The idea
Going the Distance
Paula's presentations are built on real-life stories of gratitude, grit, and resilience. Drawing parallels from her marathon running experiences, she explores the art of going the distance in nursing — and finding purpose in every step. Her key themes include:
- Harnessing the Power — knowing our reason for being here, and recognizing the gifts we've been given.
- Surviving the Storms — cultivating grit to overcome the hardships we encounter.
- Finding New Start Lines — developing strategies, staying focused, working together, maintaining resilience, and getting back up when we fall.
You don't need to be a runner to connect with Paula's lessons about going the distance — or to see yourself in them. As Paula puts it, you just need to know what it feels like to work really hard toward something.
“The hardest part isn't crossing the finish line.
It's getting to the start line.”
The talk
What to expect
Paula's style is motivational and deeply personal, sharing stories that speak to nurses at every level. Her storytelling blends lessons learned from students, colleagues, patients, and her own family.
Paula's approach is rooted in the belief that life is about achieving and maintaining a healthy balance. She invites her audience to explore the complexity of human experiences, and challenges them to find the humour in their serious moments, confidence on their doubtful days, and strength during their weakest times. She encourages them to embrace life's challenges, from the minor mishaps to the major milestones. Her talks are a call to individual and collective action.
Keynote — 45 to 75 minutes, with time built in for discussion — or a full-day interactive workshop. Built for nursing students and faculties, and equally at home with practising nurses, healthcare teams, and the associations, unions and regulatory colleges that bring them together.
The person
Meet Paula
Paula is a nurse, educator, researcher, and storyteller with 50 years of experience in health care.
- Registered NurseWestern Regional School of Nursing, Corner Brook · 1976
- Bachelor of NursingMemorial University · 1991
- Master of Adult EducationSt. Francis Xavier University · 1995
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificationUniversity of Toronto · 1997
Paula took frequent unpaid leaves during her teaching years to work at the bedside. She is an accomplished writer and highly regarded researcher; most notably, she received the ARNNL Provincial Research Award in 2011 for her publications and outstanding contributions to nursing.
Paula's running started in the nineties, with 5Ks and 10Ks. She ran her first marathon in Ottawa in 2000. Since then she's run 14 marathons, including Boston four times. In 2007, she completed her first half Ironman race, and in 2024 ran her first 50K Steep Ultra marathon.
Today Paula lives in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where she practises as a Registered Nurse with the Extramural Program.
Nursing is an endurance sport.
Speaking
Bringing Paula to your event
Paula's presentations are filled with laughter, reflection, and practical takeaways that stay with people.
From taking on a 50-kilometre mountain ultra with more than 2,000 metres of climbing, to riding out back-to-back hurricanes, Paula's stories are about keeping going — going the distance — no matter how steep the climb.
She's as comfortable delivering a conference keynote as she is leading an in-depth, full-day workshop — and she'd love to hear about your event.
Based in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
Connect with Paula
Planning something for your students, your nurses, or your members? Send Paula the details — even the rough ones.
Prefer email? info@goingthedistancewithpaula.com