Steve Cairns is an assistant professor and BPSO lead at Nipissing University in North Bay, with a research interest in scaling up nurses’ engagement in planetary health. He serves as an executive member of RNAO’s Ontario Nurses for the Environment interest group. He is also the Ontario representative for the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment. Steve has completed two fellowships through RNAO, focused on relational practice in online nursing education. He also completed an Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship focused on exploring health and wellbeing among nurses through nature-based activities. In 2023, Steve completed a PhD in nursing at York University, researching nurses who exemplify planetary health in their nursing practice. He enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle with family and friends in all seasons.
The Leadership Award in Nursing Education (Academic) is awarded to the RN or NP who practises excellence as a nursing educator in a college or university setting. This individual enhances the image of nursing by encouraging critical thinking, innovation and debate about important nursing issues, and acts as a role model and mentor in their work environment.
