Nursing Hero Alberta Health Services: Celebrating Bonnie Kissick
I am writing in strong support of Ms. Bonnie Kissick Nurse for Nursing Hero award 2024. Bonnie was the nurse manager at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Ophthalmology and ENT Operating room in Edmonton, Canada until her retirement one week ago. Bonnie is the most exceptional patient advocate with whom I have ever had the
pleasure of working.
I am an ophthalmologist and retina sub specialist based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. I have been in practice for 20 years and throughout this time Bonnie Kissick led our operating room as head nurse manager. Without question I believe the Royal Alexandra Hospital Ophthalmology and ENT operating room to provide the finest surgical care in the country. Bonnie Kissick is the reason we can provide such exceptional care.
1. There is no one who is more dedicated or harder working than Bonnie Kissick. Regardless as to the time of day or day of the week, Bonnie could be found in her office or around the operating room helping out. If a special form had to be completed to access restricted medication or specialty medical device Bonnie would personally make it happen.
2. Bonnie always puts patient care first, regardless of the situation or concern of overtime, Bonnie would ensure that patients would receive timely access to surgical care. Many many times, when I was worried that an emergency case might not move forward due to bureaucratic difficulties Bonnie would would say to me “Dr. Tennant, we will do what is best for the patient”. This policy has allowed me to provide the very best surgical care for my patients over the past 20 years.
3. Bonnie always would go above and beyond for patients. As an example, two months ago a patient, who happened to be a recent immigrant to Canada with limited resources and English as a second language was having difficulties getting to the operating room in time for her emergency retinal detachment surgery. The entire operating room was waiting for the patient to come from her home to the hospital on a Friday evening. Bonnie personally called the patient’s husband and convinced him that timely eye surgery was imperative to save the vision in his wife’s eye. Bonnie gave step by step directions for the patient’s husband to drive his wife to the hospital. Upon arriving at the Hospital the patient was unable to find the operating room. Bonnie left the operating room on foot, travelled to the corner of the hospital property, found the patient and her husband waiting in their car, then got into the car with the family and directed them to the operating room entrance. She then brought the young lady into the operating room for admission and surgery. This example was by no means unique. Bonnie performed such acts of kindness
every day.
Bonnie is a nurse who has dedicated her life to helping others through her work as a nurse. This life of service has been an example to all those who work with her. When I think of why I love working at the Royal Alexandra Hospital; an inner city hospital that treats all those that would otherwise be forgotten, I realize it is because of people like Bonnie. An individual who has spent a lifetime giving back and never expecting anything in return. I can think of no one more deserving than Ms. Bonnie Kissick, nurse manager from the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta.
Respectfully, Matt Tennant, MD, FRCSC, Ophthalmologist, Clinical Professor Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta
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Nurse Bonnie Kissick is an amazing Nursing Hero, who just retired this month after decades of service to the patients in Edmonton and Northern Alberta. As the surgical patient manager at the Royal Alexandra Hospital G O.R. she helped patients and surgeons from multiple services complete their emergency and elective surgical cases in an expert and timely fashion.
Bonnie’s work ethic was nonpareil. I usually arrive in the hospital before 7 am and leave after 7 pm. Bonnie would always be working at her station before I arrived and after I left, optimizing the surgical lists, finding shift replacements, and obtaining supplies.
The Kissick motto was, “Patients come first”. She was a steadfast advocate for what was best for patients and would do her utmost to make the operating room time and resources available for her patients, staff, and surgeons. She found a way to incorporate new medications and new surgical instruments into her limited budget. Her infectious, caring, can-do attitude established the excellent surgical reputation at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Every single surgeon and nurse on multiple surgical services had the utmost respect for Bonnie’s unwavering dedication. We were deeply saddened when Bonnie retired a few weeks ago.
However, we are comforted that in times of adversity we will remember her shining spirit, ask ourselves, “What would Bonnie do?”, and this will lead us on the correct path.
In summary, Nurse Bonnie Kissick is a Medical Hero that kept the Royal Alexandra Hospital safe and above water despite tumultuous seas. Her profound commitment to patient care makes her most deserving of your Nursing Hero Award.
Nominated by: Dr. Edsel Ing Professor & Chair, University of Alberta, Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Chief of Ophthalmology Division, Edmonton Zone and Professor, University of Toronto DOVS
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Re: Bonnie Kissick, RN, Royal Alexandra Hospital For over more than 25 years, my colleague surgeons and I have been inspired, encouraged, supported, and coached by this wonderful nurse. She has, by her significant energy and devotion to patient care, made the BOR (shared mainly by Ophthalmology/ENT) the very best OR in Canada for eye and ENT surgery. There is no question in my mind of this statement, having visited all the major eye/large hospital centres in Canada. She has repeatedly pushed back any suggestion of a nomination for an award. She retired last month and wanted no celebration. She said emphatically that her reward was caring for the patients, nurse and surgeons and making the best outcomes possible. I am saying these words having witnessed the development of the amalgamation of 6 hospital programs into a regional eye centre in 1996, and then the construction of a purpose built OR for Ophthalmology. She should be very proud, as we all are, of her significant accomplishments and advocacy for our program. Because of her, we have a solid foundation, a hub that everyone can depend upon – patients, trainees, nurses, and surgeons. She is truly a “Bonnie lassie”.
Sincerely yours, Ian MacDonald, MSc, MD CM, FCCMG, FRCSC, FACHS Past Department Chair 1992-2014 Past Regional Alberta Health Services, Clinical Chief, Edmonton/Ophthalmolog
