Rachel graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007 and began her nursing career working in general medicine/IMCU. Upon completion of the CCNP program in 2009, Rachel spent the next 12 years working in Critical Care, most recently as a Clinical Nurse Educator. In keeping with a love of life-long learning, Rachel earned her CNA certification in Critical Care in 2017, and holds an MSc.N from Memorial University, focusing on evidence-informed practice and leadership in nursing.

Over her career, Rachel has enjoyed being a preceptor and mentor for new nurses, sharing her passion for the unique and dynamic specialty of Critical Care nursing. Rachel feels fortunate to have cared for many patients and families during their times of critical illness and is excited to see learners expand their knowledge and skills, integrating them into practice.

In her spare time Rachel enjoys spending time with her young family, being active, and travelling.

902-717-7481 | Rachel.Rizcallah@nshealth.ca

Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier University, and a Master of Science in Nursing degree specialized in Nursing Education. Her thesis focused on oral care in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia. She also received her National Certification in Critical Care Nursing from the CNA. Sam started her nursing career in vascular surgery and then transferred to intensive care, which is where her passion for critical care began.

Sam has been working with the Learning Institute faculty since 2019. She previously held the role of Nurse Educator for the High Acuity Nursing Program which she developed prior to returning to the role of Nurse Educator for the Critical Care Nursing Program. Sam enjoys the fast pace that critical care offers within the nursing profession and researching new and innovative approaches to delivering care to this patient population. She further values the importance of simulation learning as a hands-on, interactive approach to deliver education, and enjoys watching learners integrate newfound knowledge and skills into their practice.

In her personal time, Sam’s interests include spending time with her husband, two young children, and German Shepherd at their cottage, being outdoors, and doing anything that involves being physically active.

902-229-9841 | Samantha.McWilliams@nshealth.ca

Lisa graduated from the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing in 1993 in New Glasgow, NS. After graduation, Lisa started her professional career in Texas where she specialized in Neuro Critical Care at a large teaching hospital in the Dallas area. While in Dallas, Lisa also worked on a critical care resource team floating between ICU, CCU, NCCU, and ER. After working 10 years in Texas, Lisa moved back home to Nova Scotia and spent the next 11 years working at the bedside in the Halifax Infirmary on the Med/Surg/Neuro ICU (5.2) and Cardiovascular ICU (5.1). Lisa's experience in both of these ICUs provided her the opportunity to focus on the care of an organ donor and their family, which then lead to work as an Organ Donation Coordinator for 5 years.

During her time at the Halifax Infirmary Lisa was able to complete her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Athabasca University. Lisa has also obtained her national certification in Critical Care Nursing (CNCC) and recently successfully completed the Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE) program. Lisa is currently enrolled in the Masters of Education program through Mount Saint Vincent University.

As a lifelong learner and preceptor, Lisa is extremely proud and excited to be a part of the Learning Institute's faculty for the Critical Care Nursing Program since 2020.

In Lisa's spare time, she like to comb beaches for sea glass, travel and spend time at the “bungalow” out on the Mira with her husband.

902-499-6758 | LisaA.GillisRochon@nshealth.ca

Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dalhousie University and a Master of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University. Her nursing background includes experience in medical-surgical, emergency, and critical care. She began her journey in healthcare education as a clinical instructor at Dalhousie University and as a nursing facilitator with ISANS. She continues to expand her expertise by obtaining her critical care certification. Kelsey has also worked in the RN Bridging and Re-Entry program and is now part of the CCNP team.  

902-266-4634 | Kelsey.Flynn@nshealth.ca

Rene graduated from nursing in 2007 from CBU/StFX, then moved to Alberta to work at the Royal Alex in Edmonton, where she gained experience in vascular thoracic and neuro-trauma units. Rene moved back to Cape Breton to work in surgery, where she gained valuable skills to shape her critical care career and learned from the nurses how to be safe, competent, and advocate for her patients. Those nurses molded Rene into the nurse she is today.

Rene accepted a position at the Emergency Department at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, where she found her place in nursing. Starting in the acute zone in the ED, Rene learned how to care for the quite sick, building her competence and confidence in practice. After 3 years in the ED, Rene accepted a clinical nurse leader position at Victoria County hospital in Baddeck. She learned the importance of rural nursing and gained appreciation for the “jack of all trades” nursing they bring to the table. Missing the chaos in Sydney, Rene went back to the CBRH and accepted the CNL position in the ED. Rene has made many lifelong connections to patients, co-workers, and the interdisciplinary team.

Rene is currently working towards her master’s in nursing. She works as an instructor with the Emergency Nursing Program and the Critical Care Nursing Programs at the Learning Institute, and she works with the Sim IPE team to support Dalhousie medical residents. On top of that, she and her work partner (Sandra) are designing an emergency nursing elective for CBU, StFX, and Dalhousie.

In her personal life, Rene is a mom of a little fashionista 11-year-old girl. Her partner, Ev, keeps her on her toes with continuous pranks and laughs. They have 3 dogs and a busy, chaotic, life… just like the ED.

902-574-3573 | Carla.Boyd@nshealth.ca

Angela graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a certificate in Oncology and Acute Care in 2007. After graduation, she worked at the bedside in both Cardiovascular Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery/IMCU. After returning from a maternity leave in 2015, Angela completed the Critical Care Nursing Program and accepted a position on CVICU, where her passion for critical care began.

Throughout her career, Angela has loved being able to assist others in their professional development and supporting new learners and staff through precepting and mentoring as well as working as a nursing clinical instructor with Dalhousie. Angela’s two passions merged when she transitioned to her new role with the Learning Institute as a Nursing Instructor for the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2023.

In her personal time, Angela has 2 children and 2 dogs she raises with her husband. When she’s not watching her kids at a hockey rink, ball field, or dance studio, you might catch her reading, dancing, cooking, or spending time with her friends and family.

902-456-3578 | Angela.MacNeil@nshealth.ca

Allison completed her BScN from Cape Breton University in 2018. She was born and raised in Cape Breton and started her career in the ICU at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. A year later, she moved to the Annapolis Valley where she continued her ICU career in Kentville at the Valley Regional Hospital.

Allison found her passion for teaching/educating through preceptorship and more recently as a Heart & Stroke instructor for BLS, ACLS, and PALS. She is excited to continue to grow this passion for critical care education as an instructor for the Critical Care Nursing Program.

On her downtime, Allison loves to stay active, spend time outdoors, and travel. When not doing these things, she can often be found at home, curled up with her two kitties and a book in hand.

902-599-2883 | Allison.Walsh@nshealth.ca

Molly completed her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2018. She moved home to Nova Scotia to start her career in general medicine, cardiology, and IMCU at Valley Regional Hospital. She pursued her CNA Certification in Cardiovascular Nursing before transitioning to critical care in the ICU at VRH. She has also worked in the neuro-trauma ICU in St. John’s, NL.

Molly discovered her niche for teaching through preceptorship and her time as a clinical instructor with Dalhousie University. She hopes her enthusiasm for competent and knowledgeable nursing care inspires learners throughout the province, specifically in the Western Zone.

In her personal life, Molly enjoys planning spontaneous day trips and spending time with her friends and family. She can also be found exploring hiking trails and chasing waterfalls with her dog, Cassie.

902-277-4094 | Molly.Thomson@nshealth.ca

Madison completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Francis Xavier University in 2018 and began practicing as a Registered Nurse in Cardiac Surgery at the Halifax Infirmary. She took advantage of learning opportunities in acute care, starting with the Intermediate Care course in 2019 and progressing into the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2020. After practicing for a year in the Cardiac Surgery ICU, she decided to start an adventure in travel nursing to rural Intensive Care Units in British Columbia and Nova Scotia throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

After returning to Halifax, she discovered her passion for teaching and mentorship while working with Dalhousie University in the delivery of the undergraduate nursing program (BScN). Passionate about health system transformation and creating healthy work environments, Madison started course work in her Master of Science in Nursing at Dalhousie University in 2022. Her thesis work is underway to generate a toolkit on interventions and implementation strategies to mitigate nursing burnout in critical care nurses. She hopes to integrate her work experiences and research interests to teach and mentor nurses transitioning into critical care.

In her spare time, Madison enjoys travelling, spending time in nature with family and friends, keeping active, and listening to live music.

MadisonL.Hickey@nshealth.ca

Sidney graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in 2013 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2016. She began her nursing career working as a medical/surgical float nurse, then quickly transitioned into the Intensive Care Unit at Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) where she worked for four years before transitioning to the Renal Hemodialysis Unit for two years. Sidney has spent the last year and half as a Clinical Nurse Educator for the Surgical and Day Surgery Units, and most recently completed a year term as the CNE for the Intensive Care Unit at the VRH. In keeping with a love of life-long learning, Sidney completed the CCNP and Interprofessional Simulation Facilitation Programs in recent years. Sidney is extremely proud and excited to be a part of the Learning Institute's faculty for the Critical Care Nursing Program.

Over her career, Sidney has enjoyed being a preceptor and educator for new nurses, sharing her passion for creating safe learning environments, while meeting the needs of individual learners and strengthening our health care system, particularly in the unique specialty of Critical Care nursing. Sidney is excited to help learners develop their knowledge and abilities and implement them into practice.

In her spare time Sidney enjoys spending time with her husband and three children on her hobby farm with her two dogs, three cats, two goats, alpaca, mini-pig, and twelve chickens and spending time in the great outdoors!

902-844-8535 | Sidney.Norton@nshealth.ca

Julia graduated from Cape Breton University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019 and began her career in the CCU at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Throughout her time in CCU, she found a passion for teaching through precepting nursing students as well as new nurses who joined the team. With her goal of continuing lifelong learning, she obtained her CNA certification in Cardiovascular Nursing in 2022.

Julia is currently working on her Master of Science in Nursing through Memorial University of Newfoundland. She joined the Learning Institute as an instructor for the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2024. Julia is excited to merge her passion for lifelong learning with her passion for critical care nursing.

In her spare time, Julia enjoys travelling, reading, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.

902-574-1220 | Julia.Ellsworth@nshealth.ca

Shauna graduated from Dalhousie University in 2004 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began her professional career at the QEII Halifax Infirmary in General and Vascular surgery. Shauna completed the CCNP program in 2010 and has since gained invaluable experience as a Critical Care/Flight nurse in the Med/Surg/Neuro ICU, EHS Lifeflight and Praxes Offshore Medevac. Shauna continued to expand her career as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Organ Donation Coordinator, Clinical Practice Lead, and a Coordinator/Medical Death Investigator.

Shauna was a contributing member for two national research projects: A Brain-Based Definition of Death and Criteria for its Determination After Arrest of Neurologic or Circulatory Function in Canada along with Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Among Organ Donation Coordinators: A Canadian Perspective.

To further enhance her knowledge, Shauna has completed courses on Management and Leadership through the Achieve Centre for Leadership. Shauna is enrolled in the Certificate of Adult Education program. She will also be pursuing her Critical Care certification and her certification in Medicolegal Death Investigation.

During her career, Shauna has valued preceptorship, life-long learning and fostering evidence-based practice. Shauna is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be an Instructor for the Learning Institute's Critical Care Nursing Program.

In her spare time, Shauna enjoys travelling and spending time with her family, friends and 2 cats.

902-456-0638 | Shauna.Matheson@nshealth.ca

Natasha graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Dallas, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. It was during her clinical placement in nursing school that she discovered her passion for cardiovascular nursing. After graduation, she completed a nurse internship in the CVICU at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. She obtained her certification in critical care nursing (CCRN) through the American Nurses Association in 2014.

In 2015, Natasha relocated to Houston to pursue her master’s degree and worked in the Advanced Heart Failure ICU at Memorial Hermann’s Heart and Vascular Institute in the Texas Medical Center. She returned to Nova Scotia in 2018 and joined the ICU team in her hometown of Truro. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Natasha was seeking a new direction in her career, and transitioned from the ICU to the PACU.

Throughout her career, Natasha has enjoyed educating and mentoring new nurses, with a particular passion for transplant and cardiovascular nursing. She is excited to build on these interests in her role as an instructor, joining the Learning Institute's faculty for the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2024.

In her personal time, she enjoys being outdoors and staying active, hiking, and spending time with her son, Ben.

782-370-1466 | Natasha.Denney@nshealth.ca

Brianne graduated from Saint Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012. After working a few years on a cardiology floor, Brianne completed the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2015 and began working in the Coronary Care Unit. Over a year later, she transitioned to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, where she became a passionate member of the interdisciplinary team. Over her eight years in the Cath Lab, she worked as both a Registered Nurse and a Clinical Nurse Educator. The Cath Lab provided endless opportunity for ongoing learning, and Brianne trained to take on the responsibility of independently preparing heart valves for TAVI procedures. She particularly enjoyed working together as a member of the team to save lives and preserve heart muscle function for STEMI and critically ill patients.

Brianne loves supporting other nurses and healthcare providers in their transition to practice and clinical environments. She has frequently been called on to precept nurses and medical radiation technologists throughout her career. Brianne also worked a total of 2.5 years as a Clinical Nurse Educator providing support to staff working in various heart health units including the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Cardiology units. She is excited to begin supporting learners in the Critical Care Nursing program.

A lifelong learner, Brianne holds her Cardiovascular Nursing Certification from the Canadian Nurses Association. She will begin a Masters of Adult Education Program with a concentration in Adult Education and Health from Saint Francis Xavier University starting in January 2025.

Outside of work, Brianne enjoys spending time with her husband and two rambunctious golden retrievers, Darby and Harvey. She also enjoys travelling, socializing with friends, attending group fitness classes, and playing Nintendo Switch.

902-220-0627 | Brianne.Bonaparte@nshealth.ca