and it was coming down in pretty large snowflakes. I moved a chair to the window and we slowly walked over and she asked if I could sit with her for just a few minutes. I found another chair and we watched the snow falling.

Hanna’s Story

I had just returned to work after maternity leave and was excited to be heading to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). However, that night I was told I would be floated over to the pediatric unit. I remember being a little ticked off as it was an extra shift, I agreed to pick up in NICU, but, I was there and off I went to Pediatrics.

A 6-week-old baby named Hanna was assigned to me that night. She was admitted with urinary tract infection and was planned for discharge in the morning. I greeted her mom and began my assessment of this little baby.

Shannon’s Story

I was a brand-new registered nurse, working one of my first jobs in a rural emergency room (ER). I was working alone that night, and one of my patients was a 93-year-old woman who was palliative. Her condition worsened through the evening, and I tried to call her family or someone to come be with her in her final moments. She had no close family, and any of her friends were too far away to make it in time.

Another patient in the ER that night voluntarily agreed to sit with her until she passed, in case I got busy throughout the evening. Between the two of us, we held her hand and guided her to the next phase of her journey.

Julie’s Story

I had been working in emergency on my night shifts, on the first night I worked I had taken care of a pediatric patient, he had the most beautiful blue eyes and blond hair. He had presented to our ER with a respiratory problem. The patient had a unique name, after being assessed by our ER physician it was felt that he had a viral infection and was started on the classic medication regimen and admitted to the pediatric unit. I gave a report to the receiving nurse and sent this patient and his family up to the floor.

Janice’s Story

It was a Friday morning as I was heading in to work to see patients as a Family Practice, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner when it happened. Coffee in hand, singing along to the radio and if it hadn’t been for the red light, I would not have seen him at all. As the light started to change, I saw out of the corner of my eye a man laying on the sidewalk with another man standing over him talking on the phone. I quickly pulled over and ran back to see if I could help.

Rana’s Story

I was with my mother on a connecting flight to Vancouver enroute to Peru. I was just settling down into my seat ready to enjoy the start of our holiday together when the flight staff announced, “Is there a doctor on the plane?”. I laughed and said to my mom, “this is the sort of thing you only see on tv!”

The flight crew then called for a nurse, as no doctor responded. I was hesitant to come forward, but my mother insisted. My mother is an immigrant, and I am a first generation Canadian, and she is so proud that I am a nurse and had opportunities she didn’t have. I identified myself to the flight crew, and with my mom bursting with pride, was led to the passenger needing medical assistance.

Heather’s Story

In the past, I worked with high risk women. One young woman was early in her pregnancy, about 10 weeks, when I first contacted her. She was a substance user, in an abusive relationship, and trying to get clean. I explained to her my role, how I would help her and that I would check in on her once a week. We agreed that I would call her every Tuesday.

Felicia’s Story

One of my most memorable moments as a nurse where I felt I made an impact/difference to a patient. I remember a young female patient of mine in her late 20s/early 30s who had rheumatoid arthritis and needed joint replacement surgery. She needed both knees and both hips replaced, and these were to be done urgently. My heart broke for her the first time she came to the surgeon's office as she could barely walk and was on crutches. She was scared, nervous, and anxious when she found out that she was going to have bilateral total hip replacements in a few months’ time.

Jennifer’s Story

This story helps to remind me of my purpose, to continue learning, and opportunities presented to us. What seemed like such a simple procedure had such a profound impact for this man.

Steve’s Story

I was at the Dr’s office for my annual check-up. My family Dr was away that day, so the Nurse Practitioner saw me instead. While completing my physical, and listening to my heart, she noticed an irregularity.

Karolina’s Story

I was flying to Europe, and we were just settling into the flight when the announcement came for medical personnel assistance. I identified myself as a Nurse and was led to a male passenger. He was showing obvious symptoms of a cardiac problem. I did an assessment, gave him aspirin, and oxygen. It was obvious we were going to have to divert and land as there was no way we could fly over the ocean with the condition this man was in. I returned to my seat to prepare for descent into Winnipeg.

Joanne’s Story

I played in a local curling league in Okotoks. It was during league play; I was sweeping a rock down the ice. The curling rink is always noisy with lots of chatter, suddenly the rink went quiet. I looked around and saw a crowd gathering around a man who had just fallen. 

I dropped my broom, ran over, and saw the man was in cardiac arrest. There were several people willing to help. I took control of the scene, directed the bystanders to get him off the ice, and started CPR. Someone brought the AED from the rink.