Meet Izabela, a registered nurse (RN) working in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Burnaby Hospital. As a critical care nurse, she provides care to patients that are critically ill that may require support such as mechanical ventilation, sedation, vasopressors, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or diagnostic tests.

“I first started in my career as a home support worker, going to people’s homes and assisting them with their needs. Through the challenging times during the pandemic, I joined the response team in long-term care. While I was transferring my nursing credentials from Brazil to Canada, I also had the opportunity to work as a care aide at Fellburn Care Centre and Burnaby Hospital.

During the four years while I was completing my schooling to become a registered nurse, I signed up for a four-hour buddy shift in the ICU at Burnaby Hospital. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive. I can’t describe the growth I’ve experienced to help me become the RN I am today. I now have a great understanding of the system, the team-based model and the resilience to take on any challenges that comes my way. I am here to learn and grow!

When working in the ICU, it can be challenging but I love the teamwork and support you receive from the team. I am forever grateful and feel it’s a great environment where I can learn and grow as a critical care nurse. We recently started doing CRRT in the ICU and it was one of the great achievements we had as a team. We are constantly learning on a daily basis and working through challenges together.

At times, the environment can be emotionally heavy and difficult for many reasons. The team you work with are what makes a huge difference. Your peers are the ones that will make you smile though it all. The support I get from my coworkers and leadership shows me everyday that I am not alone and can count them in the times of need.

I would recommend anyone considering a career in critical care is to ask for a buddy shift, have a conversation with people from the unit, talk to the manager, get a sense of the culture and look for your purpose. Fraser Health is full of opportunities for professional and personal growth.

When you are a nurse, self-care is so important. Some of my favorite ways to find balance is by practicing good nutrition, staying hydrated, sleeping, moving my body (a walk can be extremely beneficial for mental health) and spending quality time with friends and family!

I love working and living in Burnaby. You are surrounded by nature and there are so many activities to enjoy in every season. I’m centrally located, making it convenient to access some of my favorite activities, such as camping by the river, snowboarding in the beautiful mountains and enjoying a nice barbecue with friends at the park or beach. Burnaby is also conveniently accessible to the highway or SkyTrain to go downtown or to any of the amazing parks for a walk. Deer Lake Park is my favourite!