Leading Through Heart-Centered Connections, Clinical Excellence, Mentorship, and Innovation
Sydney Olsen is a Visiting Nurse and Clinical Lead at VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) supporting children and families, many with complex medical needs, including some receiving palliative care.
Sydney is one of 5 VHA nurses who were nominated for the 2026 Hospital News Nursing Hero Awards. The Nursing Hero Awards started in 2005 to honour and thank extraordinary nurses across Canada. In honour of celebrating Nursing Week at VHA, we are proud to highlight each of our nurses who received a nomination.
Sydney holds hands with one of her infant clients.
Her passion for nursing stems from building meaningful connections with her clients and their families, and in providing mentorship to support her peers. She is committed to practicing and teaching safe, evidence-based care.
Her teaching philosophy is about nurses feeling comfortable seeking guidance and encouraging continuous learning. Sydney recalls starting as a visiting nurse without a mentor and learning many nuances the hard way. “I want nurses to have better experiences than what I endured,” says Sydney. She believes there are no “dumb questions” and approaches her clinical lead role as a supportive peer who shares clinical knowledge and experience. “I prioritize being an approachable, non-judgmental resource for my colleagues while contributing to heart-invested staff retention.”
Sydney is highly respected and cherished by her peers and colleagues. She is seen by many at VHA as a dedicated clinician, known for combining clinical excellence and safety with a people-centred approach to care.
“It is Sydney’s “heart” that truly sets her apart,” states Sandra Li-James, VHA’s VP Quality, Practice & Client Experience Chief Nursing & Health Professions Officer. “She can make clients and carers feel truly seen and heard. In an environment where time is a luxury, she never rushes a client or caregiver. She listens to understand their concerns and not merely focuses on their condition. She understands that recovery is not a linear path and she is able to adapt her approach to match the client’s emotional and physical state, fostering a non-judgmental environment to develop trust.”
Sandra has seen Sydney’s natural leadership in action as a role model for her colleagues, often being asked for guidance on complex cases. “She leads by example, demonstrating how to balance clinical reasoning with compassionate bedside manner. In summary, Sydney embodies the very best of our profession. The blend of clinical excellence, unwavering advocacy, and genuine ‘heart’ makes her an asset to our team and most importantly, to the clients we serve.”
Jillian Chandler, VHA’s Regional Director for Toronto Central, also acknowledges Sydney’s clinical expertise, compassion, and calm leadership. She is proud of Sydney’s achievements and recognition for the Hospital News Nursing Hero Award. “Sydney makes a profound difference in the lives of children and families who are often navigating challenging care journeys. She enables children with complex medical needs to remain safely in their communities, surrounded by family and familiar routines.” explains Jillian as she reflects on the importance of Sydney’s role in caring for her clients. “Respected by colleagues and trusted by families, she is a steady presence in moments that require both clinical excellence and heartfelt compassion. Her work exemplifies the very best of both pediatric and community nursing.”
A remarkable achievement in Sydney’s career has been recently developing a framework to support children with Type 1 diabetes in schools who use a DIY Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system — an emerging and increasingly popular, yet unregulated, technology. This initiative provides an evidence-informed practice model that promotes communication, collaboration, and clear scope-aligned nursing guidelines surrounding evolving diabetes technology.
Her work reflects leadership, adaptability, and advocacy in advancing safe community-based pediatric diabetes care. “I believe we can protect children, support families, and uphold professional standards while helping children who use DIY AID systems safely achieve improved glycemic control,” explains Sydney.
Sydney will be presenting this nurse-led framework at the Community Health Nurses of Canada (CHNC) 2026: Growing Together in Action – Strengthening the Roots of Community Health Nursing conference in Vancouver later this month.
Sydney’s nursing career is one of deep connections, evidence-based practices, and spectacular person-centred care. Sydney is truly an example of a Nursing Hero to her clients, their families, and her peers.
This story was written by VHA Home HealthCare and is a modified version of an entry submitted for the Hospital News 2026 Nursing Hero Awards