Recognition Awards

CATHY ROBERTS, BSN, MSN, CCN(C)

Letter of Nomination

It is with great enthusiasm and pleasure that I write to you today leading the move to nominate Cathy Roberts for this esteemed award.

I have known Cathy personally and professionally for over twenty years. I initially worked with her in Cardiac Surgery at Vancouver General Hospital as she launched her career in cardiovascular nursing. Five years ago, she relocated to Kelowna and we are again colleagues as educators at Kelowna General Hospital. I am proud and privileged to be able bear witness to a nurse who has reached untold heights of excellence in her career with an absolute certainty of more to come.

My purpose here is to provide you with testament that she unequivocally exceeds the selection criteria. In all aspects of her professional life, Cathy literally lives and breathes passion for cardiovascular nursing and her desire to make a difference for the patients/staff under her leadership.

She has been a frontline staff member, an educator of students/staff and an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in Cardiac Surgery. At every turn, she has positioned herself on key committees working together with the multidisciplinary team for the betterment of cardiac care. For many years, she has held the position of "Research Chair" for the B.C/Yukon Chapter of the CCCN and has diligently worked to expand CCCN membership within Interior Health. She was actively involved with the former Kelowna RNABC Chapter and continues to advise the CRNBC regarding the newly created Nurse Practitioner role in B.C.

Continuing competence is an integral part of her professional life as she consistently attends CCS meetings, educational events, and keeps her fingers on the pulse of the latest state of the art research studies/guidelines related to her field. She is a well respected expert in the eyes of her colleagues. As I connected with those who have worked with her throughout her career, I was overwhelmed by their enthusiastic response with letters of support for this nomination.

She is an invaluable member of the regional "Community of Practice for Cardiac Care". An outspoken advocate for the lobby to bring PCTA and Cardiac Surgery to Interior Health, she has demonstrated her visionary qualities by raising our awareness that we should be standing up to say we deserve to match the standard of care that exists across the rest of Canada.

She recently presented about "Acute Coronary Syndrome" at our "5th Annual Cardiac Nurses Workshop" held on February 9th 2007. She eloquently and perfectly presented in a style that can only be described as symphony in motion. She wove an educational tapestry skilfully linking the state of the art evidence to dynamic case studies. Interjecting humour, she brought the concept of evidence based practice to life reminding us about practical lifestyle tips and nursing care. As I sat there, mesmerized, I thought to myself here is a nurse who always puts 400% into all that she does. As always, her passion and dedication about cardiovascular nursing shone brightly. An evaluation received that day summed it up so well:

"Cathy Roberts is a little stick of dynamite! I leave today reenergized and excited about cardiac nursing."

When she became the "Clinical Nurse Educator" of the S/CCU she rose to the challenge of resurrecting a unit with low staff morale that was sorely in need of solid leadership. Using her incredible communication skills, she has rejuvenated the unit to be a place where staff are now motivated to deliver quality patient care feeling secure and supported under her watchful eyes. Many of her former UBCO students have sought employment on her unit because of their desire to continue to learn more from her and to be in the shadow of an excellent role model.

Cathy has designed a critically acclaimed educational program to orientate staff to her unit. She worked tirelessly, well beyond her normal working hours, to craft it to meet her incredibly high standards. Her rich background and skills as an educator are clearly evident as she delivers education using a variety of means/media designed to appeal to all learning styles.

The time has come to formally recognize and honour this individual's unforgettable significant lifetime contribution as an exemplary leader in cardiovascular nursing. Without a doubt, Cathy will continue to be a driving force within our health authority as we continue our quest for excellence in cardiac care. I request your kind consideration of this outstanding nominee for this award.

Sincerely,

Janice L. Watt, RN, BScN, UBC Master in Nursing Candidate, CCCN Member

Nominators: Janice Watt, Candace Dowhaniuk, Lori Sauer, Crystal White, Pat Peyton, Donna Mendel, Jocelyn Cooper, Frances Krawiec, Cindy Crane, Deb McCullough, Jocelyn Reimer-Kent