AARN ELECTION 2004 PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES: CENTRAL REGION

Alberta RN, May 2004 by Currie, Luella, Petruk, Joan, Sommerville, Kimberley, Trumper, Carolyn

CENTRAL REGION

Luella Currie

I have a broad base of nursing experience and believe chat I can make a significant contribution to the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses. I have always had very high regard for AARN and the way in which it promotes excellence in nursing; therefore, I have maintained my registration even through a number of years of working in other countries.

At times, I have assumed positions of leadership where I have demonstrated strong relationship building skills. A particular strength I would bring to Provincial Council is the ability to develop and implement programs. My experience also includes writing policies and procedures and, more recently, assisting with an evaluation of a hospital in a developing country.

I obtained my registered nurse diploma at the Calgary General Hospital, my bachelor of nursing at the University of Lethbridge and, in 1996, my certificate in childbirth education through the International Childbirth Education Association.

My nursing experience in Canada includes acute care, neurology and neurosurgery, emergency, cardiology, long-term care and, more recently, public health. For some years I worked in interesting cross-cultural settings in hospitals in Chad, Africa and Nepal. This experience has given me a broader understanding of the fundamentals of primary health care provision emphasizing cost-effective service. In these settings I also held supervisory positions in clinical supervision intensive care, obstetrics and community health. At the present time I am employed part-time as a public health nurse in Didsbury, as well as a prenatal nurse educator for David Thompson Health Region.

Community activities I have been involved in include Big Brothers Big Sisters, volunteering with fundraisers for a variety of community events, working in a thrift store, the proceeds of which are returned to support community youth programs, and I am a member of our church board.

I have a commitment to teaching people how to stay healthy and a strong sense of responsibility. In this day of change, there is more need than ever to have a strong professional association and a regulatory body for registered nurses. It is absolutely essential to do everything possible to help nurses meet the high standards of the nursing profession. This is done by establishing nursing practice standards and helping to ensure that nursing education programs support these standards.

I feel that I would do a good job linking front-line nurses with AARN and could bring their ideas to Provincial Council. As well, I would be a link of the membership with the public. As a resident of the Central Region, I am well placed to make a difference in the lives of nurses in this region.

Joan PetruK

RATIONALE FOR SEEKING ELECTION

I am concerned about many of the issues facing nursing, such as: professionalism, safety, recruitment of nurses to rural Alberta, nursing anxiety and burnout. I believe that all problems have solutions and I am committed to working with other nurses to find these solutions.

ATTRIBUTES YOU WOULD BRING TO THE POSITION

I am committed to improving the working environment for nurses, am positive and high energy.

PRESENT EMPLOYMENT

Health and safety coordinator for East Central Health, a full-time position since 1996

PREVIOUS NURSING WORK EXPERIENCE

* Public health nursing at East Central Health, Camrose from 1975-1996

* Public health nursing, Government of Canada at Hay River/Rae Edzo, N.W.T. 1974-1975

* Public health nursing, Nova Scotia Dept. of Health, Sherbrooke, N.S. 1972-1974

* Registered nurse, Sherbrooke Hospital 1970-1971

EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION

* Master of health studies in leadership from Athabasca University in 2003

* Bachelor of nursing from Athabasca University in 1998

* Occupational health nursing certificate from Grant MacEwan Community College in 1991

* Public health nursing diploma from Dalhousie University in 1972

* Graduate nursing diploma from St. Martha's School of Nursing, Antigonish, N.S. in 1970

PRESENT/PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH AARN

Most of my involvement was in the specialty of occupational health nursing.

* Past-chair of the Occupational Leaders Council and the current chair-elect of this group representing the regional health authorities at the provincial level

* Current chair-elect for the Alberta Occupational Health Nursing Association - northern chapter.

NURSING AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

* Published the feature article in Canadian Nurse-October 2003

* Established successful quality of work-life teams in two East Central Health facilities

Established a regional back care program that resulted in a decrease in time loss due to injuries from lifting and transferring patients

* Established a sharps injury reduction initiative that reduced sharps injuries by 60 percent

Kimberley Sommerville

RATIONALE FOR SEEKING EDUCATION

I have been nursing for six years in a variety of settings, in different fields of nursing and it never stops amazing me, the knowledge base, versatility and professionalism that RNs in all settings have. I see great potential and growth in the RN profession as one of the biggest opportunities in today's health care and would like to be a part of that, representing nurses from the Central Region.