Psychiatric nurse recognized for ‘going above and beyond’

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This article was published 14/08/2024 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Brandon psychiatric nurse has received a provincial award of excellence from the Registered Psychiatric Nurses’ Foundation Inc. for “going above and beyond” in providing support, and for helping her clients feel “accepted and heard.”

Rebecca Sourisseau says she was “born to help people” — and she demonstrated that four years ago when she saved the life of a man who was on the First Street Bridge and threatening self-harm.

“I just knew that he was in distress, and I thought, I’ll just go up and keep him talking to me until the police got there. He just needed someone to listen to him,” said Sourisseau.

At that time, Sourisseau was working as a mental health worker in Waywayseecappo. Today, she has her own practice and through a contract with the federal government, sees Indigenous clients who are dealing with intergenerational trauma, addictions and abuse.

“I have a love of the Indigenous people — a lot of times they are misunderstood and marginalized. I can help and be an advocate for their people and their needs,” she said, adding, “I firmly believe in creating a relationship with my clients because without having that relationship and the trust, change can’t happen.

“So, I work very hard at developing relationships, no matter how long it takes. And I feel like people can trust me.”

It’s not always easing gaining someone’s trust.

“Sometimes it doesn’t look like I’m doing therapy — I have to think outside the box,” she said.

“Let’s say I have a teen, and he doesn’t really want to be there. I’ll say, ‘Hey, come on. Let’s jump in my car, let’s go get a Tim Hortons, let’s drive around for an hour, then you don’t have to look at me.’ Right? Because a lot of good conversations happen in cars driving around,” Sourisseau said.

That “progressive approach” is one of the reasons why Erin Alexender, also a psychiatric nurse, and Crystal Fleury, a social worker, nominated Sourisseau for the provincial award through the Registered Psychiatric Nurses’ Foundation Inc.

The foundation is a charitable organization that raises money for scholarships and grants for psychiatric nursing students in their undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level studies.

It also recognizes and awards excellence in psychiatric nursing under four domains of practice: leadership, research, education and clinical practice — which is Sourisseau’s award category. It was presented to her by the foundation in May.

Fleury said when she was taking her social work degree in 2011, Sourisseau was her mental health practicum supervisor, and became her mentor last year.

“Rebecca is so laid back that people are just so comfortable with her,” Fleury said. “She is in a clinical practice, which sounds very medical and can sound very scary to the population that we work with, but she provides it in such a laid-back way that they are getting the same clinical services that they would get anywhere else, but they don’t feel uncomfortable or judged.”

Sourisseau graduated from Brandon University in 2002 with a bachelor of science in psychiatric nursing. Her first job was at Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon, with additional employment at the Child and Adolescent Treatment Centre, Westman Crisis Services, Adult Community Health and working with at-risk youth in foster care.

Sourisseau’s dedication to “helping people live the life they want to live” is what caught the attention of the awards committee and the approval of the foundation’s board of directors, said board president Bev Gradidge.

“Rebecca is a real example of someone who goes over and above, is well-known in the community, working with clients, families and communities, but also networking with other organizations that work with people in the field,” Gradidge said.

“To be a recipient of this award really demonstrates that people like Rebecca stand out in the field and are real ambassadors for the profession of psychiatric nursing.”

It was a huge honour to receive the award, said Sourisseau, who added, “It was a complete shock because I feel so blessed that I get to do what I do, because I really love my job.

“The more we do for others, the happier we are in our own lives,” she said. “That’s what brings me joy. Maybe that was my gift.”

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