Belleville, Ontario, June 14, 2021 – Loyalist College graduate Mahoganie Hines was recognized with the Registered Nurse Award at the Nursing Now Ontario Awards last month. The awards were hosted by the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN). Hines, a Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant for Hospice Niagara and Registered Nurse, is a graduate of the College’s Pre-Health Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
“We are proud of Mahoganie’s achievements and the difference she is making in the lives of patients every single day,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO. “Nurses are the backbone of Canada’s health care system. They play a critical role in sustaining our collective physical, emotional and social well-being. It takes a special individual to guide patients and families through palliative care as they experience one of the most emotionally charged and difficult periods of life. Mahoganie does this work skillfully, compassionately and with a commitment to better the policies and conditions that govern end-of-life care.”
Hines is an active and passionate advocate for person-centred care and increased visibility and equity in the palliative care community. She has volunteered as RNAO’s Policy and Political Action Executive Network Officer, serving in this role for both the Niagara Chapter and Palliative Care Nurses Interest Group for the last four years. She also sits on the inaugural Executive Board of the Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association as Secretary/Treasurer and recently stepped into the role of Chair of the Palliative Care Consultants Network of Ontario. Hines is also a committee member for the Overdose Prevention Education Network of Niagara.
“I am so fortunate to have had my foundational basis of nursing knowledge developed and honed at Loyalist College,” said Hines. “I still speak to several of my former professors who I am honoured to now call my colleagues. Many College faculty members have even helped to endorse me, and they continue to support me as a nurse in both my practice and educational efforts. I have been accepted to a Master of Health Science in Bioethics program beginning this Fall, which will help me to continue to advocate for ethical practices and policies in palliative and end-of-life care, as well as positive public policy for overall health care.”
The Nursing Now Ontario Awards recognize exceptional nurses who improve the health outcomes of Ontarians and who contribute to the nursing practice. Awards are presented to one winner in three categories: Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Registered Nurse (RN) and Nurse Practitioner (NP). Hines was chosen from among 213 nominees from across the nursing profession in Ontario for her outstanding work providing palliative and end-of-life care for residents of the Niagara region, and for her tireless efforts to improve public health policy.
About Loyalist College
Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2018-19 graduates, 88.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.
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