Lisa MacDonald , Renal Educator, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB

“I’ve been a nurse for 21 years this summer. Just over 15 years with the renal program.

I remember when I was younger and my grandmother lived with us. She was quite sick at the end of her life and was in the hospital a lot and that’s when I decided to get into nursing.

I love working with the new nurses and nurses who are new to the renal program. I like helping them gain confidence and move along in their renal career. I like seeing their progress.We also get to know our patients so well. You’re not friends but become so close to them and know what is important to them. That’s what I love about the dialysis program. You get to know people so well.”

On challenges: “Right now I am so new to this role I don’t know a lot of the challenges. In my old role [hemodialysis nurse], you want the best for your patients and sometimes they just want status quo. They’re happy with the way things are and you can see how things might be a bit better for them.”

On the transition from bedside to educator: “I’m very excited about it. You are seeing things from a whole new perspective. You are explaining not just how but why we do the things we do.”