Staff Spotlight
Jessa Abary, Registered Nurse
Meet Jessa Abary, a med/surg RN working at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). As an internationally-educated nurse (IEN), she gives us a glimpse into how she has grown her nursing career at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
Starting off as an IEN
“As an IEN, I needed to undergo a one-year re-entry/bridging program to work as a registered nurse in B.C.” she explains. Jessa had the opportunity to have her surgical clinicals in the T4C unit (Uro/Gyne/Plastics) at VGH. “During that time, I learned how the nurses and other staff worked with each other, as well as the type of patients they catered to. I had a background as a home care nurse in the Philippines so the set-up and culture were really different. But having experience in managing complex wounds from my home country, I was interested in patients’ cases here and how treatment varied in Canada.”
During her experience, Jessa met Eva, a former Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) on the unit. “At the start, I really struggled with the learning curve and adjusting to the “gap” which needed to be filled not only as a new grad nurse but also as an internationally-educated nurse,” she says. “Eva was the person I looked up to the most as she shared her experience with me when she was starting as an immigrant nurse. She told me, ‘one day, it will all make sense’. She truly was my inspiration and motivated me to keep on going.”
From the very beginning, Jessa tells us that she was well-supported by the manager, clinical educator, PCCs, nurses, and other staff in the unit. “I was never afraid to ask questions. I learned how important it was to ask my colleagues how they’re doing and if they need any help, and that’s what I always see in the workplace.”
VCH values
At VCH, we embody the values: We Care for Everyone, We Are Always Learning, and We Strive for Better Results. Jessa tells us she incorporates these values in her role by providing care for patients with respect and working with the whole unit as a team. “I ask for feedback from my colleagues, especially from senior staff so I can continually improve and provide better quality care to our patients. This includes being humble and seeing each day as an opportunity to learn.”
Jessa completed her bridging program during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My cohort was the first “fully online” program, with exceptions for a few in-person lab hours and clinicals. It was hard to study and gain the skill set that I needed to prep for the real job. We practiced on dolls/stuffed toys and classes were via video conferences. Some clinical hours had to be canceled because of outbreaks or exposures. It was challenging, but IENs like myself were able to show that everything is possible and with proper support and keen determination, we were able to make it.”
When asked what she enjoys the most about her role at VGH, Jessa tells us it is hearing words of gratitude from patients and their families. “The sincerity showing their appreciation for the care and service I provided brings a sense of fulfillment knowing that I was at least able to touch the life of another individual and help make it better.”
Jessa enjoys arts and crafts and learned Brush Calligraphy/lettering just by watching videos and downloading free content online. “I used this skill to make greeting cards for occasions like Christmas and birthdays! People appreciate gifts with something unique, handmade and creative.”
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