We Are IH: Clinical educator enjoys teaching next gen of nurses

Ian joined Interior Health in 2012 as a critical care nurse on the high acuity response team (HART) at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.

In 2014, Ian was hired as an advanced critical care nursing (ACCN) instructor in Trail through Mount Royal University. A year later, he also joined the faculty at Selkirk College as a nursing instructor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

He remained a casual employee at IH in the emergency room and intensive care unit, and in the HART program at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. “I enjoy teaching the next generation of nurses, and felt it was important to be current with my nursing knowledge and skills to teach,” says Ian.

His passion for teaching eventually led Ian to join the Professional Practice Office (PPO) in 2022 as a regional knowledge coordinator. In his role, he focused on designing and implementing the curriculum for the regional emergency department education program (REDEP).

One of his proudest moments at IH was seeing the program accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). Not only is REDEP the only adult emergency room training program accredited by the CNA, it’s the first for a health authority.

“Working with PPO leadership to get the REDEP program accredited, and seeing this effort snowball into other specialty education programs, has been amazing,” says Ian.

In 2023, Ian was recognized for his efforts and promoted to manager, Clinical Education.

“In my new role, I endeavour to create a safe work environment where members of the new graduate educator team can thrive, and bring their creativity to the program to deliver quality education to the next generation of nurses,” he says.

Outside of work, this husband and father enjoys mountain biking, skiing, climbing and mountaineering – pretty much anything that gets him out in the mountains with his friends and family. His adventures once brought him face-to-face with a grizzly bear.

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