Recognition Awards

LORYLE "LAURIE" CENDER, RN, MSN

Letter of Nomination

Laurie Cender is a true leader in the field of Congenital Cardiovascular Nursing. She has worked with children and youth affected by Congenital or Acquired Heart Disease since 1989, and has been a Clinical Nurse Specialist at BC Children's Hospital since 1995. Laurie has been both a leader and a mentor to her colleagues at BC Children's Hospital, across the country and around the world. Her vision and understanding of the full scope of the Congenital Cardiovascular population has resulted in some of the most innovative programs in Canada.

Her list of research projects, publications and presentations illustrate but a fraction of the vision and leadership Laurie provides to the field of Congenital Cardiovascular Nursing, from antenatal counselling to transitioning to adult care.

In 1995, Laurie worked with Cardiologists, ECHO technologists and community partners to create a Provincial Partnership Program within British Columbia, delivering cardiac care to children and families in their own communities, and supporting education for professionals around the province. This program has grown to provide care to over 600 children annually.

In 1998, Laurie and Gwen Rempel wrote "Knowing but Not Knowing: Finding out about your baby's heart problem before your baby is born." This booklet is a guide for parents navigating the stressful process of antenatal diagnosis, and has now been shared with and adapted by programs across Canada, New Zealand and the U.K. Her antenatal work continues to develop the role of the CNS in supporting families anticipating the birth of a child with CHD.

Laurie's vision and leadership helped develop the Growing up with Heart Disease Conference series in conjunction with the Children's Heart Network provincial parent group. The first collaborative conference for parents and professional, organized by parents and professionals was held in 1997. The 6th biennial conference recently held in May 2007, was attended by over 200 delegated from across Western Canada.

In 2000, Laurie formed a multidisciplinary team at BC Children's Hospital and was the creative and driving force behind Heart and Soul: your guide to Living with Congenital Heart Disease, a resource published by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and used by families and professionals across Canada since 2004. A comprehensive, innovative resource, this book addresses issues such as coping with stress, giving medications to children, navigating the health care system and has a chapter just for teens. Laurie's leadership kept the team focused through the many ups and downs of getting a national resource published.

Laurie's vision for Transition of Youth to Adult care resulted in the creation of a formal Transition Program between BC Children's Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital's PACH Clinic, optimizing youth and family education and preparation. Many of the resources developed for this program have been adapted by other programs across the country.

Laurie's research work has included antenatal diagnosis of CHD, peri-operative feeding and nutrition needs of infants undergoing cardiac surgery, effectiveness of an RSV immune-prophylaxis program for children with CHD, and the impact of organizational characteristics patient outcomes and patient/parent/healthcare professional satisfaction.

She is currently a mentor in a Sigma Theta Tau Leadership Academy project developing inter-professional evidence-based clinical guidelines related to the feeding and nutritional needs of infants undergoing cardiac surgery.

In 2006, Laurie pulled together a multidisciplinary team at BC Children's Hospital to develop guidelines for the management of children with 22q11 Microdeletion sequence (DiGeorge Syndrome). Presenting nationally and internationally, Laurie has given new hope to families living with this syndrome by educating professionals on the importance of a collaborative approach to care.

Laurie's leadership skills have also been evidenced by her work with the nursing staff in the Cardiac Care Unit at Fudan Medical Centre in Shanghai, China, where she has been supporting and mentoring their team through their first research study investigating Family Centred Care in the PICU, and helping them prepare for presentation and publication.

A strong advocate for Evidence-based practice, Laurie has recently been part of a team choosing a model for integrating evidence into practice at our institution.

Laurie's expectation of clinical excellence provides an excellent role model for new nurses. Her ability to teach and foster expert clinical assessment and care has given many nurses the skills and confidence they need to provide superb care, and has won her an "Education Award of Excellence" at BCCH in 2006.

Recently, awarded a Family Centred Care Award by the Children's Hospital Partners in Care Committee, Laurie's nomination included the following from a parent of a child with a complex cardiac condition living in a remote community. "Laurie became our link to the cardiologists.I realized I could call Laurie with any questions and she would get right back to me- she was always there.[she] has given me strength I did not know I had, listened to me cry when I was scared and laughed with me about all the fun stuff we have to deal with. I do not know what I would have done without her."

Laurie's passion for excellence is infectious, and she encourages everyone who works with her to expect nothing less. Her vision for "what could be" in the world of Congenital Cardiovascular Nursing has changed the lives of children and families living with Congenital Heart Disease, and encouraged her colleagues to aim higher in everything they do.

We fully support the nomination of Laurie Cender for the Baxter Award of Excellence for Leadership in Cardiovascular Nursing.

Nominators: Mary Spencer, Lynn Coolen, Mandy Johnson, Pam Tram