NP, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre
The recipient of 2021's NP category in the Nursing Now Ontario Awards is Aric Rankin. For the past 10 years, Rankin has worked at De dwa da dehs nye > Aboriginal Health Centre in Hamilton as a primary care NP. Rankin says that his initial draw to the nursing profession happened when he was 15 years old and hospitalized. During his stay, which lasted several months, he got to witness firsthand the important and compassionate work that nurses carry out daily.
Rankin’s interest in working with Indigenous communities was sparked by an Indigenous health-care provider who was a guest speaker during his undergraduate nursing program at the University of Windsor. He found himself captivated by her stories and the use of Indigenous knowledge, medicine and traditions to bring wellness to the community. He has worked in isolated First Nations fly-in communities. While being exposed to the resiliency and beauty of various communities he visited, Rankin became acutely aware of the barriers to care that community members experienced and the systemic racism Indigenous people face. This inspired him to continue his education and become an NP.
Rankin worked collaboratively with an interprofessional team to develop programming for chronic disease management at his clinic. He also developed relationships with external Indigenous organizations to provide optimal care for his clients and their families. Rankin is actively involved as a mentor, supporting others in achieving excellence in all nursing domains. Rankin worked as a clinical instructor at Western University and was a preceptor and a clinical tutor for the NP program at McMaster University. He is also a member of RNAO’s NP Task Force. Rankin is currently pursuing his doctoral degree with a focus on Indigenous health, health equity and health system reform.
