This is something a bit out of the norm from my usual style. I was asked to write a column about B.C.'s new Chief Nurse for working.com, and since part of the purpose of this blog is to gather my stuff in one place - in it goes.
British Columbia’s new Chief Nurse Executive is ready to tackle the challenge of leading the province’s largest group of health professionals. After only a few short weeks on the job, Paula Bond has already helped negotiate new tentative bargaining agreements for nurses, learned the ins and outs of the Ministry of Health and visited hospitals on the Island, the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, the Interior and the North.
“Meeting as many of British Columbia’s nurses as I can is a huge priority for me,” says Bond. “I want to see their practice environments, hear their issues and celebrate their achievements.”
Bond began her nursing career as a student in her hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland. While her love for her hometown has never waned, Bond recognized the opportunities nursing could grant her to explore the world and share her passion for people and health care. Since graduation, Bond has taken her practice and skills to such diverse locations as England, New Zealand, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. During a stint in Saudi Arabia, Bond helped lead the commissioning of the new King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On completion of this project she headed to South Australia where she completed her Masters in Nursing at Flinders University.
“No matter where you travel and work in the world, the challenges and opportunities remain the same,” says Bond. “But if you go into new situations with an open mind, you discover endless opportunities to meet new people, develop new relationships and learn valuable skills and lessons that are transferable anywhere.”
Having completed successful tenure as a staff nurse, middle manager and director in hospitals around the world, Bond accepted the position of Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Windsor Regional Hospital in Southern Ontario. While at WRH, she was the clinical lead for a major integrated restructuring program.
“I don’t want to hear that something can’t be done,” says Bond, “I want to hear how we are going to do it.”
In September 2005, Bond began to wonder where her skills and experience should take her next. British Columbia was looking for a new Assistant Deputy Minister of Clinical Innovation and Integration and Chief Nurse Executive and on February 6, 2006 Bond accepted the appointment. She will lead major initiatives to ensure high quality, evidence based and patient centered care leading to improved health and wellness for British Columbians through an affordable, multi disciplinary health services structure.
“I came here because I believe this province has one of the most progressive, stable health systems in the country and possibly even the world,” says Bond. “And, after many years of practice, I was ready to explore a new side of the health system.”
“As well, Deputy Minister Penny Ballem is a well-known visionary whose ideas are challenging the status quo of health systems across the country in a very positive way. I wanted to be part of what is happening right here in B.C.”
Always willing to share her experience, expertise and vision, Bond has spoken about clinical based nursing research to audiences throughout the world. “I am passionate about increasing the profile of health care and health care professionals in British Columbia. Our nurses are doing a fabulous job of providing quality care in a changing environment, and I hope to be part of getting that incredible story out.”
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