Star Mahara (top right) of the School of Nursing has received the Award for Excellence in Nursing Education from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

A Thompson Rivers University nurse educator has received the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Award for Excellence in Nursing Education.

The award was presented to Star Mahara on November 15th in Ottawa for her expertise as a teacher, her commitment to cultural safety, the success of Aboriginal students who enter university nursing programs and for being a willing and engaged mentor for novice faculty and graduate nursing students.

“Star Mahara is a leader in Canadian nursing education, particularly in regard to Aboriginal people’s health,” said Dr. Barbara Paterson, Dean, TRU School of Nursing. “Her expertise as a teacher, as well as her commitment to the success of Aboriginal students who enter university nursing education programs, has inspired many nurse educators across the nation to incorporate what Star has taught them. We at the Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing are proud to have Star as a colleague who exemplifies exceptional skill and commitment as a teacher.”

“Her expertise as a teacher, as well as her commitment to the success of Aboriginal students who enter university nursing education programs, has inspired many nurse educators across the nation to incorporate what Star has taught them” – Dr. Barbara Paterson, Dean School of Nursing

Star Mahara has taught students of all levels in the School of Nursing during her 27 years with the university including RN diploma, Post-RN and BSN students. She coordinated and taught in the early RN Refresher Programs and the RPN/RN Access program. She is also a Visiting Lecturer with the UBC School of Nursing, teaching with the Kamloops Cohort of the UBC MSN program. She has been active in distance education, developing and teaching gerontological nursing courses for RN, BSN and Health and Human service students, and as a course writer and reviewer for RN and LPN courses for Open Learning.

Star has also worked with colleagues to make TRU the institution of choice for Aboriginal Students and First Nations. She has worked locally, provincially, and nationally to increase the number of Aboriginal health care providers and to improve the post secondary experience of Aboriginal students.

“It is an honour to recognized by the CASN for the work I have done with others to contribute to education and workforce development action for BC’s Aboriginal peoples,” Star said. “There is a need to continue partnering with Aboriginal individuals and communities to build and disseminate knowledge related to the post secondary experience of Aboriginal students. By improving all nurses’ abilities to practice in a culturally safe manner, and by increasing the number of Aboriginal nurses, we will being moving in the right direction to improve Aboriginal peoples’ health status.”

Mahara attributes the School of Nursing’s unique situation for contributing to an understanding of integrating cultural safety competencies into nursing education and practice. The university is located in a region rich in both urban and rural Aboriginal communities spread across a large geographical area that includes the traditional lands of five different Nations. TRU has one of the largest Aboriginal student populations among the province’s post-secondary institutions and offers specialized services and support designed to enhance Aboriginal students’ chances for a positive post-secondary experience culturally, socially, and academically.