Christine Verner (Excellence in Mentorship)

Christine Verner came to the nursing profession as a mature LPN, working on the inpatient surgical unit at the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.

“Chrissy has professional and leadership qualities that other LPN staff on her unit have commented on,” said Cynthia Russell, RN and Manager of Surgical Services at South Shore Regional. “Her knowledge in surgical pre and post-operative care is well known to staff and physicians alike. She is willing to share her knowledge with everyone.”

One group who has benefited from her wealth of experience is those just starting their career in the profession. “Chrissy has been a leader for the newer nurses,” said Cynthia. “She has mentored the LPN students from our Community College in a supportive and confident manner.”

Chrissy’s work has seen tangible results for the hospital and its patients. As a preceptor (or instructor) of students, Chrissy’s knowledge of the surgical unit has translated to the hiring of 10 new casual LPNs in the last year. The hidden benefit of Chrissy’s leadership was that these new recruits, who came directly from school, needed little or no direction in making the transition from student to staff. This not only helped the new LPNs themselves, but all other members of the surgical staff as well.

Another major milestone for Chrissy was her work on the task force on MRSA, a strain of Staphylococcus aureus which is resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics. Chrissy’s role on the task force was to assist other staff in teaching new and more experienced staff members the proper techniques to combat MRSA. She also developed the unit’s protocol for MRSA treatment in a multi-disciplinary committee and taught the entire staff the how, what and where of this treatment.

Clearly, Chrissy is innovative and progressive in her work. But Cynthia cites her patience, experience and positive attitude as the icing on the cake. “She arrives at work with a smile for all,” she said. “Family, patients and other disciplines respond well to her friendly manner and are the real beneficiaries of her commitment to excellence.”

It’s clear that the LPN profession has changed with the times and demands of the population and the health system overall. “Truly, they are nurturing much more than patients,” said Ann. “They are nurturing innovation, providing leadership, and helping the future growth of the profession for the good of all Nova Scotians.”

PICTURE: (L-R) Cynthia Russell, RN and Manager, Surgical Services at South Shore Regional Hospital and Christine Verner, LPN

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