Sheri Strain, RN
I have been a nurse for 9 years (7 years as an RPN & 2 years as an RN). I went to UOIT for RN & Georgian College for RPN. I have worked in LTC, Med/Surg and palliative care. I had to change careers (was in HR for 12 years). I wanted to make an impact on people’s lives and decided to go into nursing. So glad I did!
The best thing about being a nurse is taking care of people, and listening to their life stories.
My Mom is an RN for over 40 years. My oldest daughter (17 yrs old) is planning to go into health care – genetics and my youngest daughter (14 yrs old) wants to be a nurse. Surprisingly my middle daughter (15 yrs old) does not want to be a nurse but would be great at it.
Maureen Coburn, RN
I have been a nurse for 36 years. I went to U of T and George Brown College for nursing. I have worked in paediatrics, a Dr’s office and hospice palliative care.
My Mum told me that when I was young I saw someone in a wheelchair and told her that one day I was going to help people who were sick. I don’t remember that, but I always knew I was going to be a nurse.
There are too many rewards from nursing to pick just one.
My Mother was a nurse, she said that even though my Grandmother wasn’t educated, she was a natural nurse. I have cousins who are nurses, a niece and a potential daughter-in-law. My eldest daughter has talked about going into nursing one day.
Kathy Marleau, RPN
I have been a nurse for 6 years. I attended Georgian College in Orangeville. My first job was at Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, then I began at Hospice Georgian Triangle in Nov 2018 .
I choose to be a nurse as it’s a good job, good pay and I love helping others and felt it was a good profession to be in.
The best thing about being a nurse – I think nurses can make a real difference in people’s lives. It is very humbling to be able to make someone’s day a bit better due to the care you can give.
Ali Reid, RPN
I have been a nurse for about 9 years. I went to Georgian College in Barrie. I have worked in long term care, the surgical floor in hospital, worked with Osteoporosis Canada doing secondary fracture prevention in the fracture clinic and hospice palliative care.
I had an interest in the human body and the sciences in high school; I also wanted to have a fulfilling job where I was helping others. I was debating physio and nursing when thinking about applying to schools. After breaking my leg playing rugby and requiring multiple surgeries and receiving care in hospital, I wanted to pursue nursing to help others during their most vulnerable times.
I don’t have any family members who went through for nursing before me, but my step daughter has recently applied for the RPN program.