Abigail Spencer
My name is Abigail Spencer and I am a second year nursing student working on my BScN at McMaster University main site. I have recently joint the RNAO Hamilton team as a student volunteer! This semester I am currently in a placement at St. Joseph’s hospital on 7 surgical. This clinical placement has been very enjoyable and I have learned and practiced many new skills. Last semester I was also at St.Joseph’s Hospital on 4CTU which was a medicine floor. This was a great placement as I got to practice many of the skills I learned in first year.
Joining the Hamilton chapter of the RNAO was such an exciting step for me! I am super passionate about being involved in my community and looking further into the RNAO community! Some topics I am passionate about and would like to further look into are; short staffing, nurses health and wellbeing, and policy and political action.
Outside of school some of my hobbies include dancing, reading, going for walks, spending time with family and friends, and painting!
Ashvethaa
Ashvethaa is currently a 2nd-year nursing student at McMaster University. As a student she has been able to explore her passion for advocacy and leadership within the nursing community, as well as deepen her understanding of the role professional organizations play in shaping healthcare.
In her first year, Ashvethaa was introduced to the RNAO through her nursing theory classes. She was intrigued by RNAO’s commitment to evidence-based practice, policy advocacy and professional development for nurses, which led her to reach out to the Hamilton Chapter for an opportunity to explore more of what RNAO has to offer.
Ashvethaa is excited to announce that she has also recently accepted a position in the McMaster University Nursing Student Society as the RNAO Representative. She is eager to meld her two roles as MUNSS RNAO Representative and Hamilton Chapter Student Volunteer. As she believes, even small actions can create meaningful changes. Specifically, through the hopes of involvement with MUNSS and the RNAO Hamilton Chapter, she can inspire her peers to engage advocacy, professional growth, and community initiatives; because every effort, no matter how small, contributes to a stronger, more empowered nursing community.
Irla Hamiti
As a student, I am passionate about making healthcare more accessible and equitable for single-mother families and persons receiving care at home. I am looking for opportunities to contribute to health promotion policies and addressing social determinants of health. In my involvement with RNAO, I strive to be a strong advocate, amplifying the voices of both nurses and patients.