National Nursing Week: Former Lukemia patient returns to IWK as a nurse

A young nurse who received treatment at the IWK when she was a little girl was inspired to become a nurse.

Years after receiving cancer treatment at the IWK Health Centre as a child, Tori Sabean is now walking the same halls as the nurses who once helped her.

The Halifax woman, who was diagnosed with leukemia at eight years old, said her experiences at the IWK inspired her to pursue nursing from a young age.

“My mom and I were discussing what I wanted to be for Halloween, and I just finished my treatment, and I was sad I wouldn’t be seeing the nurses anymore, so I said I wanted to dress up as a nurse,” said Sabean.

Sabean returned to the IWK in the fall of 2025 as a nurse, caring for patients at the same hospital where she once received treatment.

“It was quite the transition to see the other side of things, but I think it’s super cool that I can help these families where I had a bunch of nurses helping me.”

Her story is being highlighted during National Nursing Week, which began Monday and celebrates the contributions of nurses across Canada.

Valerie Grdisa, CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association, said the week recognizes nurses’ commitment to patients and families nationwide.

“Nurses serve their patients, families and communities coast to coast to coast,” said Grdisa in an interview with CTV News. “This entire week is a celebration of their service excellence, their commitment and dedication to their patients and families, and the value they bring to the Canadian health system.”

Grdisa said the profession continues to face significant recruitment and retention challenges across the country, though the issues vary between provinces and territories.

She said many early-career nurses are entering workplaces facing staffing shortages, increasing patient demands and limited support systems.

“We still have a ways to go to create the conditions that enable, especially the next generation,” she said.

Grdisa said better staffing ratios, stronger workplace supports and more investment in training and mentorship programs are needed to help retain nurses.

She added that many nurses are working in strained environments where they do not always feel they can provide the level of care they want for patients.

The Canadian Nurses Association says about 500,000 nurses are working across Canada.

Grdisa said nurses should also play a larger role in health-care planning and decision-making as governments look for ways to sustain Canada’s public health-care system.

“We have the solutions,” she said. “We want to work with Canadians, health-system decision-makers, planners and funders to actually make sure that our publicly funded health system stays sustainable for years to come.”

In the meantime, stories like Sabean’s are reminders of why many still choose the profession in the first place.

“When I did my placement in the oncology unit, I carried a little picture of me around when I was sick, and it was really rewarding to me to be able to talk to them and like ‘hey, you’re going to be okay,’ said Sabean.

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