A mainstay in Red Deer College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is being recognized for a remarkable career.
Early next month, long-time RDC nursing instructor Lorraine Way will be awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA).
CARNA is the regulatory body for more than 35,000 registered nurses in Alberta. The organization sets nursing standards to ensure effective, safe and ethical care by registered nurses. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a registered nurse who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession throughout their career.
“We are so proud of Lorraine for everything she has accomplished in her wonderful career,” says Linda Moore Martin, dean of science, health, sport and education. “We’re excited to join in on the celebration and thank her for the significant impact that she has made in her profession, in the lives of her students and colleagues, and in the health care of our communities.”
The 2013/2014 academic year marked Way’s 25th year with RDC. She’ll retire at the end of 2014 to spend more time with her family.
“I’m extremely honoured, humbled and thrilled all at the same time, to be recognized by my peers with this award,” says Way. “The other nominees for this award are nurses that I’ve admired and looked up to throughout my career, so it’s really a tremendous honour for me.”
Prior to her time with the College, Way worked for 18 years as a nurse educator at the School of Nursing and Staff Development at Alberta Centennial Centre in Ponoka. As impressive as her 45-year registered nursing career is, she has also served on a number of key provincial and national nursing committees.
Most notably, she sat as president of the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (now CARNA) from 1997-1999. In this time, she positioned the organization to set the official registered nursing educational standards for the province’s post-secondary institutions, an essential role that the organization still plays to this day.
“Lorraine has shown an incredible dedication to both her students and our communities throughout her extraordinary career,” says RDC President and CEO Joel Ward. “Even after she retires later this year, her work will continue to impact our communities for decades to come, as her former students excel in their nursing careers and draw from the same passion and commitment that she shared with them.”
Way will receive her Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th Annual CARNA Awards of Nursing Excellence on May 8 in Edmonton.
-Weber
