Date: 2007
Location: Edmonton
Profile: Alan Besecker, RN, became a United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) executive board member while working at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Besecker grew up in the United States, entered into his nursing career at the age of 40. He became devoted to Canada’s public healthcare system. His entire career was spent caring for oncology patients, during which he experienced first-hand the effects of shrinking hospital resources, coupled with increased patient acuity. Besecker emphasized the importance of mentorship and collaboration to make gains for the profession. He exemplified this in his role as board member of the Staff Nurses’ Association of Alberta (SNAA), and as a promotor of the eventual merger with UNA to form one nurses’ union. Besecker was proud to become elected to the 2001 UNA Negotiating Committee team, which marked a significant round of bargaining with the Ralph Klein government.
Keywords: Klein government; Mental health in the workplace; Nursing burnout; Nursing education; Nursing mentorship; Oncology nursing; Professional responsibility in nursing; Public healthcare; Staff Nurses’ Association; United Nurses of Alberta executive and committees
Transcript: Download PDF
See also: Occupational Health and Safety in Alberta; United Nurses of Alberta