Stephanie Pitman has spent nearly three decades caring for women and children in her home community. This fall, the longtime registered nurse finds herself in the spotlight as 蘑菇AV's School of Nursing Yarmouth Campus marks 30 years in the community.
Stephanie, a member of the campus鈥檚 first graduating class in 1999, was nominated for recognition by her daughter, Tylar Pitman, now a second-year nursing student on the same campus.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the whole reason I decided to even go into nursing in the first place,鈥� says Tylar. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be in this career or doing this or learning this if it wasn鈥檛 for her.鈥�
I鈥檝e been a part of an entire generation鈥檚 birth stories.
Stephanie has become a familiar face in Yarmouth, not just in the hospital but in grocery stores, libraries and public events, where former patients often stop to thank her.
鈥淚鈥檝e been a part of an entire generation鈥檚 birth stories,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hether I remembered the patient or not, I always asked how they were doing and how the little one was.鈥�
Care close to home
Now the clinical practice lead for the women and children鈥檚 unit at Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Stephanie has held many roles over the years, from staff nurse to clinical nurse educator to assistant manager. Her passion, she says, has always been rooted in providing care close to home.
鈥淚f we can do what they do in Halifax here in Yarmouth and save families the time and cost of travel, we do it,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e strive to learn new things and we advocate to keep patients here.鈥�
Stephanie鈥檚 journey into nursing began with a personal experience: 鈥淚 was a sick kid 鈥� asthmatic 鈥� and I remember how the nurses treated me. That stuck with me. I wanted to do that for others.鈥�
Yarmouth Campus BScN Class of 2027 at their pinning ceremony.
She also credits the Yarmouth campus for shaping her approach to leadership and care.
鈥淵ou go to big universities and you鈥檙e just a number,鈥� she says. 鈥淎t this school, your teachers know your name. They take you under their wing and want you to succeed.鈥�
If we can do what they do in Halifax here in Yarmouth and save families the time and cost of travel, we do it.
That sense of connection is something Tylar has already experienced.
鈥淥ur class is small and we鈥檙e all really close,鈥� she notes. 鈥淭he teachers are amazing, and we鈥檝e just started our first clinical placements. It鈥檚 even better than I imagined.鈥�
'It's a privilege'
Tylar recalled a moment that cemented her admiration for her mother鈥檚 dedication. Stephanie had rushed to help when an emergency occurred at a community event.
鈥淪he was the first one on the scene. She was exhausted and shaken, but grateful she could help," remembers Tyler. "That really stuck with me,鈥�
Stephanie says the most rewarding part of her job is knowing she鈥檚 made a difference.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 helping a baby into the world or comforting a child in their final moments, it鈥檚 a privilege,鈥� she says.
As the Yarmouth campus celebrates three decades of training nurses, Stephanie says its impact on rural health care is undeniable.
鈥淲ithout this school, our hospitals would be under even more pressure,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t allows people to train close to home 鈥� and stay here. That鈥檚 what our communities need.鈥�