Critical Care Nursing Program
Kelsey Flynn, BScN, MEd, RN, CNCC(c)
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.
Lisa Gillis Rochon, RN, BN, CNCC (C), CCSNE
Lisa graduated from the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing in 1993 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Following graduation, she began her nursing career in Texas, where she specialized in Neuro Critical Care at a large teaching hospital in the Dallas area. During her time there, Lisa also worked as part of a critical care resource team, floating across the ICU, CCU, Neuro ICU, and Emergency Department—an experience that strengthened her clinical versatility and expertise.
After ten years in Texas, Lisa returned home to Nova Scotia and spent the next eleven years continuing to provide bedside care at the Halifax Infirmary, working in both the Medical/Surgical/Neuro ICU (5.2) and the Cardiovascular ICU (5.1). During these years she also played an active role in mentoring and preceptoring nurses, supporting clinical decision-making, and fostering confidence in complex, emotionally charged clinical situations. Through this work, she further built upon her previous work in organ donation and the care of donors and their families, which led her to spend five years as an Organ Donation Coordinator.
Lisa has also been part of the Learning Institute for the past five years, serving in several roles within the Critical Care Nursing Program. During her time at the Nova Scotia Health, she completed her Bachelor of Nursing degree through Athabasca University. She holds national certification in Critical Care Nursing (CNCC) and Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE) designation. Lisa has also successfully completed a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning (Adult Education) through Mount Saint Vincent University. As well, as having recently completed a Certificate in Adult Education. More recently, Lisa has further demonstrated her leadership and commitment to the profession by becoming an executive member of the reformed Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses.
A passionate lifelong learner and dedicated preceptor, Lisa has been proud to be a member of the Learning Institute faculty for the Critical Care Nursing Program since 2020. She is deeply committed to supporting nurses through meaningful, accessible, and practice-focused education.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys beachcombing for sea glass, travelling, and spending time at the family “bungalow” on the Mira with her husband.
Allison Walsh, BScN, RN
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. She then moved to the Annapolis Valley where she continued her ICU career in Kentville at the Valley Regional Hospital for the next 5 years.
Allison found her passion for teaching/educating through preceptorship and as a Heart & Stroke instructor for BLS, ACLS, and PALS. In 2024, Allison became an instructor for the Critical Care Nursing Program and has been loving every minute of it! She is very excited to join the High Acuity team and share her passion for nursing education. She loves simulation-based education and recently obtained her interprofessional simulation facilitation course to improve her own knowledge in delivering high fidelity sims!
On her downtime, Allison enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and travelling. When not doing these things, she can often be found at home, curled up with her two kitties and a book in hand.
Angela MacNeil, BSCN, RN
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.
Derek Sanderson, RN, BNSc
Derek graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2016 and began his career working in general medicine/surgery at Dartmouth General Hospital. In 2020, he then specialized in cardiology at the Halifax Infirmary, working in the IMCU and then CCU after completing the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2021. Derek also travel nursed across the Maritimes in various ICU settings (Med/Surg, Neuro, and CCU).
Throughout his career, Derek has developed a passion for nursing education. He has supported new staff as a preceptor and mentor, supported nursing students as a clinical instructor with Dalhousie University, and most recently supported inpatient acute care nurses as a Clinical Nurse Educator at Dartmouth General Hospital. Supporting staff and learners as they grow in skill and confidence is deeply rewarding for Derek, and he takes pride in creating a safe learning environment that is both encouraging and supportive. For Derek, education and teaching is not only about sharing knowledge – it’s about promoting safe, compassionate, evidence-informed nursing care. He is grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue his journey in education as an Instructor for the Critical Care Nursing Program.
In his personal life, Derek enjoys spending time with his partner and their young golden retriever puppy named Robbie. He also enjoys travelling, reading, and playing cozy games on the Nintendo Switch.
Molly Thomson, BN RN, CCN(C)
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.
Julia Haley, BScN, RN, CCN(C)
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.
Shauna Matheson, RN, BScN, MDI
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.
Natasha Denney, RN, BScN, CCRN
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.
Ashley MacNaughton, BScN, RN, CCNP
Ashley joined the Learning Institute in December 2024, bringing with her a wealth of clinical experience spanning nearly two decades in the healthcare field. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), Ashley began her career in Drumheller, Alberta, where she developed expertise in various areas of nursing, including medicine, surgery, maternity, pediatrics, and emergency care, while working in a rural hospital.
In 2013, Ashley returned to Nova Scotia, completed the Critical Care Nurse Program (CCNP), and began working at Aberdeen Regional Hospital. Her career at Aberdeen has been marked by numerous key roles, including serving as a critical care float between ICU and the Emergency Department (ED) for two years, before taking a permanent position in ICU. In 2020, Ashley became the first resource nurse in the Northern Zone of the province, working primarily in the ED. She continued to grow professionally, becoming the Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) for both ICU and ED in 2022.
Ashley has a deep passion for pathophysiology, particularly in the areas of sepsis recognition, pathophysiology, and treatment. She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with others, emphasizing the importance of understanding complex clinical concepts and maintaining empathy for learners, recalling the challenges of being a new nurse.
When not in the healthcare setting, Ashley enjoys spending time with her three children and husband, often at the rink, the ball field, or their cottage. Her ultimate relaxation involves unwinding on the beach with a good book.
