As many Canadians take time this week to celebrate Nurses Week, one Barrie RN is being recognized as being among the best in her field.
Amanda MacDonald, a registered nurse with the Hudson Regional Cancer Program (North Simcoe Muskoka), has been named as the recipient of the Nursing Now Ontario Award (NNOA). The award celebrates nurses for their contributions to the profession and health outcomes of Ontarians.
MacDonald, who has worked at the Barrie-based cancer centre for the last decade — she helps patients navigate through the system and ensures they have the right supports at the right time — admitted she had no idea she’d even been nominated for the award.
In fact, when she first received the news she’d been selected via email, she assumed it was junk mail.
“They didn’t tell me just in case I didn’t win. When I got the email at first I thought it was junk because you see in the title ‘Congratulations, you’ve won!’ ... and then I saw it was from Doris Grinspun, chief executive officer of Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), so I figured I should probably read (it)," MacDonald said. "Then I Googled the award because I had never heard of it.”
When she learned she’d not only been nominated by her colleagues but had been selected out of the more than 160 nominees, MacDonald said she was shocked.
“It was extremely thrilling. Going from not knowing you’re even nominated to knowing that you’ve won … it's definitely a win for the cancer centre here.”
Dr. Sara Rask and Dr. Jason Yu, medical oncologists at the local cancer centre, nominated MacDonald for the honour.
“Amanda is a rare mix of intellect, empathy and unwavering sense of purpose,” Yu said in a news release. “She has an uncanny knack for knowing what patients need and when they need it. Day in and day out, she continues to be of tireless service to patients and colleagues alike.”
Not only does MacDonald excel in patient care, but she's also an advocate for change and demonstrates early adoption of new practices in the clinic, added Rask.
“Amanda is a champion for evidence-based practice and change management, traits which are essential in today’s health-care environment," Rask said. "Her mentorship fosters excellence in local nursing practice, benefiting patients and the entire program.”
Her empathy, professionalism and advocacy have made a significant difference in the healing journey for her patients, added Dana Naylor, vice-president clinical and regional vice-president of Cancer Services for Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).
“She is committed to understanding their unique needs and provides exceptional care, and unwavering support during their journey with cancer. Her kindness has left a lasting impression on her patients, and they will always remember the positive impact she had on their life,” Naylor stated.
“What exciting news to celebrate as we prepare for National Nursing Week, to recognize, on a provincial level, a member of Team RVH,” added Leanne Weeks, vice-president of clinical and chief nursing executive at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH). “Amanda’s dedication, compassion, and outstanding care in oncology nursing has not gone unnoticed and this award is truly well-deserved. Her commitment to her patients and her profession is an inspiration to us all.”
MacDonald said knowing that her colleagues value her and the work she does enough to take the time to nominate her for the award means a lot.
“I just look at it that I am coming in to do my job. To get recognized that people see it as more than that is pretty nice. It fills my cup,” she said. “It speaks to the program we are growing in Barrie. We always say we want to bring cancer care closer to home, which we have certainly been doing. With oncology nursing, you want to do the best … (and this shows) you can go to a cancer centre that isn’t in Toronto and still get recognized.”
The local program has grown significantly since opening the doors in 2012, MacDonald said.
“We have outgrown the building. We keep on offering more programs, recruit more and more physicians and of course the extra supports that goes with it," she said. "It’s really amazing to see where we were 10 years ago and where we are now ... and where we continue to go. I can’t wait to see where we are going to go over the next five, 10 and 20 years.
“We are going to continue to be able to offer these programs a lot closer and save patients, who sometimes don’t have much life left, but it saves them days of their lives not having to travel to and from Toronto when they can go into their backyard (and) come to us," MacDonald added.
Although she loves what she does for a living, nursing wasn’t the career path she’d initially envisioned for herself, she said, noting she initially planned on being a pharmacist.
“I went and did a double major in biochemistry and biology first, but then I decided that would be too boring for me. My dad said I had the qualities to be a good nurse, so I went with it,” she said.
And oncology wasn’t her first option, either.
“I had wanted to work in either emerg or the ICU (intensive care unit), because I wanted that fast pace, but those placements are always hard to get," said MacDonald.
Now, more than 12 years into her nursing career, MacDonald says she wouldn’t change a thing, and credits an instructor she worked with in Orangeville for giving her a true appreciation for oncology.
After her training, MacDonald opted to change departments, but said after a year working as a float nurse at RVH, she realized she missed working in oncology.
“I love educating myself and cancer care is constantly changing. You have to keep up with the times so that your patients get the best care," she said. "I love that you have to continually educate yourself and stay on top of everything. It’s just so rapidly changing."
This is where she intends to spend the rest of her career.
Nursing in general is a high-pressure career, MacDonald acknowledged, and although it comes with many victories, not every case ends so positively, which is why keeping a positive outlook on life is key.
“I think you have to laugh instead of cry. We learned that during the pandemic, that’s for sure," she said. "I keep myself busy with my kids. They’re my pride and joy, so certainly that helps me to decompress and I try to focus on a work-life balance."
MacDonald will officially be honoured during Nursing Week at a virtual ceremony, scheduled for Friday, May 10.
