RN, BScN, ENC(C), CFRN, MN
Instructor, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Contributing to Learners
Ian has had a desire to instruct in the profession of nursing at the University/College level for a number of years and he chose to pursue this goal at Selkirk College because of the strong reputation the nursing program has. After spending 15 years engaging in clinical nursing across many provinces/territories and dealing with a variety of patient types and age groups, Ian has made the change to teaching and is very excited to be on board. To maintain competency, he still practices in acute care environments (ER and ICU) as well as transport.
Ian’s Diverse Work Experience
Ian first obtained a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Alberta in 2003, a degree which served as an incredible foundation for his nursing degree which he obtained from the University of Alberta in 2006 with distinction He was inducted into the Golden Key International Honours society for his work in his physical education degree and was also inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society of Nursing. After graduation, he immediately went into pediatric and adult emergency medicine at the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) where he worked for three years. During this time, Ian took a host of post-graduate and critical care courses to further increase his knowledge and skill set. At this time, he also engaged in various travel nursing assignments within rural Alberta and also worked at private IV infusion clinics.
In 2009, Ian enrolled in and graduated as valedictorian from the STARS Critical Care Transport Academy, a program which takes emergency/critical care nurses and trains them to work in the field of transport medicine. After graduation, he began working as a flight nurse with Medic North/Advanced Medical Solutions, a company based out of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. He further increased his scope of practice and skill set with this position and also began pursuing and assisting in various research projects that would be used to support our clinical practice.
After 4.5 years of life up north, Ian and his wife moved to the Kootenays and he took at job at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital as a member of the High Acuity Response Team (HART). His role in this position was to provide critical care ground transport and also critical care outreach education within the facility. He took on the role of equipment/pharmacy/logistics team leader and assisted in the creation and writing of decision system tools, which are documents that guide practitioners in their transport practice. During this time, Ian also worked casually in the KBRH emergency and ICU departments. Having an interest in nursing education, he additionally became an instructor with Mount Royal University for their post graduate advanced critical care nursing (emergency stream) program. Ready to make the leap into full-time nursing education at Selkirk College, the next chapter of his nursing career began.
Ian has completed his Master of Nursing degree from Athabasca University and achieved graduate with distinction for his research on type 2 diabetes and healthcare utilization. It was interesting for him to step away from critical care and take a more public health approach in his research and thesis, a challenge which was eye opening and a fantastic learning opportunity that allows him to hold a well-rounded view of nursing.
A Contribution to Learning
With his diverse background in nursing, Ian is able to bring a very unique and broad perspective to the program which students will benefit from. They will be able to learn from his experiences and hopefully incorporate and integrate what he has to share into their own nursing practice. All of the students together make up the community that is Selkirk College and Ian believes they will be able to pass on what he is able to teach to the other students. Ian's hope is that they feel comfortable enough with their knowledge and skills that they will be able to assist around the college volunteering for various school events.
On a broader spectrum, it is his hope that throughout their nursing program and during their careers they will continue to learn and be able to apply what they have learned for the purpose of assisting those in the communities, whether it be through ESN placements, practicums, volunteer activities, and so on. If they can contribute to promoting and preserving the health of those that live in the West Kootenay Boundary Region, then he would suggest that this is a great outcome and success that the Selkirk College Nursing faculty can feel good about.
Why Ian Loves Selkirk College
Aside from working for a fantastic employer, he enjoys taking students that are keen to learn, and engaged in health care and health promotion, and showing them how best to work with patients and families to achieve these goals. He enjoys watching them take the fundamentals of nursing (time management, prioritization, communication, etc.) and master them. But most of all, he enjoys watching students grow within themselves and within their practice, seeing them achieve the goals they have set for themselves, and seeing them persevere when they are faced with challenges.
Outside of Work
Ian is an outdoor enthusiast: he loves mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, paddle boarding, hiking, skiing (downhill and cross country), back country touring, sky diving (well, only once and that was enough) - pretty much anything that gets him outside enjoying any type of weather. Ian also enjoys painting and being artistic when he is able. He has dabbled with guitar and can play a few chords. Ian is especially excited about his latest adventure of being a father to his son and daughter, an experience of a lifetime.