A journey through nursing eras for the 2024 Bernice King Lecture
On June 19, McMaster’s School of Nursing (SON) revived the Bernice King Lectureship in Clinical Nursing Education. The lecture was paused due to COVID, the one prior taking place back in 2019. Due to the collaboration between SON, Bernice King, and St. Joseph’s Hamilton Healthcare, this year’s lecture was able to be offered both in-person at the St. Joseph’s West 5th campus and virtually via Zoom.
The Bernice King Lectureship, established in the fall of 2005, honours Bernice King. King is an esteemed nursing colleague renowned for her excellence in clinical nursing education. The annual lecture aims to foster innovation in clinical nursing education by bridging the gap between clinical practitioners and academic partners.
Sandra Carroll, vice dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and executive director of the School of Nursing, began the event by introducing the honouree of the lecture and former assistant clinical professor at SON. “Bernice consistently advocates for interprofessional collaboration, recognizing the value of teamwork in delivering exceptional patient outcomes. Her commitment extends beyond the hospital walls,” said Carroll.
King then presented her opening remarks on the history of how the lecture came to be and what it means to her to be honoured. “Often events such as these are planned after the individual has died,” notes King, “I am really honoured that this event has happened during my lifetime and here I am in person about 19 years later after the initial lectureship.”
Following the opening remarks, Carroll introduced this year’s lectureship speaker, the Executive Director of the Greater Hamilton Health Network, Melissa McCallum. McCallum has over 15 years of progressive healthcare experience and holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Science honours Nursing Degree from McMaster University. Additionally, she earned a Master of Nursing degree with an educational focus. Notably, McCallum also works as a clinical assistant professor at McMaster’s School of Nursing and has a background as a trained emergency nurse.
In her captivating lecture, McCallum took the audience on a journey through her nursing career, drawing inspiration from Taylor Swift’s “Era’s Tour.” Each era represented a distinct phase in her professional growth, offering valuable lessons and insights. Whether facing challenges or celebrating successes, McCallum’s experiences resonated with preceptors, students, and educators alike.
A true testament to the enduring impact of clinical nursing education and the remarkable individuals who shape it, check out the full recording below!