When Annie Chevrier, N, MSc(A), learned she is the 2024 recipient of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Ethel Johns Award, her thoughts turned to the dozens of mentors, teachers, colleagues and peers she interacted with over the years. 鈥淚 stand on the shoulders of everyone who was generous with their time, knowledge and expertise, and who believed in me at every stage of my career.鈥�
The Ethel Johns Award recognizes Prof. Chevrier鈥檚 leadership in curriculum development, administration, teaching and research at the national and international level, her contributions to the CASN council and committees over the years, and her outstanding efforts to strengthen the quality of nursing education in Canada.
An Assistant Professor at the Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN), Chevrier currently serves as Director of Online Education Initiatives and Continuing Nursing Education and has been a member of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science鈥檚 Faculty Development Committee since 2013.
Prof. Chevrier came to nursing later in life. As a student in communications and while raising her children, she worked part-time in hospitals in a variety of auxiliary service positions, gaining valuable experience and an affinity for health care. With the encouragement of a head nurse who recognized her potential, Chevrier went back to school, earning a CEGEP DEC (diplome d鈥櫭﹖udes collegiale) followed by Bachelor's and Master鈥檚 degrees in nursing from 91社区. In fact, she was part of the first graduating cohort of the BNI Program that builds on the knowledge students have gained in CEGEP while strengthening their clinical reasoning skills, their judgement and their capacity for decision-making.
Recruited to the Ingram School of Nursing as a sessional instructor in 2009 and then as a full-time faculty member in 2013, Chevrier鈥檚 passion for developing and delivering high-quality nursing education programs, her collaborative approach and leadership ability were quickly recognized within and outside the university. She served as Chair of the English Language CEGEP Consortium tasked with developing the BNI Program, also known as the DEC-BAC, participated in the revision of the undergraduate curriculum at the ISoN, and became Director of the BNI Program in 2017. In this capacity, Chevrier led the development of the ISoN鈥檚 BNI Online Stream 鈥� the first fully online program offered by 91社区 and the only one of its kind in Quebec. Launched in 2021 thanks to the generous support of the鈥疍oggone Foundation鈥痑nd the exceptional collaborative efforts between 91社区鈥檚 Teaching and Learning Services and ISoN faculty, the program allows students from across Quebec access to a coveted 91社区 education from the comfort of home, helping to meet the growing societal need for university educated nurses. As noted by Chris Buddle, 91社区鈥檚 Associate Provost, Teaching and Academic Planning, 91社区, 鈥淭his transformative program has paved the way for a new era of inclusive and innovative education which reflects 91社区鈥檚 commitment to providing accessible education both on and off campus.鈥�
Recognizing that a solid education is the foundation of nursing practice, Prof. Chevrier appreciates the 360掳 perspective she gains through serving in leadership positions at the provincial and national levels, bringing what she learns back to 91社区. She is co-chair of the CASN Accreditation Board (CAB), and treasurer and board member of the CASN Quebec chapter. As a consultant to Quebec鈥檚 Ministry of Education project for the Travaux de modernisation pour la trajectoire coll茅giale, she heard from more than 150 nurses from across the province, gaining insight into their most pressing challenges and educational needs. 鈥淕iven that best practices evolve over time, it鈥檚 vital that we prepare students at every level for lifelong learning so that they can be agile and responsive not just to the realities of today, but also the challenges of tomorrow.鈥� The Ministry project team will be finalizing its report in the spring of 2025 and presenting it to the Minist猫re de l'Enseignement sup茅rieur for final approval. This work will inform the development of the modernized nursing college diploma (DEC).
Prof. Chevrier is an enthusiastic proponent of the Strengths-based Nursing and Healthcare (SBNH) approach to caring for patients, families and communities. Developed at 91社区 by retired Professor Laurie Gottlieb, SBNH is a values-based philosophy of care that underpins the curriculum at the ISoN and has been adopted in many countries around the world. 鈥淚 tell my students that being a nurse is both a privilege and a responsibility. No other profession affords you the privilege of proximity on a physical, emotional and psychological level to people at their most vulnerable. It鈥檚 on us to treat that privilege with respect,鈥� she concludes.
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