Meredith Kuipers isn’t a typical Nursing student.

While many of her peers were navigating life away from their parents for the first time, Kuipers enrolled in Brock’s four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program with two degrees already completed and nearly two decades of career experience.

Having recently finished her second year of Nursing studies at Brock, the mature student is achieving high academic standing while balancing a part-time role as a Research Assistant with Brock’s Nursing Department, operating her own small business, volunteering her time in the community of Port Colborne and managing family responsibilities.

Kuipers’ achievements were recently recognized by the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO) at a gala celebration Wednesday, May 1, where she received the Lucy Glass Memorial Scholarship. The award is presented annually to an undergraduate Nursing student who has returned to higher education after a significant time away from formal studies.

“No matter what age, post-secondary is tough. I’ve done it fresh out of high school and now, many years later while balancing more demanding responsibilities,” says Kuipers. “I’m quite happy with how I’m doing academically and thank the Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario for recognizing me.”

After completing a master’s degree, Kuipers spent several years working in Toronto doing research in rehabilitation science and emergency medicine before moving to Portugal in 2016. While living abroad, she pursued roles in advertising, branding and customer experience.

Kuipers returned to Ontario shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 and started working for herself. She contemplated returning to a career in health care after seeing the growing need for health-care providers during the pandemic.

“I had considered attending nursing school in 2015, but the timing wasn’t right,” says Kuipers. “In 2022, when I applied to Brock, a lot of things were changing in my life and I thought, ‘what’s one deliberate choice I can make that will ultimately be an investment in my future?’”

Although she had experience working in health-care settings, she felt that a clinical designation would be an asset to her career growth and would create new trajectories. Brock’s Nursing program provides her with the clinical judgement and practical, hands-on training she requires to work as a health-care professional.

“The most valuable experience has been the opportunity to learn with skilled nurses in both academic and clinical settings,” she says. “Lecture-based teaching gives nurses a sound knowledge base, but nursing is also a very pragmatic and hands-on profession. Translating classroom learning to the lab and then to the clinical space takes practice and guidance. Brock’s Nursing faculty, lab staff and clinical instructors are critical in this process, and it’s clear the people in these roles are dedicated to student success.”

As a Research Assistant, Kuipers is contributing to the development of a new fourth-year course under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Orr. Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, which will be included in the renewed Brock BScN curriculum, is informed by current students and recent graduates and is expected to be piloted when Kuipers is in her final year. The research is funded by the Chancellor’s Chair for Teaching Excellence, an annual grant from Brock for research that supports students.

“I am thankful for faculty who have recognized my skills and credentials and given me opportunities that enhance my educational experience and help to further develop my research skills,” says Kuipers.

“It’s been quite nice to make the pivot back to health care research and education. It’s a return to familiar territory with a whole new set of challenging perspectives, skills and ways of knowing.”