Cassie Evans
I entered the nursing program at University of Alberta in the mid-nineties with the sole intention to work in maternal health. Actually, like many women who become labour and delivery nurses, I really wanted to be a midwife. Unfortunately, due to a lack of provincial funding and midwifery programs - maternal/child nursing seemed to be the next best thing.
Since graduating with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing I have worked for many years as an obstetrical RN. I have worked in high and low risk settings, with women from diverse cultural backgrounds, and with many different care providers. However, it was during my experience working in Arizona for six years that I was exposed to practicing midwives for the first time. Instantly, my desire to become a midwife was renewed. I loved the way midwives viewed birth as a natural process and encouraged women to participate fully in their birth. Women were treated with respect, given continuous support and were noticeably empowered as a result of their birth experience. From a personal and a nursing perspective I wished that all women had access to midwifery care. It was at that point in my life that I decided that I must become a nurse-midwife.
In 2006 I graduated with a Master's in Nursing specializing in Midwifery from Frontier School of Midwifery. Soon afterward, my husband and I moved back to Canada and on October 30th, 2006 I was able to experience the joy of giving birth to our son, "Fox." I feel blessed to have been able to spend the last year at home getting to know my son and experiencing the wonders and challenges of motherhood.
I am excited to have the opportunity to provide midwifery care for women in Calgary with Birth Partnership. I feel honored to be present and provide care to women during such an important event while at the same time I feel grateful that I can pursue my passion to be "with women".