Nurses' Week Spotlight: Compassion, Teamwork, and Transforming Care

This year’s Nurses’ Week theme, “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health,” recognizes the profound impact nurses have across every part of the patient journey — from bedside care and education to innovation, advocacy, and leadership.

In honour of Nurses’ Week, we are highlighting some of the incredible nurses at MAHC whose compassion, expertise, and dedication help shape care experiences every day — nurses like Katie and Amanda.

Katie's Story

For Katie Hvidsten, an RNFA and Operating Room (OR) nurse at MAHC, nursing has been a journey shaped by curiosity, teamwork, and a passion for surgical care.

“When I first started nursing, I worked on a post-operative surgical floor in the city,” Katie says. “I had the opportunity to do a shadow shift in the OR and recovery room, and I vividly remember thinking, ‘I’m going to do that one day.’”

After completing additional training to move into the OR, Katie was immediately hooked. Unlike any other nursing role she had experienced, Katie loved the pace, teamwork, and technical aspects of working in the OR.

Later, while on maternity leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie pursued her RNFA certification. While juggling everything during that time wasn’t easy, she says she is really happy with how her path unfolded.

Today, Katie supports patients through surgical procedures while coordinating many of the behind-the-scenes details that make surgery possible.

“A lot of people think surgery starts when the patient enters the room,” she says. “But in reality, there’s a whole chain of preparation happening beforehand — reviewing charts, coordinating equipment and implants, preparing the room, and ensuring everything flows safely during the case.”

When asked what makes a great nursing team, Katie said:

“In a smaller hospital setting like ours, teams become even more powerful because we all know each other personally and professionally. We understand each other’s strengths and can often anticipate what someone needs before they even ask,” she says. “A great nursing team isn’t just skilled individuals working side by side — it’s a group of people who trust each other enough to function almost instinctively as one unit.”

She encourages new nurses to stay open to opportunities and trust that their path will evolve over time.

“Stay curious and don’t be afraid to put yourself in unfamiliar situations,” Katie says. “Some of the most meaningful parts of my career came from saying yes to opportunities I wasn’t completely comfortable with at the time.”

Amanda's Story

Amanda Stewart’s nursing career began in community care before joining MAHC in 2019, where she worked on the Med-Surg and Labour & Delivery units. Amanda learned early in her career how rewarding nursing could be.

“Supporting patients and families during vulnerable moments has shown me the meaningful impact that compassionate nursing care can have,” she says.

Later, Amanda discovered a passion for wound and ostomy care after seeing firsthand how specialized nursing support can improve healing and recovery for patients.

In 2025, she joined MAHC’s Quality, Patient Safety & Interprofessional Practice team as a Clinical Educator. As a Clinical Educator, Amanda supports staff development, evidence-based practice, and wound and ostomy education across the organization.

Amanda noted that she feels fortunate to work with a team that has helped support staff growth, strengthen clinical knowledge, and create meaningful learning opportunities to help staff feel supported in their roles.

“Supporting patients to feel cared for, while also helping staff build confidence and expertise, is my favourite part of the role,” she explains.

Amanda is currently working toward her NSWOC certification through Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC), advanced training that will further strengthen specialized care at MAHC.

She says continuous learning and compassion are two of the most important qualities for nurses entering the profession.

“Take every opportunity to learn, ask questions, and never stop learning,” Amanda says. “Compassion and communication are just as important as our clinical skills.”

Celebrating Nurses Across MAHC

While Katie and Amanda’s experiences reflect different areas of nursing, both stories highlight the same core truth: nurses transform healthcare every day through expertise, teamwork, compassion, and human connection.

MAHC extends sincere gratitude to all nurses for the incredible work they do each and every day. Thank you for your compassion, professionalism, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our patients and communities.