I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part-time clinical nurse mentor (CNM) on the surgical unit at Chilliwack General Hospital (CGH) for the past two years, while also being able to work full-time in the emergency room (ER).

My day-to-day work entails supporting new graduates, new hires and any other nurse that requires support or assistance with their skills, deteriorating patients, critical thinking, bloodwork interpretation and time management to name a few. I love being able to pass on my 22 years of nursing experience in various specialties to my nursing colleagues, and I love being able to teach and mentor. My goal [for new grads] is to bridge the gap between nursing school and becoming a practicing RN while maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety.

Our new nurses need support once they are finished school and I hope to be a resource that encourages new graduates to want to build their career at CGH. We have a wonderful group of medical professionals here that support a welcoming learning environment.

The team here at CGH, especially in the ER, is so welcoming and team-orientated, and I really appreciate the team environment. You never feel alone, and our manager is current, collaborative and responds quickly to our concerns which is invaluable. Many of the staff at CGH have worked here for over 15 years so it’s a great place to be supported by experienced nurses while you find your way as a new nurse. We also have a medical and surgical clinical nurse mentor here to support you!

Outside of work, I love the weather in this region and that it allows me to spend the majority of my time out in my garden, camping or walking the trails in our beautiful mountains and along our many rivers.

Chilliwack is the perfect blend of small town in the sense that it is very welcoming and grass roots, but we still have access to almost everything you would want in a larger city.