I wanted to share with the world the speech I recently gave at Texas Tech University, Health Science Center, School of Nursing, graduation ceremony held on May 20th, 2011. Enjoy!
Good afternoon graduates, faculty, staff, family members, friends and special guests. I would like to share a story with you.
Love, Dream & Fly
This is the story of a shy little boy. This little boy was born outside of the United States and English was not his native language. He was raised in a loving family. His parents always believed in him. They trusted him. He trusted them in return. He was the first in his family to go to college. His parents loved him so much that this love fueled him with energy and a desire to go even further. He wanted more. He had a dream. His dream was to obtain a doctorate degree. Like many, his life was also filled with a few “detours”, but he never lost focus on his dream. Today, this shy French Canadian little boy is standing in front of you, achieving his dream. He is graduating with a Doctorate Degree in Nursing Practice.
I am sharing this story to highlight the importance of loving your children, believing in your children, and allowing them to dream. Success starts at a very young age. Today we have an entire auditorium filled with success stories and I applaud all of you for your efforts, for living your dream.
Nursing is an outstanding profession. As a nurse you can make a difference everyday in the life of others. We are so fortunate to be able to do that. As a baccalaureate prepared registered nurse I was prepared to help families in hardship situations. I personally saved lives in the emergency room. As a master prepared registered nurse, I was prepared to develop processes to make healthcare a safer place for our patients. I participated in quality improvement studies and influenced thousands of nurses across the country. As a doctor of nursing practice, I am now prepared at the highest level of leadership in practice and scientific inquiry. The highest level of leadership in practice. Wow, how about that for a dream.
I applaud your efforts. I congratulate all of you for your accomplishments. Mom, Dad, family members, partners, spouses, friends, mentors a special thanks to all of you. It would not have been possible without your unconditional support. Thank you. Merci. Jeffie, you mean the world to me.
Guillaume Appolinaire wrote “Come to the edge’ he said. They said, “We are afraid.” “Come to the edge,” he said. They came. He pushed them…and they flew.” This is the time when our faculty are pushing us into the world. Fly, (pregnant pause) we will make a difference. Fly (pregnant pause) our dreams come true. Always remember the reason why we took this flight into nursing: To make a difference in the life of others through knowledge and caring. Today is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. The future belongs to those who dare to pursue their dream. What will be your next dream?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Nurse Syl is now Dr. Syl
Dear family, friends, colleagues and readers. I wanted to share with you a recent press release that I am very proud of. I have pasted for your reading pleasure the press release below.
Sylvain “Syl” Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP has been invited into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing . This is an “invitation only” membership based on his academic excellence. The honor society is a global community of nurse leaders where members lead in using evidence based-knowledge, scholarship, service and learning to improve health care delivery worldwide.
Syl was inducted on May 20th, 2011 during a special ceremony in Lubbock, Texas. Syl was inducted while attending Texas Tech University, Health Science Center, Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing Convocation where he was granted a Doctor in Nursing Practice Degree from the same University. He was also the recipient of the Dean’s Nursing Excellence Award for outstanding academic performance.
Prior to his appointment as a Senior Director, Syl was the Chief Nursing Officer at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and North Shore Medical Center from 2004 until 2008. Syl currently serves on Tenet’s National Nursing Executive Council, Patient Safety Sub-Committee, Quality Summit Planning Committee, National CNO Summit, and Falls Prevention Committee. Syl has obtained the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award for outstanding nursing leadership both in 2005 and 2007. Syl is a member of the American Organization of Nursing Executive (AONE) since 2007. He has been appointed on AONE’s Health Care Reform Task Force and is also a member of Nurse Leader’s Advisory Board. He is a member of the American Nurses Association and a member of the Texas Nurses Association. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Montreal Canada.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation is for-profit healthcare system which owns and operates 49 acute care hospitals across the country and is based in Dallas Texas.
For more information on Tenet Healthcare Corporation visit www.tenethealth.com or www.tenetnurse.com .
Sylvain “Syl” Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP has been invited into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing . This is an “invitation only” membership based on his academic excellence. The honor society is a global community of nurse leaders where members lead in using evidence based-knowledge, scholarship, service and learning to improve health care delivery worldwide.
Syl was inducted on May 20th, 2011 during a special ceremony in Lubbock, Texas. Syl was inducted while attending Texas Tech University, Health Science Center, Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing Convocation where he was granted a Doctor in Nursing Practice Degree from the same University. He was also the recipient of the Dean’s Nursing Excellence Award for outstanding academic performance.
Prior to his appointment as a Senior Director, Syl was the Chief Nursing Officer at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and North Shore Medical Center from 2004 until 2008. Syl currently serves on Tenet’s National Nursing Executive Council, Patient Safety Sub-Committee, Quality Summit Planning Committee, National CNO Summit, and Falls Prevention Committee. Syl has obtained the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award for outstanding nursing leadership both in 2005 and 2007. Syl is a member of the American Organization of Nursing Executive (AONE) since 2007. He has been appointed on AONE’s Health Care Reform Task Force and is also a member of Nurse Leader’s Advisory Board. He is a member of the American Nurses Association and a member of the Texas Nurses Association. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Montreal Canada.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation is for-profit healthcare system which owns and operates 49 acute care hospitals across the country and is based in Dallas Texas.
For more information on Tenet Healthcare Corporation visit www.tenethealth.com or www.tenetnurse.com .
Monday, March 7, 2011
United States Healthcare System versus Canada’s Socialized Healthcare System
Which do you prefer the United States (US) Healthcare System or Canada’s Socialized Healthcare System? This is one of the most common questions I am asked when people find out I was born, raised, and lived in Canada for 30 years. It may appear to be a simple question and it is not. I think that both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. I will offer my perspective on this question.
I was born in the city of Montreal, which is in the province of Quebec, Canada. Health care in Canada is a publicly-funded system, guided by the Canada Health Act. By 1961, all 10 Canadian provinces agreed to participate. When I grew up, it never occurred to me that healthcare was not accessible to everyone in the world. I took it for granted. If anyone in my family was sick, we went to the doctor, showed our identification card, and voila, free healthcare! I saw the doctor every year for prevention and I could access any emergency room when needed. The older I got, the more information I obtained about the fact that care was, perhaps, free at the point of service, however everyone was paying for my g health care through their income tax. And that tax is not inexpensive In fact an average registered nurse in Quebec can expect to pay an average of 44% in both federal and provincial income tax according to Canada Revenue Agency (2011) and Revenue Quebec (2011). In other words, there is no such thing as “free” healthcare, even in a socialized healthcare system. What I admired most about the system was the emphasis on prevention. In my opinion the most previous gift of a society is health and in order to have health, there has to be a strong prevention plan.
I moved in the US in 1997 and my family was both happy and concerned. Many would say, “Be sure not to get sick because it’s going to cost you a lot of money in the US”. Everyone would have a horror story to share about that. What my experience demonstrated was that, as a nurse, I was able to afford healthcare insurance, obtain the same level of “curative” care that I had in Canada, and get it at a less expensive price, considering that income tax is lower in the US?. I realized I prefer this US system.
The reality is, that unlike many in the US, I have access to insurance, can afford the insurance, and I am healthy. Since I believe that a healthy society is crucial, there has to be a way to offer preventive medicine and affordable care to everyone. This statement is not an endorsement of the current Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as written. However, it is my position that the current system is not optimal for all US citizens and reform is essential to ensure the viability of our great Nation. Yes! I have been a proud US citizen since 2008.
So when someone asks me, “Which do you prefer, the US healthcare system or Canada’s socialized healthcare system?”, my response is “Both”. They both provided the opportunity for me to have a healthy lifestyle—from prevention to curative care-- when needed, at an acceptable price for me. The question that we should ask ourselves is. ”What will it take to ensure that all US citizens are offered the proper healthcare (including prevention) services so that we remain healthy and productive? And don’t let anyone lead you to believe it could be free, because it cannot. Healthcare is not free, but it is a worthwhile investment for any Nation.
I was born in the city of Montreal, which is in the province of Quebec, Canada. Health care in Canada is a publicly-funded system, guided by the Canada Health Act. By 1961, all 10 Canadian provinces agreed to participate. When I grew up, it never occurred to me that healthcare was not accessible to everyone in the world. I took it for granted. If anyone in my family was sick, we went to the doctor, showed our identification card, and voila, free healthcare! I saw the doctor every year for prevention and I could access any emergency room when needed. The older I got, the more information I obtained about the fact that care was, perhaps, free at the point of service, however everyone was paying for my g health care through their income tax. And that tax is not inexpensive In fact an average registered nurse in Quebec can expect to pay an average of 44% in both federal and provincial income tax according to Canada Revenue Agency (2011) and Revenue Quebec (2011). In other words, there is no such thing as “free” healthcare, even in a socialized healthcare system. What I admired most about the system was the emphasis on prevention. In my opinion the most previous gift of a society is health and in order to have health, there has to be a strong prevention plan.
I moved in the US in 1997 and my family was both happy and concerned. Many would say, “Be sure not to get sick because it’s going to cost you a lot of money in the US”. Everyone would have a horror story to share about that. What my experience demonstrated was that, as a nurse, I was able to afford healthcare insurance, obtain the same level of “curative” care that I had in Canada, and get it at a less expensive price, considering that income tax is lower in the US?. I realized I prefer this US system.
The reality is, that unlike many in the US, I have access to insurance, can afford the insurance, and I am healthy. Since I believe that a healthy society is crucial, there has to be a way to offer preventive medicine and affordable care to everyone. This statement is not an endorsement of the current Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as written. However, it is my position that the current system is not optimal for all US citizens and reform is essential to ensure the viability of our great Nation. Yes! I have been a proud US citizen since 2008.
So when someone asks me, “Which do you prefer, the US healthcare system or Canada’s socialized healthcare system?”, my response is “Both”. They both provided the opportunity for me to have a healthy lifestyle—from prevention to curative care-- when needed, at an acceptable price for me. The question that we should ask ourselves is. ”What will it take to ensure that all US citizens are offered the proper healthcare (including prevention) services so that we remain healthy and productive? And don’t let anyone lead you to believe it could be free, because it cannot. Healthcare is not free, but it is a worthwhile investment for any Nation.
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