Zehra completed a Master’s degree in Nursing from the Aga Khan University, School of Nursing in Karachi in 2007, where she also worked as a senior instructor before moving to Canada. Her first job in Canada was at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as a mental health nurse.
Based at Markham, Ontario, Canada, Zehra moved to from Pakistan in 2008. Her main responsibilities include facilitating ongoing education for nurses, developing policies and procedures, programme development and project management.
Zehra and her team have been preparing themselves to deal with the current crisis by making sure that staff are well trained to take care of Covid-19 patients, and their hospital practices are aligned with standards set by public health guidelines. Her team simultaneously cope with a lot of staff stress, fear, and anxiety as they are also worried about their own as well as their family's health and well being.
"We are all human beings so do not expect yourself to be a superhero. It's OK to feel sad or angry or frustrated during this crisis. What is important is to acknowledge your feelings, cry if you feel like crying but then tell yourself and each other that nothing in this life is permanent. This crisis is a phase that will end when the time comes. Ask: 'How can I get the best out of this difficult time?'" she said.
Her moto in life is an old proverb 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’
