Bev is the project site lead for the CIUSSS de l鈥橭uest-de-l'脦le-de-Montr茅al. Our Project Administrator Anna Adjemian spoke with her about her path to nurse leadership, her involvement in the project, and her perspective on the potential of the Strengths-Based approach to empower nurses to lead transformation in the healthcare system.
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Anna Adjemian: Please give us a short background/summary of who you are and what you do professionally.
Beverley-Tracey John: At the age of 19, I started my career at St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital Center. I worked as a frontline nurse in various specialities (orthopedics, general surgery, general medicine and cardiology) honing my craft. 15 years later, after returning to school to obtain my undergrad degree in nursing sciences, I decided to try my hand at management. My first role as nurse manager was on a stroke unit, a challenging and wonderful initiation to the art of management. After many years with the same organization, whilst completing my graduate degree, I decided to spread my wings and leave the place I considered home. In 2006, I had the privilege of joining the team at Mt. Sinai Hospital, as Program Coordinator of the Respiratory Rehabilitation Program. 2009 would begin my career in the West Island of Montreal. I became program manager of the geriatric program at the Lakeshore General Hospital which was part of the CSSS Ouest de l鈥櫭巐e.
In 2015 the CIUSSS Ouest de l鈥櫭巐e de Montr茅al (ODIM) was born. Shortly thereafter, I occupied my first senior management role as Associate Director of Nursing. Three years later, I was appointed Director of Nursing for the organization. My tenure as DSI (Directrice des soins infirmiers /Director of Nursing) has offered many opportunities for growth and new partnerships with organizations leading and influencing the nursing profession. This year, I became a part-time faculty member at 捆绑SM社区, and had the great honour to be chosen for induction to the class of 2021 as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. Wonderful highlights in my career of over 30 years, during the most tumultuous time in healthcare.
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Why did you get involved with this project?
I became involved with the project a little over 3 years ago, when I took over as interim DSI. A partnership was forged with the CIUSSS and 捆绑SM社区, and I was asked to collaborate in the implementation phase of the SBNH project. It wasn鈥檛 long before I fell in love with the whole notion of SBNH and the vision that Dr. Gottlieb was putting forth.
It was a feeling deep within, that going forward, this was the next step needed to 鈥渞e-engineer鈥� and transform the nursing profession 鈥� capitalizing on individual strengths and talents whilst encouraging growth and collective intelligence. With a healthcare system heavily reliant on a problem-focused approach to care (which has its merits), SBNH allows room for the individual to participate in his care delivery and his healing, based on his specific needs and strengths. It is the missing piece of the puzzle allowing nurses to exercise all scopes of their practice.
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What does SBNH mean to you?
Globally it means Hope. It anchors us into something that we can use to help build and develop our future leaders. The pandemic highlighted the fragility of the health care system, and exposed the nursing crisis that had been (not so) silently growing for years. The fatigue and hopelessness of our professionals has been felt and prompted much reflection. How do we get past this? Where do we go from here?
SBNH offers a change in perspective. It forces a shy-away from traditional problem-focused paradigms to one that is Strengths-Based. It is a retraining of the brain of sorts. It encourages team collaboration, communication and human connections. We are in precarious times in health, so a change in action is required. SBNH is the beginning听of a much-needed conversation.
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What does this project mean to you/what do you hope to see come out of your work on this project?
I hope that others feel inspired the way that I did, when first introduced to SBNH. I would like to see a foundation on which good practices can be built. The next generation of nurses will need to be resilient and transformative. A community of Strengths-Based influencers will be key to help redefine how we as professionals deliver care.
I am hoping that the clinicians who have raised their hands to participate in this project feel empowered, and come away with tools that will help develop their leadership, and create fertile ground for Strengths-Based environments to emerge. This project will demonstrate the direct and positive impact that SBNH can have on the healthcare continuum.听Nursing must lead healthcare into its next chapter. SBNH will help us tell the story.