Success Story
“Correctional Nursing.” When those two words were spoken to me by Karen Moon, Career Advisor for Sprott Shaw’s Nanaimo campus, my world turned upside down… for the better.
I was without a job in a new city and struggling to find work for the first time in my life. Although I was collecting Unemployment Insurance, time was running out with no opportunities on the horizon. I had explored the possibility of learning a new trade, but the timing it would take versus the resources available left me in a challenging position. At the end of my rope, it was a visit to Sprott Shaw College to discuss my options that opened the door onto a new career and a whole new life.
I entered the Practical Nursing Program fired up and ready to learn! I had been given the chance to learn something I had never before dreamed I could be taught, by industry leaders and professionals. When the dust had settled, I had earned myself an Honours Certificate and graduated as Valedictorian of my class.
Armed with my new knowledge, my journey came full circle when I found myself not only employed by Canada’s leading experts on addictions and recovery, but also by the Nanaimo Correctional Centre, the very same employer that had originally enticed me to become the professional that I am today!
Since that time, I have quickly gained an extraordinary level of confidence in my abilities. Building on my education and experience I have managed to reach exceptional heights in my career and have earned myself a respected spot as the Nurse Manager of a residential care facility specializing in traumatic brain injury… but this is only the beginning. Anything is possible!
What were you doing before attending Sprott Shaw College?
After a 15 year career with Ticketmaster Inc., working as a Senior Event Programmer, I resigned to pursue other interests. Prior to attending Sprott Shaw College, I had been employed as a Bicycle Courier in Vancouver. When the company I was riding for was sold to a larger company, I was laid off and collected Unemployment Insurance while looking for my next adventure.
How has your career progressed since graduating?
Oddly enough, my career has progressed exactly as I had planned it. I began my career working at Edgewood, Canada’s leading experts in addiction and recovery, while complementing this with employment at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre. Though I branched out for brief periods of time to explore acute and long term care opportunities, it was my current position as the Nurse Manager of Harmony House, a residential care facility for patients with brain injuries that finally won me over.
Would you recommend Sprott Shaw College to your friends and family? Why?
I do recommend Sprott Shaw to my friends and family. Classes are taught by industry professionals without all the potential hangups that can be experienced in a university setting.
Peter Ashworth
Practical Nurse
Nanaimo Campus
