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My career passion to assist women and make advancements in women’s sexual and reproductive health initiatives as a primary health-care NP began in 2011. I accepted a position as a new clinic NP at a non-profit, women-staffed, independent clinic. I took on the leadership role of running the clinic’s Assessment Clinic program for early pregnancy diagnosis, options and treatment, providing STI care and follow-up, and offering contraception when requested, including intrauterine device (IUD) insertions.
During my six years at the clinic, I wore all the NP hats. As a clinical nurse educator, I created and expanded educational materials for clients; as an advanced practice nurse clinician, I performed early pregnancy ultrasounds under medical directive to confirm pregnancy and IUD placement, ordered and followed labs to assess pregnancy status, including completion of risky ectopic pregnancy; and as a clinical nurse researcher, I ambitiously embarked on my first research study in collaboration with the BCBC at Women’s College Hospital. As a result of my contributions to the study, our research appeared in the journal Contraception (92.3 (2015): 220-226).
As a clinical nurse researcher, I ambitiously embarked on my first research study in collaboration with the BCBC at Women’s College Hospital. As a result...our research appeared in the journal Contraception (92.3 (2015): 220-226).
The study led to changes in practice in the existing follow-up policy for those seeking medical termination of abortion, which not only proved the safety of remote follow-up but showed that, when given the option, many women preferred and chose to do so. This outcome was a triumph for women’s health equity and women-centred care, helping and connecting women to safe and timely access to reproductive health care in the privacy of their own homes.
Submitted June 2024
