“It was a big confidence booster.” That’s how Sarah Humphrey describes feeling when she received Eldercare’s Dr. Tom Bailey Memorial Bursary upon graduating from the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program at Camosun College.
“The nursing profession can be challenging so to receive the award right off the bat of my nursing career made me think, I can do this,” she says. “The external validation was great.”
Originally from the Comox Valley and based in Victoria, Sarah has worked as a travelling LPN for the past two years. This fall she plans to further her education in a brand-new bridging program at Camosun for LPNs to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
“I felt very honoured to be selected for this highly competitive program,” says Sarah. “I never thought I’d get into it, and I really think that receiving the bursary from Eldercare helped strengthen my educational resume and increase my chances.”
While Sarah doesn’t specifically work in the field of geriatrics, most of her patient load is over the age of 75. “I love working with seniors,” she says. “You need patience and a gentle heart to work with this population. It’s not always as fast paced as it is working with other populations. I always check myself to slow down.”
From a young age Sarah has been surrounded by elders and her grandparents were a focal point of her childhood. “I was raised by my grandparents because my mum worked up north to provide for me,” she says. At 14, she became a hospital volunteer – a Candy Striper – at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, contributing hundreds of volunteer hours over several years.
“This experience sparked my interest in the field of nursing,” says Sarah. She provided companionship to acute patients, made toques for newborns on the maternity ward, and even worked with seniors at The Views long-term care home, which is now being reimagined as a Dementia care village and is proudly supported by Eldercare.
Sarah is grateful to the donors of the Tom Bailey Memorial Bursary. “I want to say thank you to those who made this bursary possible. It has helped me tremendously, and I hope the support continues for other students in the field.” Sarah says after she becomes an RN, she may enroll in a Master’s in Gerontology. “For now, it’s one step at a time.”
Dr. Tom Bailey left a legacy of caring for older adults as a physician, health leader, professor, and a long-time Board Director at Eldercare. The Tom Bailey Memorial Bursary – held by Eldercare Foundation – is awarded annually to Camosun College students enrolled in Health Care Assistant, Practical Nursing and Licensed Practical Nursing programs. Learn more.
Click here to learn about all the student and staff awards offered at Eldercare.