Nurses apply clinical experience to construction projects in Cape Breton

Four Cape Breton nurses are an integral part of the team that’s helping shape the delivery of healthcare for future generations.   

Mark LeCouter, Debbie Davidson, Mickey Daye and Troy Penney are registered nurses who work as part of the CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment Project team. Between them they have delivered patient care in almost every department, site or service being planned and constructed as part of the redevelopment project. In their current roles, they’re using their nursing experiences to work with clinical and construction partners to design, review and deliver new healthcare infrastructure in the CBRM.   

Before becoming the redevelopment project’s senior director, Mark started his career as a staff nurse in general surgery and orthopedics at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital (CBRH). Since then, he has held several leadership positions in the areas of medical device reprocessing and perioperative services. His previous position was director of integrated health, with responsibilities for critical care, cardiac, neurology, respiratory services and regional medicine at CBRH.   

“We are applying our experience as registered nurses to help build new healthcare spaces that will function for staff and provide additional comfort to our patients,” he says. “The project has been an opportunity to leave a legacy for future generations and redesign the health system, so that it meets the needs of people now and into the future. The input we provide into the project is influenced by the patients we’ve helped care for and the staff we’ve worked with over our careers.”  

Meanwhile, Mickey has worked in long-term care, community nursing, medical surgical nursing, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care. Before joining this team, he was director of integrated health for hospitals in Glace Bay, New Waterford and North Sydney, and the site lead for Northside General Hospital. Mickey is now one of the clinical directors for the redevelopment project, with responsibilities for the Northside and New Waterford projects.  

“Knowing the sites and the staff have helped us move the project forward,” he says. “Part of our role has been to involve frontline staff, physicians and patients in the planning. It’s been a rewarding experience to see healthcare teams connect with our design teams, and now see some of the buildings start to take shape.”  

Debbie is the redevelopment team’s infection prevention and control (IPAC) nurse. In her role, she provides expertise in nursing, as well as IPAC practices during planning, design and construction phases of the project. Over her almost 30-year nursing career, Debbie has worked in critical care and as an IPAC nurse in Nova Scotia Health’s Eastern Zone.   

“Working in IPAC as part of a construction project, is a unique nursing role, but the same principles and standards apply,” Debbie says. “In a construction project, patient safety remains the number one focus, and my role involves making sure IPAC guidelines are followed during design and construction phases.”  

Finally, Troy worked in nursing at Toronto General and Victoria General hospitals before moving back to Northside General Hospital where he worked in the emergency department. He moved to the CBRH operating room and eventually became director of perioperative services for Nova Scotia 

Health’s Eastern Zone. Troy is now a clinical director with the redevelopment team, with responsibilities for the projects at the Cape Breton Regional and Glace Bay hospitals.   

“I’m happy to have a voice in a project that will help shape healthcare for future generations, including my family,” Troy says. “One of my sons is a recent graduate now working as a registered nurse here in Cape Breton. We’re all users of the healthcare system. We live and work here. We want to build something that will enhance patient care for Cape Breton and beyond.”   

While Mark, Mickey, Debbie and Troy provide a clinical perspective to the project, they work as part of a team with architects, engineers, project managers and more. Mark says the experience that everyone brings to the table has helped with the project’s success to date.   

“Our office is made up of Nova Scotia Health and Build Nova Scotia team members, it’s a blend of clinical and construction,” Mark says. “We’re an integrated project team and we’ve engaged staff and physicians from all sites and services in the planning. It’s a long way from where I started my career as a nurse at the bedside, but that experience is helping to build the future of healthcare in Cape Breton.”  

The CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment Project involves building a new Cape Breton Cancer Centre, energy centre and a clinical services building that will house an emergency department, critical care, inpatient beds, surgical suites, cardiac catheterization lab and family/newborn services at CBRH; a new health centre, long-term care home, Breton Education Centre and community wellness centre in New Waterford; a new health centre, long-term care home and laundry facility on the Northside; and expanding and renovating Glace Bay Hospital.   

For more information about the redevelopment project, visit CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment | Build Nova Scotia | Build Nova Scotia.  

Happy National Nursing Week 2025!  

Photo of the nurses on the CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment Project team in front of the new Cape Breton Cancer Centre and clinical services building currently under construction at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, NS. (l-R) Troy Penney, clinical director; Debbie Davidson, IPAC lead; Mark LeCouter, senior director; and Mickey Daye, clinical director.