Sask grad nurse comes home to work
For Maddy Dunham, choosing her career field was easy; health care was where she belonged. She considered studying medicine, but knew she wanted a practical background in nursing first, so decided to try it. And that was it.
“I decided to stay and fell in love with nursing,” said Dunham, adding that her practical training provided memorable, life-changing experiences that prepared her for her new career.
Hailing from Lloydminster, Dunham made the leap from the border city to the University of British Columbia Okanagan Nursing Program in Kelowna in 2019. She completed that program in December of 2022, right when Saskatchewan started calling her home.
Choosing to come back to Saskatchewan was an easy decision for her.
“Saskatchewan is home,” she said. “I can be closer to my family, and Saskatoon is a beautiful city.”
After starting at Royal University Hospital’s Surgery 5000 unit in January 2023, Dunham realized that her learning wasn’t complete.
“It can be very scary to go from being a student to suddenly being a nurse on your own with tremendous responsibility on you. But it was surprising how quickly I have adapted,” Dunham said, adding, “I have learned so much.”
As Dunham further establishes herself in her career, she is also thankful to be a part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and a profession that has such a positive impact on people. “My first few months have been incredibly rewarding.”
