After completing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Elizabeth Orel (BSc ’23, BN ’25) returned to ULethbridge to pursue nursing. Driven by a deep commitment to patient care, research and lifelong learning, Elizabeth's academic journey reflects the very best of what ULethbridge has to offer.
Meet Elizabeth.
Medal won: Faculty of Health Sciences Gold Medal
Program: Bachelor of Nursing – After Degree
Describe your ULethbridge experience in three words.
Invaluable. Profound. Fulfilling.
What drew you to your program?
As a child, I had a formative experience that left an enduring desire within me to pursue a career in health care. Upon completing my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, I realized that I wanted to work within a profession centred on creating meaningful relationships with patients, while also emphasizing robust theoretical and clinical knowledge. I felt nursing truly intersected all of those areas seamlessly.
I also knew without a doubt that I wanted to enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing, After Degree program at the University of Lethbridge, as ULethbridge had already afforded me an abundance of success, invaluable experiences and meaningful relationships within my Bachelor of Science.
What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?
Summarizing my most memorable experience feels virtually impossible. My time here has been made memorable not only by outstanding big moments, but also through smaller, day-to-day ones — going to Campus Coffee Company with peers during breaks, staying up late at the library with friends trying to get through exam season or dreading the walk up the University Hall stairs and arriving to class out of breath.
When I think about the years I spent at ULethbridge, it is often those moments I think back to most fondly.
Did you have an experiential learning opportunity that deepened your work?
During my final year of my BSc, I had the opportunity to complete an independent scoping review on physical activity guidelines throughout pregnancy. This research continued into the beginning of my nursing degree and eventually led to the opportunity to travel to Montreal, Que., where I presented at the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology conference.
Completing independent research was profoundly impactful to my nursing career. It broadened my theoretical knowledge while also improving my skills in navigating and engaging with nursing research that informed and enhanced my practice.
Were there any courses, professors or experiences that changed your perspective?
Each course and professor had their own meaningful impact on broadening my perspective and enhancing my overall academic experience. However, a particular few had a more profound contribution to my overarching values as a nurse.
Dr. Shannon Vandenberg (BN '08, MSc (N) '13, PhD '24) continues to be one of my greatest mentors, teaching me the importance of always being guided by what is ethically and morally right. Her commitment to the health of the globe, rather than just the immediate community, truly allowed me to recognize how impactful the nursing profession can be.
In the practice setting, my clinical instructor Cyrena Quinn exemplified what it means to be an incredible nurse. Her passion, values and dedication to the profession were so profound that she made me want to grow and do better. Quinn instilled a sense of inspiration and dedication within me through simply being herself — and her lessons continue to extend into my nursing practice today.
Lastly, through Jason Wengel's kind and warm nature, he taught me what it means to be an empathetic, sincere and thoughtful nurse. His course exemplified the importance of the non-clinical aspects of the profession that are just as — if not more — crucial to being an exceptional nurse.
What does this academic recognition mean to you?
There truly are no words to express the gratitude I feel in receiving this recognition. This medal is as much mine as it is for all of those who stood in my corner throughout the journey — those who cheered during my successes, offered a shoulder to lean on when things were difficult and believed in me more than I believed in myself.
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I hope to enrol in a master's degree program focused on research surrounding cardiac health and physical activity. One of my greatest goals is also to return to the University of Lethbridge in a teaching role in the nursing department. Teaching has been one of my greatest dreams, and to one day work alongside the many incredible instructors who brought me to this point would be incredibly fulfilling.
What advice would you give to those who are about to begin their journey at ULethbridge? What would you tell your first-year self?
Stay malleable, broad-minded and eager. When I began post-secondary, I had a very detailed plan for what I wanted my journey to look like. The actual journey was almost completely opposite — but more fulfilling and incredible than I could have ever imagined.
Remain curious about what the journey can bring, and remember that the path will likely not be linear. It will be a winding road of experiences that contribute to lifelong friendships, profound professional development and personal growth.
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