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Maria is a Registered Nurse (RN) at Etobicoke General Hospital. There, she works in the Respirology unit in Osler’s General Medicine program, where she and her team care for patients with serious respiratory conditions.
New country, new opportunities
Maria is originally from the Philippines, where she first began her nursing career. In 2002, she and her husband made the decision to immigrate to the Greater Toronto Area. During her first few years in Canada, she worked as a caregiver to seniors in the community while she completed further education to fulfil her dream of being a nurse.
After completing her Ontario nursing registration in 2008, Maria joined the Respirology unit at Osler and has been there ever since. “At first, I was nervous as I had not worked in a hospital setting since coming to Canada, but my manager and the rest of my team were so welcoming and supportive. I leaned heavily on our unit’s Resource Nurse and Clinical Educator to guide me in those early days. They provided me with hands-on training and encouraged me to observe and ask a lot of questions. This really helped to develop my confidence as an RN. And now, as one of the most experienced RNs on the unit, I have the opportunity to provide mentorship and preceptorship to new team members, students and recent nursing graduates. It’s come full circle!”
Taking care of the team
The strong value of teamwork is what has kept Maria dedicated to the Respirology unit for 14 years, and what will keep her working there for the foreseeable future. “Our unit is structured into different groups, and those groups all work the same shift schedule. This allows us to bond very closely as we’re always working together. We call it our ‘line’. My line is amazing and so supportive. We’re regularly checking in with each other, asking ‘how are you feeling today?’, or ‘how can I help you right now?’ Whether it’s a small gesture like bringing back a coffee for a colleague, or something more impactful like taking their patient’s vitals or blood sugars, we’ve got that reciprocal support at play. I know that I will always get support when I need it, so I make sure to be there for others whenever I can.”
Always learning, always growing
If Maria had to pick one aspect of her unit to call her favourite, it would be the opportunity to grow her skillset with each shift. “Every day, I feel I’ve learned something new. There’s always a different diagnosis and a varied treatment plan for patients. For a new nurse, it’s a great place to begin your career. You are exposed to every type of patient possible. We receive patients from all departments in the hospital in need of respiratory support, from pregnant women, to mental health patients and even cardiac patients. It’s very diverse and no two days are the same.”
Careers that go beyond
Maria embodies Osler’s promise of Going Beyond by providing more than just clinical care – the emotional care is just as important. “Of course, we treat adult patients of all ages, but the majority of them are more senior. I really enjoy caring for senior patients, and feel it’s a privilege to do. It’s also what I became accustomed to when I worked as a caregiver in my early years in Canada. My mother passed away two years ago. She was back in the Philippines, and I unfortunately could not be there with her all of the time to care for her. So now, when I care for senior patients, I have even more compassion and empathy to share. I know that I am taking care of someone’s mother, father or parental figure and I take that responsibility very seriously.”
Are you ready to join Maria?
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 General Medicine program at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General.
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