High Acuity Nursing Program

Emily graduated from Dalhousie University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and again in 2021 with a Master of Nursing. She began her professional career in general surgery at the VG. After completing the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2013, Emily spent the next 3 years working in the Post Anesthetic Care Unit. In 2016, she moved to the Nova Scotia Provincial Blood Coordinating Team, where her focus turned to Transfusion Medicine and educating both health professionals and students on transfusion safety.

Emily has taught for most of her adult life, from teaching English classes in South Korea, preceptoring within PACU, acting as the Education Coordinator for the Association of Nova Scotia PeriAnesthesia Nurses, and providing lectures, presentations, and workshops for the Blood Coordinating Team to teaching the High Acuity Nursing Program with the Learning Institute. She feels at home in a teaching environment and wants to make learning an enjoyable experience for all involved.

In her spare time, Emily enjoys hiking, learning about wine, spending time with her animals, and travelling.

902-237-0210 | Emily.Durant@nshealth.ca

Amanda graduated from St. Francis Xavier University earning a BScN degree in 2007. Her career began in the South Shore Regional working on a busy medicine unit, and then into a multi-unit float pool, which is when her interest in critical care began. In 2009 she moved to Colchester County and started her career in the ICU at CEHHC. Amanda graduated from the Critical Care Nursing Program in 2010 and continued to work in the ICU until 2019. The experiences in the ICU and a passion for learning led Amanda down the path towards education. In 2019 she joined the Interprofessional Practice and Learning team in the Northern Zone as a Clinical Nurse Educator, focusing on Medicine and ICU. In 2023 an IMCU was initiated in CEHHC and Amanda created and implemented the education to staff. It was at this time that Amanda realized her next goal of her career, which would allow her to train and educate staff in a wider setting.

In 2024 Amanda accepted a new position with the High Acuity Nursing Program at the Learning Institute. Her passion for helping frontline staff grow and excel while providing excellent care to our communities is what drives her. Over her career she has had numerous mentors and has been a preceptor to many new nurses. Amanda feels grateful for the opportunity to share her desire to care for patients and their families during difficult times, and to see improved nursing and patient outcomes.

Amanda has been part of numerous teams in her work life, but her favorite team is the one at home. Amanda has been married for 10 years, with two daughters and numerous fur children. On her downtime Amanda enjoys a good book, a day at the beach, and travelling adventures. Although she resides in Colchester County, she considers the South Shore of NS “home” and escapes there as often as she can.

782-370-0165 |  Amanda.Johnson@nshealth.ca