Alison Derksen was making her rounds in a busy hospital when she paused at a hallway bed and asked a woman how she was doing, and whether she needed anything at all.
“She looked at me and started crying,” says Derksen, a Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) nursing student. “It meant so much to her that I asked.”
It was a simple, routine check-in, but in that moment during a clinical placement, Derksen was reminded why she’d chosen to study nursing.
“I could help that patient feel seen through a simple request that helped her. I could make her feel cared for in that moment.”
Derksen’s educational journey at KPU is being supported by the Steve and Karen McDonald Nursing Endowed Entrance Scholarship. The scholarship covers the cost of her entire program, allowing Derksen to focus on her studies without the pressure of paying for school.
Now in her fifth semester of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Advanced Entry program, Derksen came to KPU having already completed a bachelor’s degree in biology and paramedicine training. Working as a paramedic, one responsibility was transferring patients — sometimes accompanied by a nurse. Watching nurses in those high-pressure situations — ready to intervene if a patient’s health takes the wrong turn — left an impression on Derksen.
She applied to KPU, but going back to school presented a huge financial challenge. She applied for all possible scholarships, but with little hope any of them would come through, Derksen began planning for loans and a part-time job.
Then in second semester, Derksen was awarded a full-ride scholarship.
“When I was awarded the scholarship, it felt like this huge weight was lifted,” she says. “I just remember being in shock. I started thinking about it — this is my entire university paid for.”
She felt doors had opened for her, and Derksen could now see a future of helping people — tending to patients’ medical needs and emotional needs.
“The hospital can be a really scary place for people,” she says. “I want to listen to them. I want to offer compassion and empathy. That’s one of the main reasons I want to go into nursing instead of staying in paramedicine. With nursing you have more time to make meaningful connections with patients.”
At KPU Langley, where the Faculty of Health’s nursing programs are located, the Steve and Karen McDonald Nursing Lab carries the name of the family with the vision and commitment to provide two full-ride nursing scholarships each year through a $500,000 endowment. By removing financial barriers, the McDonalds are ensuring that deserving students can dedicate themselves fully to their education, training and future careers in health care.
“To me, this is life-changing. I never thought this would happen. They are helping me achieve this dream. I’m getting this career in health care that I wanted for so long,” says Derksen.