When it comes to career options for students and graduates of the Trent Fleming School of Nursing (TFSON), alumna Sarah Bartol RN ’09 wants them to know the sky is the limit.  

After graduating from Trent University with a B.Sc.N. in 2013, Sarah (Otonabee College) has worked in many areas including a multi-organ transplant inpatient unit, a medical-surgical ICU serving some of the sickest patients in Canada, and a cardiovascular intensive care unit.  

But she says her most rewarding role, so far, has been as a critical care flight nurse which has included the “adventure” of helping transport patients by plane between different areas, provinces and countries including once helping deliver a pre-term baby during a flight to a hospital in Iqaluit.  

“The combination of exploring different countries, cultures, and healthcare systems while doing critical care nursing can be exciting and challenging,” she says. “Imagine receiving a report of an ICU patient in another language - using a translator - on the other side of the world!” 

On National Nursing Week 2023 (May 8-14), Sarah says she hopes to inspire Trent’s nursing students and new grads to explore the many opportunities for their careers.  

From Toronto to Arctic

Sarah started her career at Toronto General Hospital, floating between a wide variety of specialties before moving into the medical-surgical ICU where some of the sickest patients in the country receive care. By 2017, she got her first opportunity as a flight nurse when she began working in Nunavut to transport patients to hospitals in Ontario and Manitoba.  

“This job requires an expanded scope since there is limited physician support in the Arctic and the patients could be sick or transported for a variety of reasons ranging from mental health crises, pre-term labour, babies in respiratory distress and critically ill trauma patients,” she says.  

In 2018, Sarah began working in the cardiovascular ICU in Calgary, later moving back to Ontario to work in medical surgical ICUs in Oakville and Brantford.  

“This was during the pandemic and I experienced some pretty devastating situations that I think we’re all familiar with: really, really sick patients isolated and families having to say goodbye over video chat, if even at all,” she says. “After all of this, I really missed the challenge and adventure of flight nursing and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do that again but internationally this time.” 

Trent Creates Strong Foundation

Sarah credits Trent for providing a strong foundation for her career through small class sizes, interactive lectures, clinical placements that start in first year, and outstanding faculty.  

With the pandemic coming to an end, Sarah says it has never been more evident how much the healthcare system relies on nurses.  

Investing in the TFSON is more important than ever, she adds, to ensure that the next generations of nurses are equipped to deal with anything. In the event of a future pandemic, strong investment will mean Nursing students will be prepared by having been educated with the best equipment, training, and hands-on experience.  

“Investing in nursing students is investing in the future of healthcare and it’s so important to have the best equipment, experiences, and faculty so that they have confidence in their skills when they go out into the workforce,” she says.  

Learn more about supporting Nursing at Trent University through the Campaign for Momentous Change.