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The lights in CHEO’s Emergency Department shone brightly through the late night.
CHEO nurse Gabrielle White had barely slept, sitting with a mother whose daughter had just been diagnosed with leukemia. White knew at that moment; she simply needed to be there.
Later, during her training as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) student in Oncology, she saw the family again. This time, she saw hope.
White stopped the child’s final dose of preventative medication because she reached that milestone in her post-treatment journey. The child's mother still remembered White from that long night in emergency.
“This situation is exactly why I chose CHEO. To be a source of support in both the darkest and brightest moments. That is why I do this,” White said.
She started at the University of Ottawa in Health Sciences but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit.
Feeling lost, White thought back to her passion for helping others and working in the health-care industry. She then transferred to Algonquin College to become a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).
Her second year’s placement was at CHEO, which introduced her to pediatric nursing but also solidified her career path. She wanted to continue learning while working as a nurse, which she has gone to first become a Registered Nurse (RN), and eventually, a Nurse Practitioner (NP).
“CHEO was a place I had always dreamed of working,” said White.
While pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at St. Lawrence College for becoming a RN, White completed her final consolidation placement at CHEO’s emergency and infectious diseases departments.
The juggle of work, school and being a mom of two has been hard, but White said it’s made her a stronger and better nurse.
CHEO has also continued to support her ambition for higher education, which included two CHEO scholarships.
That message has given her motivation to learn, improve and become a leader at CHEO.
“I couldn’t do what I’m doing right now without CHEO’s support, it’s just really invaluable,” she said.
White is working to complete her master's degree at the University of Toronto in the summer of 2025 and continue her work at CHEO.
She hopes to leverage her NP role to make a greater impact in infectious diseases and immunology, while helping to drive initiatives to improve pediatric health care in remote communities.
“If it’s your goal, then go all in, and that’s what I did.”
Happy Nursing Week! CHEO is filled with kind, dedicated and motivated people like Gabrielle. Join us.