Convocation Spotlight - Lily Lu

Lily Lu

When Lily Lu was in Grade 11, she had to have scoliosis surgery and was inspired by the nurse practitioner who led the interdisciplinary team in charge of her care at the B.C. Children’s Hospital. The experience solidified her desire for a career in health care, and she moved to Edmonton to do a BScN. Upon graduation, she worked as a registered nurse in pediatric surgery/trauma for six years before deciding to further her education. She wanted to enhance her clinical skills, deepen her research knowledge and increase her autonomy as a clinician in order to improve her practice with the pediatric population in Edmonton and surrounding communities.

Here, Lu tells us why the master of nursing, nurse practitioner program at the University of Alberta was the perfect choice.

What are you most proud of from your time in the program?

There were several moments I'm proud of. One was receiving the Graduate Student Teaching Award. I felt deeply honoured to be the first teaching assistant for the Indigenous students from the transition year program, where I taught research and clinical knowledge while also learning about students' personal experiences, Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous ways of learning. 

Another significant accomplishment for me was receiving the Tylenol Fund to Advance Diversity in Nursing and Health Equity Research Scholarship. 

Lastly, a truly personal highlight was giving birth to my first child during my graduate studies and receiving tremendous support from my supervisors and the faculty.

What advice would you give to a student thinking of entering this program?

If a student has an interest in research and advanced nursing practice, I would strongly encourage them to choose the thesis-based program for their NP studies. Conducting clinical research as a thesis student advanced my understanding of evidence-based practice, sharpened my critical thinking and analytical skills and also allowed me to contribute to advancing the nursing profession. 

For instance, during my own thesis, I studied the timing of mask fitting for children requiring non-invasive ventilation. In fact, I just started a new job as an NP, and there are already opportunities for me to collaborate with the nursing educator and other interdisciplinary team members on research projects aimed at quality improvement. I would not be able to get as involved if I did not have the research experience as a thesis student.

What comes next for you?

As I move forward in my career as a newly practising graduate nurse practitioner, my focus will be on blending clinical practice with research to drive meaningful changes in health care. My goal is to actively contribute to improving patient outcomes by integrating evidence-based practices and pursuing opportunities to lead quality improvement projects.