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From Justice to Nursing: Asha Whiteway’s Path to Making a Difference
May 13, 2025
Finding Purpose in a Time of Uncertainty
When Asha Whiteway began her academic journey, she wasn’t planning to become a nurse. With a Bachelor of Arts in History and Police Studies, her original goal was to serve with the RCMP and work toward safer, more equitable communities.
“My education explored the social determinants of criminality and how a person’s circumstances are predictive of recidivism,” she explains. “I hoped to use my position to advocate for societal conditions that improve lives in ways that reduce the likelihood of criminality.”
But in 2020, as the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the RCMP’s training depot suspended operations. That pause became a pivot point. Asha began learning more about biomedical sciences, public health, and the crucial role nurses play. At the same time, her grandfather passed away, and she witnessed firsthand the profound impact nursing care had on his final years.
“His adoration for the nurses who cared for him never wavered,” she recalls. “The care he received at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre showed me how nurses change lives. I realized that nursing would give me the opportunity to make the kind of difference I had always dreamed of.”
The Power of Connection
Now enrolled at Memorial University’s Faculty of Nursing in St. John’s and set to graduate in 2025, Asha has found her passion rooted in the patient experience.
“Human connection is at the core of what I love most about studying nursing,” she says. “I believe in the power of authentic patient-nurse relationships. Listening to patients’ stories deepens empathy, strengthens communication, and enhances advocacy.”
That commitment to connection became especially clear during one of her clinical placements in maternity care.
“I had never held a baby before, let alone bathed one or taught someone else how to,” she says. “But during my ‘Care of the Childbearing Family’ rotation, I gave a newborn bath demonstration to first-time parents. They were so warm and trusting. It reminded me that if you’re caring, competent, and responsive, people will put their trust in you — even with their first child.”
A Costly Commitment
While nursing has been deeply rewarding, it hasn’t come without challenges. For Asha, the biggest has been the sheer financial and time investment required to complete the BScN program.
Living in Harbour Grace, Asha commutes two hours daily — adding up to more than 80,000 kilometres over the course of her degree.
“Nursing students are required to complete over 1,300 hours of unpaid clinical placements,” she notes. “In addition to tuition, books, uniforms, and online learning platforms, there are significant out-of-pocket expenses. Like many students without benefactors, I’ve had to contend with both lost learning and lost earnings.”
Goals on the Horizon
Despite the obstacles, Asha’s goals are firmly in sight. She is currently completing her orientation as a perioperative nurse with NL Health Services and hopes to pursue a role as a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA).
She also has her eyes set on public health — particularly policy.
“I hope to eventually earn a Master’s in Public Health and work toward policy-level change in healthcare,” she says.
What Matters Most
“For me, making a difference in people’s lives will always be the priority,” Asha says. That difference, she believes, can be made one-on-one with patients, within a team of colleagues, or through larger advocacy efforts.
As a nursing student, she’s served as an active member of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) and the Provincial Nursing Network (PNN), working to improve learning conditions for nursing students both provincially and nationally.
“I’m inspired by labour leaders like RNUNL President Yvette Coffey and CFNU President Linda Silas,” she says. “I intend to be a lifelong advocate and a proud RNUNL member.”
A Message for Others
To fellow students, Asha offers this advice:
“When you’re nervous about stepping outside your comfort zone, remember — it feels scary because it’s new, not because you can’t handle it. Keep an open mind. Get involved.”
To nurses: “Thank you for your unwavering support. The kindness and professionalism I’ve seen during my training doesn’t go unnoticed.”
And to the public, she has a heartfelt reminder:
“If you’ve been an inpatient in Newfoundland and Labrador, chances are you’ve been cared for by a nursing student. Students play a critical role in care delivery. In a system facing a shortage of nurses, we need public support to remove the financial barriers to nursing education. Health care is a human right — and so is access to the education needed to deliver it.”