Award: Rising Star in Nursing (C6)

Recipient: Mr Jacques Smith (joint winner)
An interview with the Rising Star in Nursing award recipient, Jacques Smith

1. What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally?
(We are curious about how it resonates with your journey and how you hope it might encourage others.)

This award was a surprise and is very honourable as this was my alumni university. This journey has been humbling and eye-opening.

As an undergraduate student, you don’t grasp the actuality of the profession. This award resonates in line with my goals and hard work. Just know as an undergraduate nursing student, your path and journey only start when you leave North Campus and you never know where you will end up. Embrace the journey. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

2. Looking back, is there a moment or contribution in your nursing career that you feel especially proud of?
(It could be a breakthrough, a turning point, or something that made a lasting difference.)

I will never forget how a patient made me feel, after bumping into each other outside of the clinical space. She remembered me for delivering her baby, and she started showing me pictures and she was so excited to see me and that made me feel like I made a difficult situation better for someone else, and that is at the core of our nursing profession.

3. Who has been an important mentor in your nursing career?
(We would love to hear about someone who helped shape your path.)

I have had numerous mentors in my nursing career, and mostly it was positive, and when it was not, it was a learning opportunity. “Always leave people better than you found them”- I believe in this.

4. What motivates you in your nursing career?
(Whether it is the people, the challenges, or the purpose, what keeps you going?)

A positive work environment is underestimated and it should not [be]. The team I work with motivates me always, as we can learn from each other, and we must always be open to learning, as our profession is ever-changing.

5. How do you keep your practice fresh and informed in a field that is always evolving?
(Feel free to share how you engage with new knowledge, research, or teaching.)

[I am] currently busy completing my Master’s degree to explore research on a topic I am very passionate about, and it reflects a gap I experienced as a new nurse, so [I am] trying to improve for those still to come.

6. What is next for you? Are there any goals or hopes you are working toward in your professional journey?
(We are interested in what growth or impact you are aiming for, whether big or small.)

I am not currently planning anything specific; my goal as an undergraduate was always to be a nurse manager - to influence change in the profession.