Joshua builds connections with his hemodialysis patients

For the last two years, Joshua has worked at Brampton Civic Hospital as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Hemodialysis Clinic. There, he and his team provide ongoing monitoring, treatment and support for kidney care patients across Peel Region.

Joshua joined Osler as a new graduate at an interesting time – the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic – in April 2020. “Starting a new job is always challenging, but it was particularly difficult at that time. I was trying to get a feel for my new environment and learn new skills, but there were many other pressures at play.”

The value of mentorship

Fortunately, Joshua had lots of support during this uncertain time. “When I joined the Osler team I was fortunate to shadow one of the senior dialysis RNs, Philomena. She was patient, compassionate and nurturing, and really inspired me to be the best nurse I can. Learning from your senior nurses gives you that confidence needed to do your job. You look at them and think, ‘if they’ve made it this far, so can I’. It inspires a mentality in which you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Therapeutic patient relationships

Building genuine connections with patients is one of Joshua’s favourite aspects of nursing. “I love having the opportunity to develop a therapeutic relationship with patients that come in for dialysis on regular basis. It completely transforms my daily work experience. Of course, first and foremost the focus is on providing vital treatment to our patients. But we end up treating many of them for years, so it’s inevitable that we grow to know each other more personally, and look forward to catching up while we treat them. It enables us to develop a trusting relationship, which is so important in health care. There’s no barrier between the nurses and the patients. We're all here, working together, to better their health.”

A nurse’s rite of passage

Joshua will always remember his first 24-hour on-call shift. “It was on Christmas Day 2020, and I was called in to start dialysis on a patient with COVID. It was the first time I would be taking the dialysis machine up to an inpatient unit and administering the treatment entirely by myself. I can remember feeling scared and nervous, but I had to remind myself that I was fully capable of doing this and the nerves were something that I needed to push past. Going to the Respirology unit, setting up the equipment, reviewing the bloodwork and prepping the patient for treatment – all while maintaining COVID-19 precautions – was a really heightened experience. But as I reflected back on everything afterwards, it felt like a rite of passage for a new dialysis nurse.”

Careers that go beyond

Even before starting nursing school, Joshua wanted to work at Osler. “In high school, I knew I wanted to help people and was interested in health care. Osler, specifically, piqued my interest as I grew up here in Brampton, and have known and been inspired by many family and friends working at Brampton Civic over the years. I actually did a few student placements with Osler in the Orthopedic, Respirology and Neurology units. With each placement, I got a glimpse of what life at Osler is like. Getting to meet many incredible nurses and experience the workplace culture further solidified that this was the team I wanted to join.”

Are you ready to join Joshua?

Come join our diverse team of Osler Strong professionals! We’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment, providing best-in-class care and opportunities for education and advancement in various specialties.

Apply today to exciting roles in our Renal program at Brampton Civic, Etobicoke General and Peel Memorial.