When I was in high school, my mother enrolled in college to become a nurse. I had originally wanted to be a veterinarian, but my mother slowly changed my mind as I saw her passion and how she was able to help people. There are now four active nurses in my family, and I couldn’t be prouder. This portfolio outlines my skills, knowledge, perspectives, and resources in the world today.

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       Home Care and geriatrics has been a passion of mine since my second year of college when I had the chance to follow a home care LPN for a day. The fall after I graduated, I started my career in home care and have continued on for 15 years. From rural nursing to urban, from frontline to provincial teams, and back, I have worked my way through the home care world through Alberta Health Services. Currently I am employed as the community home care manager in Red Deer, Alberta.

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       Promoting independence is essential when working with staff, clients, and their support networks. I try to lead by example, by working hard, and being open to feedback – this is core to my professional identity. I am expected to support, guide, and nurture my staff in my current management role. Creating a positive team environment is a goal that I am actively working towards. Treating others respectfully, being approachable, and confidentiality are my top three professional and personal values.

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       In Red Deer, I report to a director in the central zone continuing care portfolio. The central zone team then reports to the Provincial Seniors Health and Continuing Care (PSHCC) portfolio. Alberta Health provides direction to the PSHCC, which filters down to managers, such as me, on the frontline teams. As a registered nurse, I am responsible to the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta and Alberta Health Services. I am also certified through the Canadian Nurses Association as a nurse specialist in gerontology. I have to provide 100 hours of learning every five years to renew this certification.