Emma Bradley-Island is trading her fire hose for a stethoscope as she begins the BScN program at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
This fall, firefighter Emma Bradley-Island, will join the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto as a first year BScN student, a decision years in the making. Now Bradley-Island is ready to pursue a new career bringing all she has learned from her experiences as a first responder to the program.
“As a firefighter you have the privilege of supporting people on some of the worst days of their lives, but you rarely get to see their transition towards healing. Nurses on the other hand, are able to nurture resilience and play a larger role in their patient’s recovery.,” says Bradley-Island. “That is something I have always wanted to be a part of.”
After high school, Bradley-Island had originally set her sights on a career in healthcare, but after unexpected life events and losing someone close to her in a house fire, becoming a firefighter seemed like a natural next step.
“Firefighting was the perfect way to challenge myself and fulfill my desire to help people when they need it most,” says Bradley-Island.
After spending five years as a firefighter and studying part-time to complete her undergraduate degree at Athabasca University, Bradley-Island finally made the decision to return to her original passion for healthcare.
There are some similarities between being a first responder and being a nurse says Bradley-Island which are focused on teamwork, communication and mental health. As a wind turbine rescue instructor and fire college instructor, Bradley-Island has developed knowledge translation skills that she knows will benefit her when communicating with patients. She is also proud of her capacity to navigate occupational and vicarious trauma – trauma that stems from being repeatedly exposed to the trauma of others – which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of how to manage her mental health.
“Watching some of the strongest firefighters I knew, struggle with their mental health helped me challenge the narrative that mental illness was the result of personal weakness. Without intervention, negative health impacts seem to be an inevitable part of helping others in traumatic situations,” says Bradley-Island. “It made me recognize how important it is to be proactive about my own health and wellbeing.”
Her self-care techniques, like eating well, exercising, going to therapy and getting enough sleep, as well investing in the interprofessional collaboration that comes from working in a health care profession, are all skills she knows will serve her well in the nursing program.
“You learn to rely your peers and to look out for one another, especially during difficult times,” she says. “I imagine this dynamic is also very important in nursing.”
As a future nurse, Bradley-Island envisions herself still being on the front-lines of responding to a crisis, something she says stems from an innate drive to help people in every situation. Working as a nurse in a trauma centre and eventually as a travel nurse responding to natural disasters is something that she feels will fulfill her desire to play an active role in providing care for people experiencing trauma and helping them move beyond it.
“I think my experiences as a firefighter have made me confident in my abilities and have taught me how to navigate danger and chaos,” says Bradley-Island. “I’m excited for this new chapter of my life, where I can focus on being a full-time student and exploring all of the opportunities that the University of Toronto has to offer.”
“I’m happiest when I am growing and learning something new.”