Date: 2022
Location: Edmonton
Profile: Stella Ajuzieogu was born in Igboland, in the South of Nigeria. She began her Nursing and Midwifery education in Nigeria, obtaining her registrations and license to practise as Registered Nurse/Midwife and practising there for several years. She then earned her Nursing degree in Australia, leading to RN work in Australia and New Zealand. After migrating to Canada, she completed her RN registration process with CARNA in 2008. Then Ajuzieogu worked in the acute medical unit at the University of Alberta Hospital. There Ajuzieogu has met subtle forms of exclusion, racism, and irregular shift changes, but kept her focus on holistic patient care. She also worked in surgical units as a float RN, in Emergency for several years, and in the community as AHS Case Manager.
Ajuzieogu is passionate about caring for and supporting people. She advocates for equity, respect and dignity in workplaces. As an active UNA member, Ajuzieogu attended many Local meetings and training sessions. She sees cultural identity, recognition, and integration as important and strives for more understanding of skilled immigrants who arrive in Canada with professional skills, including nurses. Ajuzieogu noted that COVID has worsened the workplace for the nursing community.
Keywords: Biafra; Community Nursing; Contracted Service Providers; COVID Impact; Foreign- Trained Nurses; Nurses of Colour; Racism in Nursing; University of Alberta Hospital.
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See also: Black Communities in Alberta; Systemic Racism in Alberta; United Nurses of Alberta; Alberta Women and Work in Alberta