CURRICULUM VITAE
Helen Edwards RN BA MN
4054 Renfrew Crescent
Mississauga, Ontario
L5L 4J1
(905) 569-3563
Employment History
May 2006
Part Time Instructor – Issues of Informatics, Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
Master of Nursing Program
Ryerson University
Toronto, Ontario
Nov. 2003 – present
Director – Clinical Informatics and Technology
Centre for Nursing
The Hospital for Sick Children
May 2003 – Nov. 2003
Nurse Liaison
SCM Project
The Hospital for Sick Children
Jan. 2000 – Nov. 2003
Manager
Patient Monitoring Practices Project
The Hospital for Sick Children
April 1997 – Dec. 1999
Educator/Facilitator/Consultant/Project Lead Redesign and Implementation
Strategic Transformation and Redesign (STAR) Project Team
The Hospital for Sick Children
Jan. 1996 - April 1997
Clinical Nurse Educator
Critical Care Program and Cardiac Program
The Hospital for Sick Children
April 1994 - Dec. 1995
Clinical Nurse Educator
Critical Care Program (P.I.C.U.) /Nursing Education Services
The Hospital for Sick Children
April 1991 - April 1994
Nurse Educator
Critical Care Program, Cardiac Program and Medical Specialties Program/
Department of Nursing Education
The Hospital for Sick Children
Nov. 1984 - April 1991
Clinical Instructor
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit /Department of Nursing Education
The Hospital for Sick Children
1981 - 1984
Staff Nurse / Full Time
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
The Hospital for Sick Children
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1979 - 1981
Staff Nurse / Full Time
Medical Ward and Cardiac Care Unit
Lachine General Hospital
Lachine, Quebec
Education
1998 - 2003
University of Toronto
Master of Nursing - Administrative Stream
1986 - 1995
York University (Atkinson College)
Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies - Health Studies Theme
1976 - 1979
John Abbott College
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec
Nursing Diploma
Professional Affiliations
1981 - present
Registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario
1981 - present
Member of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
1988 - 1992 Provincial Nurse Educators Interest Group
1989 - present Pediatric Nurses Interest Group
2003 - present Ontario Nursing Informatics Group
2005 - present
Canadian Nursing Informatics Association
2003 - present
Sigma Theta Tau, Inc
International Honor Society of Nurses
Lambda-Pi At Large Chapter
1984 - 2001
Member of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses (C.A.C.C.N.)
1996 - 1998 Director on the National Board
1993 - 2001 Toronto Chapter (member)
1991 - 1993 Toronto Chapter Education Committee (chairperson)
1985 - 1986 Toronto Chapter Education Committee
1985 - 1994
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
B.C.L.S. Instructor
Accomplishments
2003
Project Advisor to Student
Health Technology Management Program
British Columbia Institute of Technology
2003
Invited to become a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Inc
International Honor Society of Nurses
Lambda-Pi At Large Chapter
1999
Received a Canadian Nurses Foundation Paediatric Masters Award scholarship.
2
1999
Received a Hospital for Sick Children Alma Rae Fellowes scholarship for Masters
education.
1996
Achieved certification in critical care nursing through the Canadian Nurses
Association
1992
Nominated for the Nurse Educator Award of Excellence
The Hospital for Sick Children
1997
Invited speaker at the Hospital for Sick Children Board of Trustees November
1997 Retreat, re the proposed vision and strategy for education.
Publications
Paret, G., Cohen, A., Bohn, D., Edwards, H., Taylor, B., Geary, D. and Williams, W. (1992) Continuous
arteriovenous hemofiltration after cardiac operations in infants and children. The Journal of Thoracic and
Cardiovascular Surgery, 104, 5, 1225 - 1230.
Fleming, F., Bohn, D., Edwards, H., Cox, P., Geary, D., McCrindle, B. and Williams, W. (1995) Renal replacement
therapy after repair of congenital heart disease in children. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 109,
2, 322 - 331.
Conference Planning Committee Involvement
1996 - 1998
Pediatric Critical Care World Congress
Nursing Program (resigned from the committee when my secondment to the STAR
Project prevented me from being fully aware of the current issues in paediatric critical
care. I was able to hand over the responsibilities to the CNS in the CCU to ensure
ongoing representation and presence at such an important occasion.)
1997
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care '97
"Make a Difference: Map Your Future"
Planning Committee
1994 - 1995
Hospital for Sick Children/Toronto Hospital
“Innovations in Nursing Education”
Planning Committee
1993
Hospital for Sick Children/Toronto Hospital
“Innovations in Nursing Education”
Planning Committee
1991
R.N.A.O. Annual Meeting and Convention
"Partners in Care"
Special Events Planning Committee - Student Lunch Coordinator
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care '91
"Unlimited Challenges, Unlimited Opportunities"
Planning Committee
1991
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1987
The Hospital for Sick Children
"Caring Intensively"
Planning Committee
1986
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care '86
"Connections.... Coast to Coast"
Pediatric/Neonatal Planning Committee
Presentations
2005
Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds for Canada’s Children and Youth
Poster Presentation (coming up in October)
Title: Temperature Monitoring Standards in Paediatrics
2005
Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds for Canada’s Children and Youth
Poster Presentation (coming up in October)
Title: Prevention of Entanglement, Strangulation, Entrapment and Falls Related to
Medical Equipment
2004
Trillium Health Centre
Launch of Clinical Systems Implementation Project
Title: Clinical System Implementation: The Importance of Practice Review
2004
Eclipsys User Network Annual Conference
On Board with Outcomes
Conference Presentation
Title: Clinical System Implementation: The Importance of Practice Review
2003
R.N.A.O.
Pediatric Nurses Interest Group
Pediatric Health Care: Child First, Patient Second Conference
Poster Presentation
Title: Implementing a Paediatric Monitoring System
2003
Canadian Association for Pediatric Health Centres
The Future of Health Care: Valuing Children, Youth and Families
Abstract accepted for Poster Presentation (June 2003)
Title: Technology and Practice: Implementing a Comprehensive Paediatric Monitoring
System
2002
Child Health Network
Evidence-based Practice: Ensuring the Best Care for Mothers and Children
Conference presentation
Title: Guidelines for Monitoring Children: Risk Management in Action (invited
speaker)
2001
R.N.A.O.
Best Practice Guidelines Conference
Conference presentation
Title: Developing a Paediatric Monitoring System
2001
Third World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
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Poster presentation
Title: Technology and Practice: Designing a Comprehensive Paediatric Monitoring
System
1998
C.A.C.C.N. - Toronto Chapter
Workshop presentation
Title: Preparing for the Certification Exam - Pediatric Review (invited speaker)
1997
Toronto Critical Care Symposium
Title: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy - Tutorial (invited speaker)
1997
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care ’97
“Make a Difference: Map Your Future”
Title: Critical Care Certification Review: Pediatric Component (invited speaker)
1997
C.A.C.C.N. - Toronto Chapter
Evolutions of Critical Care ’97
Title: Managing Pediatric Respiratory Failure: New Frontiers (invited speaker)
1997
C.A.C.C.N. - Toronto Chapter
Workshop presentation
Title: Preparing for the Certification Exam - Pediatric Review (invited speaker)
1996
C.A.C.C.N.
Evolutions of Critical Care ’96
Title: Pediatric Critical Care Certification Review (invited speaker)
1995
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care ‘95
“New Horizons - The New Millenium Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Reality”
Title: The Valued Professional: Peer Review in a Critical Care Unit
1995
Hospital for Sick Children/Toronto Hospital
“Innovations in Nursing Education”
Title: Peer Review Performance Appraisal (invited speaker)
1994
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care ‘94
“Your Future: The Power to Choose”
Title: Pediatric Renal Replacement Therapy
(invited speaker)
1991
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care ‘91
“Unlimited Challenges, Unlimited Opportunities”
Title: Renal Replacement Therapy in the PICU: From C.A.V.H. to Pumped C.V.V.H.
(invited speaker)
1990
The Hospital for Sick Children
"Caring Intensively"
Title: Meningitis (invited speaker)
1988
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care '88
"Navigating the Winds of Change"
Title: Child Abuse: Family Centered Care in the I.C.U.
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1988
St. Michael's Hospital
Workshop presentation
Title: Infant Resuscitation (invited speaker)
1987
The Hospital for Sick Children
"Caring Intensively"
Title: Pediatric Respiratory Assessment (invited speaker)
1987
C.A.C.C.N. - Kawartha Chapter
Dimensions of Critical Care '87
Title: Pediatric Respiratory Assessment (invited speaker)
1985
C.A.C.C.N.
Dynamics of Critical Care '85
"A Year of Challenge and Change"
Title: Child Abuse: The Phenomenon
1983
The Hospital for Sick Children
"Caring Intensively"
Title: Asthma
Conferences/Workshops Attended
1983 - present
All conferences as indicated under Conference Planning Committees and Presentations
2003
Weekend Immersion in Nursing Informatics
Sponsored by Ontario Nursing Informatics Group (RNAO)
Presented by Informatics Consulting and Continuing Education, LLC
1999
“Change Acceleration Process”
Change Leadership Training presented by General Electric Medical Systems in
association with the Diagnostic Imaging project
1998
“Think on Your Feet”
Structured communication workshop presented by McLuhan and Davies
Communication Inc., sponsored by Human Resources
1994
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
A World Congress on Critical Care Nursing
“Global Connections”
1994
Association for the Care of Children’s Health
29th Annual Conference
“Dreams, Schemes and Flying Machines, Tools for Pediatric Health Care for the
‘90’s..... and beyond”
1988
C.A.C.C.N.
"Northern Lights - Sharing Our Canadian Perspective"
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (A.A.C.N.)
Third International Intensive Care Nursing Conference '88
"Critical Care Knows No Borders"
1988
1987
R.N.A.O.
"Affirming Clinical Excellence - Strategies for Education and Practice"
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1986
R.N.A.O.
"From Novice to Expert"
1985
Women's College Hospital
"Understanding Group Dynamics"
Health Education Resources
1985
A.A.C.N.
National Teaching Institute '85
"Creating the Future"
1985
The Hospital for Sick Children
Interviewing Workshop
1984
Conestoga College
Staff and Patient Teaching (Certificate Course)
Hospital for Sick Children Committee Involvement
2005
Workload Measurement Steering Committee
Co-chair
2005
Nursing Excellence Awards Committee
2005
Nursing Week 2005 Planning Committee
2004 – present
Electronic Chart Audit Committee
2004 – present
Environmental Accreditation Team
2004 – present
I.V. Task Force (co-chair)
2004 – present
Medical /Surgical Sourcing Committee
2004 – present
Information Management Committee
2004 – present
Bed and Therapeutic Surfaces Committee (chair)
2003 – present
Nursing Practice Council
2003 - present
SCM/KidCare Steering Committee
2003 - present
IS Clinical Steering Committee
2003 – present
All committees, task forces and working groups established to develop and implement
the SCM/KidCare Project
2003 – present
Obsolete Equipment Task Force
2001 – 2002
Policy Advisory Committee, then Policy Coordination Committee
2000 – 2003
All committees, task forces and working groups established to implement the
recommendations of the Patient Monitoring Practices Project
1999 - 2000
Interdisciplinary Care Implementation Team
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Chair
(includes the subgroups - Interdisciplinary Rounds Working Group and Professional
Services Referral Guidelines Working Group)
1999
New Roles Implementation Team
Chair
(includes the subgroups - Advanced Practitioner Roles Working Group and
Information Worker Working Group)
1999
S.T.A.R. Project - Implementation
Cluster Implementation Teams
 Cardiac
 Neonatology
 Medical Specialties
 Adolescent Medicine/Psychiatry
 Critical Care
1997 - 1998
S.T.A.R. Project - Phase 4
Cluster Resource Teams
 Haematology/Oncology
 Cardiac
 Neonatology
 Medical Specialties
 Perioperative Care Unit
1997 - 1999
Education Task Force
Co-Chair
1995 - present
Humanitarian Awards Selection Committee
Dec. 1996 - March 1997
S.T.A.R. Phase 3 Education Sub-group
Chairperson
1995 - 1996
Nursing Performance Management Task Force
1994 - 1996
Nursing Practices Committee
1994 - 1995
Central Venous Line Committee
1994 - 1996
Peritoneal Dialysis Resource group
1992 - 1996
Health Records Committee
1991 - 1993
Department of Nursing Education - Education Funding Committee
1991 - 1993
Nursing Executive Committee
1990 - 1992
Central Venous Line Resource Group
1991
Universal Precautions Resource Group
1988 - 1993
Nursing Documentation Sub-Committee
(Chairperson 1992 - 1993)
1986 - 1993
Nursing Library Sub-Committee
(Chairperson 1991 - 1993)
8
1985 - 1990
H.S.C. Nursing Resuscitation Committee
(Chairperson 1987 - 1989)
1987 - 1989
H.S.C. Emergency Resuscitation Committee
Critical Care Program
1990 - 1997
Quality Assurance/Quality Management Committee (PICU)
1985 - 1997
Research Committee (PICU)
Cardiac Program
1996 - 1997
Educational Materials Review Committee
Outside Activities
1995 – present
All Saints Catholic School
 Graduation Committee – Chairperson (2003, 2004, 2005)
 Press Room (typing children’s original stories)
 Fun Fair - Planning Committee
 Laminating materials for staff and students
 School Council – Secretary and Fundraising Chair Positions (2003, 2004, 2005)
1993 - present
Children’s Liturgy teacher (Sunday School)
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
1994
Maternal/Child Consumer Group
Credit Valley Hospital
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