I want to help people feel empowered to overcome their challenges.
“I have seen the ongoing shortage of family doctors that we have on Vancouver Island. I know how desperate we are for more psychiatrists and the lengthy waitlists people face for the very few that we have. I believe that Psychiatric Nurses play a vital role in filling in the gaps so that clients can receive the education and support they need when they lose the ability to cope and manage their symptoms. I have a natural ability to comfort and care for those around me, and I want to use my gifts to give back to my community.
I chose to get into Psychiatric Nursing at exactly the right time. The pandemic has hit Canadians hard, and we need people with specialized skills more than ever before. I want to help people feel empowered to overcome their challenges.
I also want to provide trauma-informed care. Considering the prevalence of trauma in society today, I feel fortunate that the timing of my training provides me with the tools to deliver adequate care to my clients. There are many reasons for someone to consider becoming a Psychiatric Nurse, and I genuinely hope they do. Looking back, I realize that becoming a Psychiatric Nurse brought me to the exact place I was meant to be.”
–Chelsea T., Stenberg College Psychiatric Nursing Student (Vancouver Island Cohort)
I want to help end the stigma that surrounds mental illness. By educating myself, I can educate others in my community.
“Growing up, I watched a very close friend’s mom struggle with bipolar disorder. I saw how this disease impacted her as well as her family. Growing up in a small community in Manitoba, the topic of mental illness was kept quiet. This is why I knew I wanted to join this program. I want to help end the stigma that surrounds mental illness. By educating myself, I can educate others in my community.
I became aware of the lack of mental health support while volunteering in various mental health facilities in Manitoba. I remember a woman who entered a hospital pleading for help with her mental illness. She was released because all the beds were full of people who were suffering from physical ailments. Later that day, this woman ended her life.
I want to advocate for individuals who suffer from mental illness, like the woman who was turned away from the hospital, and like my friend’s mom who lost her battle with bipolar disorder in 2017. The best way for me to become an advocate is by educating myself first. Then I can help people who are affected by mental illness.”
–Amy T., Stenberg College Psychiatric Nursing Student (Dawson Creek Cohort)
I wanted to advocate for those who were too scared to speak.
“Growing up, I experienced the effects of mental illness firsthand. Thankfully, I have an incredible family that always kept the conversation around mental health open. Instead of looking at mental illness as taboo, my family treated it the same way they would any physical illness.
Although my family and I openly discussed mental illness, I did not truly understand it until later in my teenage years. I was 15 when I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks. After being diagnosed, I remember having conflicting emotions and many questions. Was I going to be able to live a ‘normal’ life? What would people think if they found out I took medication? Those questions, and so many more, consumed me.
Professional counselling, the support of my family, and having open conversations about mental health made all the difference. Instead of hiding who I was, I embraced it. I was determined to learn everything I could about mental health and illness.
I wanted to advocate for those who were too scared to speak. After graduating high school, I studied psychology at university and began volunteering as an advocate for the Canadian Mental Health Association, and working at a crisis line. My experiences, my education, and my counselling, combined with a greater sense of self-understanding, inspired me to become a Psychiatric Nurse.”
–Kayla M., Stenberg College Psychiatric Nursing Student (Kamloops Cohort)
As a Psychiatric Nurse, I hope to make a positive contribution in this field so that people struggling with these challenges can feel more supported and heard.
“Working as a Harm Reduction Worker (HRW) for the past nine years, I have worked with some of the most compassionate, kind and caring nurses. Watching these nurses work with our clients has been truly inspiring and has motivated me to move forward in my career and pursue further education and training. As a Psychiatric Nurse, I will continue to work with some amazing people, and I can provide greater support to their well-being, growth and development.
I am very passionate about mental health and addictions. I genuinely believe that there needs to be more education and awareness, which are essential in dismantling the stereotypes surrounding mental health and addictions. Working as a Psychiatric Nurse will allow me to provide direct nursing care, support and advocacy for my clients, and educate the public. As a Psychiatric Nurse, I hope to make a positive contribution in this field so that people struggling with these challenges can feel more supported and heard.”
–Shashipal S., Stenberg College Psychiatric Nursing Student (Lower Mainland Cohort)
Are you inspired to provide much-needed mental health support as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse? Stenberg College’s Psychiatric Nursing program can prepare you for this career in just 120 weeks! Click here to learn more!
