Alumna Makes a Difference Worldwide
When students graduate from the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing we know they will make a difference in the community in which they choose to work, but we are thrilled to hear when they go on to make a difference globally.
Alumna Dawn Anderson is a nurse who goes above and beyond the call of duty and her outstanding work has earned her The Florence Nightingale Medal. This medal recognizes exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster. Nominated by the National Red Cross, Anderson was one of thirty six nurses from eighteen countries who received the medal and was the only Canadian recipient.
“I am so honored that I was chosen for this medal and am blown away that I am in the same category as some amazing nurses I have worked with around the world,” said Dawn. “More than anything, I want this to be representative of the phenomenal local nurses I have worked with on my missions.”
Dawn is a Registered Nurse, Emergency Room Trauma Course instructor and active care giver in regions throughout the world experiencing armed conflict and natural disasters. She has done humanitarian work in Haiti, Afghanistan, Central African Republic and the Philippines over the past five years. Most recently on her 3rd mission in Gaza, Anderson heard about the devastating earthquake in Nepal. “As soon as I heard, I knew the Emergency Response Unit would be deployed,” said Dawn. “We arrived April 30th and nine of us headed to the remote village of Khokundole. We were the first team to arrive and found the buildings were flattened and there was rubble everywhere, complete devastation.”
When asked about working in these situations, Anderson replied, “There is always a bit of fear when you first arrive, not knowing what to expect. But the fear is also what motivates us to get the work done.” Once arriving in Nepal, Anderson and her team saw about fifty patients a day, treating everything from fractures to children with fevers, to respiratory problems and even delivering babies.
Dawn absolutely loves working as a Red Cross nurse and encourages other nursing graduates to consider humanitarian work as well. “There is nothing in my life that has given me so much gratification as helping people that are in desperate need. We grow up in a beautiful, safe country and are given amazing opportunities in life, something missing in most places I work. I believe it should be part of everyone’s life goal to give back to humanity. You have to make a sacrifice to do it, but over a life time the sacrifice is small and the rewards are endless.” She also strongly encourages Canadians to give to the Red Cross. “We wouldn’t have this opportunity to provide any of this help without the generous people and organizations in Canada who donate to the Red Cross. Check out redcross.ca.”