NUMBER OF BURSARIES AWARDED IN 2022

276

TOTAL BURSARIES AWARDED SINCE 2012

1819

ANNUAL BURSARY
GOAL

$200,000

We are grateful to the RNFBC members, friends and board of the Foundation who have successfully built a substantial endowment fund. Revenue from the investments is difficult to predict in the current economic climate. Nevertheless, the Foundation has established a goal of providing at least $200,000 in bursaries each year to help support BC’s nurses and nursing students in their nursing education.

ABOUT THE RNFBC

The Registered Nurses Foundation of BC helps address some of the financial costs associated with nursing education for nurses and nursing students through the provision of bursaries. In doing so, we help alleviate some of the pressures on these nurses and the health care system and in these challenging times, this is increasingly important.

The demand for nurses is rising. Currently, on any given day in BC there are at least 1,000 nursing vacancies. These shortages mean the needed care that requires nursing support – such as surgical procedures, homecare, and mental health care services – get delayed or postponed.

With the aging of both the population and of nurses themselves, more new nurses will be needed to fill this gap as a person’s health care needs generally increase with age and as nurses reach retirement age.

The need to help educate new nurses and provide a higher level of education for current nurses has arguably never been greater.

We support both entry-level (undergrad) education and advanced degrees such as Masters and PhD level programs focused on preparing practicing nurses for advanced roles like nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists; educators; and researchers.

We also support programs of education approved by RNFBC Board of Directors or Bursary Committee that advances professional nursing practice (e.g. health education, public health, community nursing, informatics, administration, health care leadership, and research).

All Nursing Programs in BC have wait lists. Unfortunately, their ability to increase enrollment is compromised by under-funding and a growing shortage of nurse educators. We sincerely hope that our work in small part is helping to alleviate that shortage.

ADVANCING NURSING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EDUCATION

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OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD

For over 40 years, the Registered Nurses Foundation of BC has come to rely on the passion and expertise of our board. This year is no exception! Although from different backgrounds within the nursing community, whether working at present or retired, the common thread our volunteer board members have is their dedication to all the Foundation can offer the Registered Nurses of BC in their pursuit of educational nursing excellence.

Employment: Independent Health Care Consultant
Former Life: Executive Director, Clinical Education & Management Development, Vancouver Coastal Health

Pat is an RN (non-practicing) and an Independent Health Care Consultant. She has wide experience in all levels and fields of practice, including senior administration, leadership and education. Before her retirement she was the executive Director of Clinical, Education and Management Development at Vancouver Costal Health. She is also very connected to a wide network of nurses and leaders. As a member of RNFBC Pat was first involved as a member of the Bursary Committee, then as an appointment Director to fill a vacancy on the Board. She too has been very involved on the Transition Committee and her skills and experience were pivotal in process of transition. Pat was elected to the Board.

Employment: Retired
Former Life: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).

Diane is a retired Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA). Her education also includes a Master of Public Administration (MPA), and C. DIr. designation from The Directors College. Highlights of her professional career include Vice President Finance and Administration at Northwest Community College in BC and at Red River College in Manitoba; Secretary Treasurer of the Sunshine Coast School District; and CAO for the Village of Hazelton. Diane has served on several boards, most recently as a member and finance chair of the Greater Vancouver Community Services Society.

Cathy (she/her) is a Regional Clinical Educator with Professional Practice (Nursing) at Vancouver Coastal Health, located on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. After many years as a ‘float’ nurse at Vancouver General Hospital, Cathy discovered her love for community nursing, and has spent the majority of her career working in multiple capacities within Community Health. In her current role, Cathy works closely with Practice Leads and Clinical Educators across community-based programs to design and lead education for new initiatives, optimize scope at the unit level, and support new educators in their practice. She received a VCH ‘People First’ award for Excellence in Innovation, and approaches new projects and challenges with curiosity and openness to improvement opportunities. She holds a Masters in Education, and is a proud graduate of the VGH School of Nursing. As a grateful recipient of an RNFBC award, Cathy appreciates the opportunity to contribute to RNFBC as a Board member.

Employment: MSN Retired
Former Life: Professor BCIT and UBC, Vice President Coastal Community of Care

Karin Olson is a registered nurse with over 40 years of broad health care experience in clinical operations, nursing education delivery, health informatics and executive leadership. In addition to her various leadership roles and teaching positions at BCIT and UBC, she has held VP positions in Ontario and BC across complex geographical systems. Karin is recognised as an expert in working with government, community, education and business innovation partners. She has a proven record of results-oriented leadership, achievements in improving patient care and business outcomes through strategic thinking, multi-governance collaboration and relationship building.

Karin holds an Executive MBA from the Sauder School of Business along with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of British Columbia. She is also a graduate of the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council Academy, and a certified Canadian College of Health Service Executive.

Current: Chair of Providence Living Society, Director for Mothers Matter Centre and on an advisory committee for Royal Roads University.
Former Life: CEO of Providence Health Care

Dianne is a results-oriented health leader with over 30 years senior executive experience predominantly within an academic health science centre. She served as CEO of Providence Health Care, one of Canada’s largest Catholic Health Care organizations for 12 years until retiring from that role in 2018. Her accountabilities included sustaining a mission focused culture, developing high performing teams to deliver exceptional care, research and teaching, overseeing a budget in excess of $930 million and a staff of over 8000.

From August 2019 t0 2022, Dianne served as President at St Thomas More Collegiate, an independent high school which is part of a global network of Christian Brother schools.

Now, as a certified board director, Dianne brings her experience in strategy, governance, organizational culture, team building and capital planning to multiple boards. She has served as director on the BC Rapid Transit Company and the College of Dental Surgeons of BC. Currently she is Chair of Providence Living Society, Director for Mothers Matter Centre and on an advisory committee for Royal Roads University.

Dianne brings humility to her search for truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities and brings compassion to issues of social inequity.

Employment: Lawyer with Carfra Lawton LLP Lawyers

Anne’s former nursing career and subsequent legal experience in the defense of personal injury, insurance and malpractice claims (including on behalf of hospitals, nurses and midwives) has given her the ability to communicate well and work effectively with many health profession disciplines and the general public. Her understanding of health issues and interpersonal skills has been a valuable resource within the firm when challenging medico-legal cases arise. Anne worked at Harper Grey Easton in Vancouver, for 6 years as a nurse/legal assistant then from 1993 to 1998 as a practicing lawyer before moving back to Victoria her hometown. Anne has been an executive member and Chair of the Vancouver Island Civil Litigation Subsection and an executive member of the Medical-Legal Society of BC. She served as a reviewer/member of the University of Victoria Human Research Ethics Board from 2009 to 2012 and has recently become a member of the RNFBC. Anne was appointed to the Board

Employment: Transformation Lead, Specialized Community Service Programs, Mental Health & Substance Use Network with Interior Health Authority

Lorelei is a practicing RN with significant background in many areas of practice and leadership, particularly in the field of mental health and substance use. She is currently the Transformation Lead, Specialized Community Service Programs, Mental Health and Substance Use Network with Interior Health. She has been involved with other national Boards, including with CNA. Her interest, skills and links to a large network of practice, educational communities and organizations will be of great help to RNFBC going forward as well. Lorelei was elected Director.

The RNFBC Annual General Meeting was held on June 26, 2023. Read the News article for highlights.

READ THE ARTICLE

Audited Financial Statements

Annual Report

ABOUT THE RNFBC LOGO

The RNFBC Logo is modeled on a traditional origami Crane which symbolizes peace and good health. It was then designed to represent the values of the profession of nursing. The shape, form, and colour of the Crane support the integration of symbols important to nursing history. The wings of the Crane symbolize the wings of the traditional nursing cap. The colour of its wings and body symbolizes traditional nursing uniforms which were white and blue. The wings of the crane also symbolize flight and as such integrate the wings of the caduceus. And as wings are designed for flight, the wings in the Logo symbolize RNFBC’s mandate and focus on supporting nurses so they may ‘take flight’ and pursue their education.