Stephanie Horner's journey into nursing began with a deeply personal experience. Initially beginning her health career as a Personal Support Worker (PSW), her path took a transformative turn when her mother suffered a stroke. For two years, Stephanie remained by her mother's side, providing unwavering care and support throughout her recovery. This profound experience inspired her to become a nurse, driven by a desire to help others in their most vulnerable moments.
After graduating from Humber College as an RPN with Honours in 2017, Stephanie’s first official nursing role was at Camp Can Aqua, a summer camp where she cared for adolescents. Stephanie had to rely on her own skills and judgment, reaching out to offsite doctors only if absolutely necessary. This experience not only bolstered her confidence and sense of independence but also helped her recognize her true potential as a healthcare provider.
When the pandemic hit, Stephanie was working in long-term care (LTC), specifically in nursing and retirement homes. As a new nurse, she was naturally shocked by what she saw and experienced, particularly having to inform residents’ loved ones of difficult news over the phone because they weren’t allowed to visit in person. These days, Stephanie balances two part-time positions: one at Bridgepoint Rehab on the orthopedic rehab floor (since 2022) and another at North York General Hospital Reactivation Care Centre in the ALC unit (since 2021). She also occasionally works at Providence Healthcare as part of the interprofessional resource team and hopes to take on more shifts in the future as her schedule allows.
According to Stephanie, working as an RPN is very rewarding. She shared, ‘When your patients express their appreciation for you and look forward to seeing you every day or are just happy to hear that you will be their nurse … those moments are refreshing, and the patients’ enthusiasm and excitement are very sweet. … It provides a sense of satisfaction to know that you’re making a difference in these patients’ lives and that they appreciate what you do.’
Stephanie is also grateful for the skills she has gained by working across sectors and for the opportunities she has had to use those skills. She appreciates that her role never gets boring and finds great satisfaction in mentoring students. Once, she had a group of PSW students from Seneca College shadow her, and she was excited to share her experiences, teach them new skills and expose them to situations they had never encountered before.
‘It’s great to have goals and expectations for yourself,’ says Stephanie regarding her advice to new nurses, ‘but you have to be really flexible when you start out in your career and not be deterred if things go a slightly different way than you expect or if you have to take a different path to get to where you want to be. Determination and persistence are key.’
Despite all of the wonderful things about Stephanie’s career, being a nurse also brings its challenges. The biggest of these is the risk of workplace violence, which Stephanie has experienced on several occasions, including one incident that resulted in an injury and required her to modify her work routine. To prepare for these types of situations, the resilient RPN has undergone additional training, including Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) through the Alzheimer Society. However, as she points out, ‘scenarios don’t always play out in reality like they do in the book.’
When she’s not working approximately 50 hours per week between her two jobs, in her spare time, Stephanie focuses on a different type of training — running marathons. She is currently training for her second full 42KM marathon on October 20th, after successfully completing her first marathon in Hamilton last November. This year, she aims to improve her finish time.
Stephanie also enjoys volunteering in the healthcare community, which also inspired her desire to pursue nursing. She even dedicated her time at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute during their summer patient program, where she took patients outside for fresh air and a stroll through the garden, encouraging them to engage in activities and conversations with other residents.
With a bright future ahead, Stephanie is eager to embrace all the new experiences and opportunities that life has to offer. She just moved into her first apartment this year and will be celebrating her three-year anniversary with her partner in September. ‘I continue to be inspired every day with the support of my family, friends and partner, the love of my life, Elisha,’ she says.
