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Pitman, a member of the campus’s first graduating class in 1999, was nominated for recognition by her nursing student daughter, Tylar Pitman.

“She’s the whole reason I decided to even go into nursing in the first place,” says Tylar, now a second-year student at the same campus. “I wouldn’t be in this career or doing this or learning this if it wasn’t for her.”

A familiar face in Yarmouth

Stephanie Pitman has become a familiar face in Yarmouth, not just in the hospital but in grocery stores, libraries and public events, where former patients often stop to thank her.

“I’ve been a part of an entire generation’s birth stories,” she says. “Whether I remembered the patient or not, I always asked how they were doing and how the little one was.”

Now the clinical practice lead for the women and children’s unit at Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Pitman has held many roles over the years, from staff nurse to clinical nurse educator to assistant manager. Her passion, she says, has always been rooted in providing care close to home.

“If we can do what they do in Halifax here in Yarmouth and save families the time and cost of travel, we do it,” she says. “We strive to learn new things and we advocate to keep patients here.”

Pitman’s journey into nursing began with a personal experience: “I was a sick kid - asthmatic - and I remember how the nurses treated me,” she explains. “That stuck with me. I wanted to do that for others.”

Nurturing leadership and care

She also credits the Yarmouth campus for shaping her approach to leadership and care.

“You go to big universities and you’re just a number,” she says. “At this school, your teachers know your name. They take you under their wing and want you to succeed.”

That sense of connection is something Tylar has already experienced.

“Our class is small and we’re all really close,” she notes. “The teachers are amazing, and we’ve just started our first clinical placements. It’s even better than I imagined.”

Tylar recalled a moment that cemented her admiration for her mother’s dedication. Stephanie had rushed to help when an emergency occurred at a community event.

“She was the first one on the scene,” Tylar remembers. “She was exhausted and shaken, but grateful she could help. That really stuck with me.”

Positively impacting rural health care

Stephanie Pitman says the most rewarding part of her job is knowing she’s made a difference.

“Whether it’s helping a baby into the world or comforting a child in their final moments, it’s a privilege,” she says.

As the Yarmouth campus celebrates three decades of training nurses, Pitman says its impact on rural healthcare is undeniable.

Without this school, our hospitals would be under even more pressure. It allows people to train close to home and stay here. That’s what our communities need. — Stephanie Pitman