More than 4,000 students have graduated from McMaster's nursing programs. Here we meet Michelle Boersema, at Public Health Services, Hamilton
Published: May 12, 2016
McMaster Degree:
I graduated from the McMaster BScN Program in 2006.
Current Position:
I’m a Program Manager at Public Health Services, City of Hamilton. From 2012 to 2015, I was working as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) within the School Program on the Elementary School Team, and then in 2015 I became the Program Manager of the Secondary School Team.
How I got here:
I began my nursing career at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton working in acute mental health at the West 5th Campus. I spent 4 years working in this in-patient setting before leaving for Public Health Services and exploring the world of mental health case management in the community. Working in Public Health expanded my view of nursing and I developed a strong appreciation for the need and value of health promotion and illness prevention. I then decided to begin working as a Public Health Nurse within the School Program.
Why I chose McMaster:
I chose the School of Nursing at McMaster University because it had a great reputation as being an innovative nursing school. Throughout my time at McMaster I greatly appreciated the small group learning opportunities and engagement with the Hamilton community.
How my experience at Mac has helped me:
My experience at McMaster has helped me to develop a strong knowledge base related to the nursing profession, and it prepared me well for my future learning and development needs. The program truly supported the development of the knowledge, skills and abilities required for life-long learning in the nursing and health profession. The BScN Program also prepared me well to pursue graduate studies and advance my career in order to explore leadership roles within nursing.
If you are a graduate of the School of Nursing, we'd love to hear from you and learn about your experiences. Please email spenceg@mcmaster.ca.