Debra Wilson
Calgary,AB
Summary
Experienced, motivated, and creative Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) with a strong commitment to providing excellent patient care through support and empowerment of frontline staff. Thrives in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary collaborative environment. Recognized for exceptional technical and communication skills, leadership abilities, and genuine rapport with staff, patients, and families. Holds a Master of Nursing degree with a specialization in education since 2009. Proficient in teaching and learning theory, with extensive experience instructing in clinical settings, skills labs, and classrooms for both professional staff and RN students. Trusted for informal leadership contributions to site and zone initiatives.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Nurse Educator
Unit 36 Foothills Medical Centre
05.2011 - Current
- Responsible for planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of educational activities for RNs and HCAs, including orientation, compulsory educational programs, clinical development and continuing education
- Uses adult learning principles to adapt teaching methods according to individual learner needs, maximizing comprehension and retention of material presented.
- Delivers educational content spanning legislation/accreditation, continued competency development, quality and safety improvement, strategic planning and objectives related to organizational and operational needs (e.g COACT, Connect Care)
- Acts as a resource for staff when clinical practice and judgement questions arise; mentors budding leadership
- Site and Zone CNE responsibilities include developing, revising, and delivering content for Central Venous Access Day; leadership role in development of FMC Skills Day, mentoring of new CNEs in the medical portfolio
- Temporarily covered duties of Clinical Nurse Educator Coordinator for several months in 2023 while this role was not filled. This involved liaising with CNEs and site executives to coordinate zonal CNE work.
- Excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills.
Clinical Nurse Educator
Unit 72 Foothills Medical Centre
11.2010 - 05.2011
- Conducted formal and informal assessments to identify learning needs of RNs, LPNs & NAs on Unit 72
- Devised, implemented and evaluated educational strategies to meet identified educational needs of staff
- Acted as a resource for staff when clinical practice and judgement questions arose
- Mentored budding leadership on Unit 72
- Participated in regional CNE responsibilities.
Staff Nurse
Unit 36 Foothills Medical Centre
05.2000 - 05.2011
- Provided safe, competent and ethical care to adult patients on acute medical unit in teaching hospital
- Educated patients and families about diagnostic procedures and treatments
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare team to ensure holistic care
- Orientated new staff to unit and care.
Graduate Assistantship (Teaching)
University of Calgary
09.2008 - 12.2008
- Assisted course professors in their teaching load
- Graded a series of first year student essays on nursing professionalism
- Administered, graded, and did follow-up question and answer periods for second year Adult Health midterm and final exams.
Clinical Instructor
University of Calgary
05.2007 - 06.2007
- Directed and supported students in meeting course aims
- Provided constructive feedback in written and oral forms to students, tailored to their individual performance.
- Identified and addressed learning gaps for individual students, developing learning contracts as needed.
- Supported independent learning through the encouragement of appropriate priority-setting, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision making
- Provided hands-on support to enhance learning of psychomotor skills in both clinical and laboratory environments
- Collaborated with course coordinator and faculty to optimize learning outcomes for students.
Clinical Instructor
Mount Royal College
01.2006 - 04.2007
- Directed students towards the successful accomplishment of course aims for multiple clinical courses, encompassing laboratory teaching periods.
Clinical Instructor
University of Calgary
- 12.2005
- Guided students through meeting course aims of N406 and N302
- Gave appropriate written and oral constructive feedback throughout the course, based on individual student performance
- Identified gaps in learning for individual students and addressed these through the development of learning contracts if necessary
- Promoted independent learning by encouraging appropriate priority-setting, critical thinking and evidence-based decision making
- Provided guidance and hands-on help with learning psychomotor skills, both in clinical setting and in lab
- Collaborated with course coordinator and other faculty to optimize learning outcomes for students.
Travel Staff Nurse
Valley Medical Center
08.2003 - 12.2003
- Worked as float RN between acute care medical unit and post-surgical unit.
Travel Staff Nurse
Presbyterian Medical Center
09.2002 - 12.2002
- Provided nursing care to adult patients on a 30-bed medical unit.
Travel Staff Nurse
Vanderbilt University Hospital
04.2002 - 07.2002
- Worked as Travel RN with pediatric clients on pediatric medical unit.
Travel Staff Nurse
Vanderbilt University Hospital
09.2001 - 03.2002
- Travel RN on adult myelosuppression unit
Education
MN, Nursing Education -
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB05.2009
BN -
University of Lethbridge/ Medicine Hat College
05.2000
Skills
- Staff Development
- Clinical expertise
- Mentoring proficiency
- Problem-Solving
- Multitasking
- Quality Improvement
- Decision-Making
- Self Motivation
- Interprofessional Collaboration
- Excellent Communication
- Professionalism
Awards
- University of Calgary Faculty of Nursing Alumni Scholarship, September 2007 & September 2008
- University of Lethbridge Gold Medal for Highest Academic standing in College of Health Sciences, 2000
- Nominated by faculty for Student of the Year 1999 at Medicine Hat College
- 4-time recipient of the Doctor Stewart Holmes Scholarship at Eston, Saskatchewan
Timeline
Clinical Nurse Educator
Unit 36 Foothills Medical Centre
05.2011 - Current
Clinical Nurse Educator
Unit 72 Foothills Medical Centre
11.2010 - 05.2011
Graduate Assistantship (Teaching)
University of Calgary
09.2008 - 12.2008
Clinical Instructor
University of Calgary
05.2007 - 06.2007
Clinical Instructor
Mount Royal College
01.2006 - 04.2007
Travel Staff Nurse
Valley Medical Center
08.2003 - 12.2003
Travel Staff Nurse
Presbyterian Medical Center
09.2002 - 12.2002
Travel Staff Nurse
Vanderbilt University Hospital
04.2002 - 07.2002
Travel Staff Nurse
Vanderbilt University Hospital
09.2001 - 03.2002
Staff Nurse
Unit 36 Foothills Medical Centre
05.2000 - 05.2011
Clinical Instructor
University of Calgary
- 12.2005
MN, Nursing Education -
University of Calgary
BN -
University of Lethbridge/ Medicine Hat College
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