Kiran Sharma is a corporate nursing professional practice leader (PPL) at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital. Kiran joined Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital in 2019 initially as an inpatient surgical PPL before transitioning into her current role, which was brand new to Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital at the time and focused on corporate practices from an overarching level rather than niche units or practices.
Kiran’s career began in 2003 as a nurse in critical care, an area that she is still passionate about to this day. She also developed a love for practice and process improvements, which led her to where she is today. What Kiran loves most about her job as a PPL is the continued evolution of her role and the ability to make improvements to practice as it pertains to what patients require for their care and for clinical staff to be able to meet those needs.
Commitment is a value that stands strong for Kiran, not only to patients, but to her colleagues as well. It was also the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting staff that allowed Kiran to lead the design, development and implementation of the New Nurse Residency Program. This program allows professional practice leaders to meet learners where they are at and helps nurses to feel comfortable and vulnerable enough to be able to identify and raise their hands around where they need help and resources around the learning. Additionally, the current and ever-evolving nursing practice environment in the context of the pandemic has exemplified the experience-complexity gap of new nurses and reinforced the need for practice-based learning.
“In the face of unprecedented challenges within our health care system, on a daily basis I witness the value of commitment and the willingness to engage with devotion and resilience in providing excellent patient care.”
Kiran enjoys working at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital for the tangible feeling of belonging to a family and the community. Outside of work, Kiran is blessed to be the mother of two exceptional little boys who bring immeasurable joy, happiness and love.