Council Background Information


Below is the information as provided by the 3 (three) elected members.

Newly Elected Council Bios


         Tawanda Chiremba, RPN



 I am currently a Provincial Council Member of the CRPNA Council and just ending the second of a two-year term in that position. I have served on a number of committees and participated in an international conference on professional and occupational regulation during my current tenure. It is my opinion that it would be important to continue with this agenda into a second term, in order to maintain consistency in the coherence and smooth running of Council. Additionally, as a previous member of Council I bring a wealth of council experience, and a historical perspective helpful to new council members. 

I gained accreditation as an RNMH with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, UK in 2004, after graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent UK, in Nursing Studies – Mental Health in 2004; and later from The University of Salford, Manchester UK, in Psychotherapy in 2007. I further accredited as RPN in Alberta in 2013. I have held a variety of positions with the NHS in England, UK and AHS in Alberta since that time – as an RNMH/RPN in acute, rehabilitation, community, old age psychiatry, prison & forensic psychiatry, and emergency psychiatry; as well as a deputy inpatient program manager in York, England; nurse leader, and emergency psychiatry nurse specialist in London, UK. I have also worked in emergency psychiatry in Calgary. Currently I work as a mental health nurse clinician with a community AMH program in Calgary.

Over the past 25 years I have volunteered with several institutions – Barclays Bank, International Human Rights Association, Oxfam International, and CRPNA Provincial Council. I believe that my experience in a wide variety of psychiatric nursing clinical/administrative/managerial environments, my previous experience on this Provincial Council, and my experience as a healthcare manager and administrator working within large health care organizations posits me in good stead as a member of the CRPNA Provincial Council. In addition to RPN, my credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Salford, an Associate degree from Canterbury Christ Church University, a Diploma in Bookkeeping & Accounting from Cambridge Tutorial College UK, a Medical Ethics Certificate from Imperial College London UK, and a Health & Safety certificate from Her Majesty the Department of Transport, UK. I hasten to add that I am currently enrolled on the graduate MPN program with Brandon University. 

As a Provincial Council member, I would like to continue to work with the regulatory bodies in Western Canada, to ensure consistent standards of practice for RPNS and their continued barrier free movement between provinces. I would like to continue to work with RPNC to seek opportunities for RPNs to work within our profession in Eastern Canada, to continue to work within Alberta to add education seats by developing additional psychiatric nursing education programs; and to secure the legislative and regulatory frameworks for the establishment of the RPN PN register. 

       Lisa Fetsch, RPN


 
For the past 32 years Lisa has a combined education and working experience within a variety of heath care departments, as a Manager in a variety of long-term care and home care facilities, Chief Administrator Officer at a lodge and an Educator within the Correctional Centers for Adults (FSCC) Edmonton Young Offenders, and a variety of Nurses Colleges. 

Lisa has served on several committees as a Nursing Manger and CEO such as: Falls Committee, Quality Assurance, OH & S, CoAct, HIAC, RAI, and RLS, Served as a Board of Director's for the Sherwood Park Minor Baseball Association.
     
       Nathan Henshaw, RPN


I am a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) with 11 years experience. I have worked in several varying clinical settings throughout much of the province, though the majority of my experience has been in Southern Alberta, where RPN’s are scarce. This has fueled a passion of mine for the advocacy of our profession, and I seek the opportunity to become a provincial council member as this will allow me to affect change at a provincial level. Additionally, my varied experience allows me to appreciate the unique and specific challenges faced by RPN’s in varying settings. 

Throughout my career I have had the opportunity for rich and varied work experience, including acute inpatient mental health, corrections, psychiatric emergency services, outreach, and presently community mental health.

I have had several opportunities for program development including developing a mental health protocol in a correctional center, and creating a manual that was adapted for provincial correctional policy. In my current role I have developed two therapy groups, a men’s self-esteem process group and an ADHD Skills Group, both of which yield consistently strong post-group outcomes and reflect my subspecialties/interests. I currently am on a working group designated to a mandated clinic redesign. 

I have formal training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and am certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, an evidenced-based form of trauma therapy slowly emerging in Canada. My experience with program development may translate to.

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing in early 2018, after having completed my diploma ten years prior, and am pursing graduate level education.