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After graduation in 2002 I worked in a hospital for some time to gain the necessary medical surgical experience required. I attended a job fair shortly thereafter in Toronto and was recruited by Health Canada (now Indigenous Services Canada) and was sent to Manitoba, Winnipeg to be trained. The training consisted of prescribing, diagnosing and treating patients as per clinical protocols in consultation with doctors by phone in the city.
The experience gained as a community health nurse was amazing as no two days were the same. One day you may be treating a sore throat and the next day, treating a gunshot wound from a hunting accident. In this role, you definitely have to act quickly and think critically as the patient’s life depends on decisive action. As nursing is a collaborative process, I worked as a team and draw on the experience of my colleagues in administering life saving measures.
A remote community health nurse, such as myself, touches all aspects of a client’s life across the lifespan, including his or her family members, and other members of the community as most times the nurse is the only health-care provider in isolated and remote communities.
A remote community health nurse, such as myself, touches all aspects of a client’s life across the lifespan, including his or her family members, and other members of the community as most times the nurse is the only health-care provider in isolated and remote communities. Other times I also mentor new colleagues and take part in continuing education such as new technology like digital imaging instead of the old film processing method of doing x-rays.
Community health nursing for me was rewarding and I published a book for nurses, aspiring nurses, the general public and the media to gain an insight in the work that nurses do and how nurses are valuable members of health-care system.
