Working in the Emergency Department is incredible! The staff are like family. Everyone works as a team and I have to say that the Emergency Department staff are some of the hardest working employees at the Pembroke Regional Hospital...I am very proud to be part of this amazing team.
What do you love most about your job?
Interacting with the patients and being there for them. Listening and talking to patients warms my heart. Being able to be there for them is the best medicine I can give them.
The community...the people...everyone is so friendly and willing to help out wherever help is needed.
Working and living in such a rural area, and the place where I grew up. I live right at the East Gate of Algonquin Park. I love how my little town is quiet and beautiful - so is the Ottawa Valley.
As an Outreach worker, I support group operations at Carefor Mackay and at ROP (Recovery Outreach Program) such as a music group I created for the mental health clients where we play instruments, sing, analyze song lyrics and rewrite songs!
The clients!!!
I previously worked on the Resource Team and on Medical as an RPN for four years.
I love the Petawawa Point and Black Bear Beach recreation areas as well as how supportive the community is.
I love the feeling when I have been given the opportunity to meet a patient in the Emergency Department and follow their care from unit to unit, see their improvement, and be able to walk them out the door to return home with the confidence and supports they need.
I love my co-workers! No matter what curve balls are thrown at us, my co-workers are always supportive and willing to help increase the skills knowledge of new staff.
I started at PRH as a student with Algonquin College. I was lucky to have an amazing preceptor on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and that led to my first job as an RPN - where I developed many great skills and bonds with amazing co-workers. After nine and a half years, I spread my wings and joined the Resource Team where I was cross-trained to all the units; including Medical, Surgical, Acute Mental Health, Maternity, Rehabilitation and the Emergency Department.
I love the beautiful nature we have around us...We have many walking trails, fresh water lakes and rivers enabling you to go hiking, camping, boating. We have many friendly people in the valley. It's a great balance to offset a crazy day of work - go for a walk and enjoy the beauty of clean air on your face.
I am so passionate about educating people about diabetes that I also do it outside of work hours as a facilitator with UHN-Michener Institute.
I started on 2nd Medical, then moved to the Emergency Department and eventually transitioned to a mixed Emergency/Intensive Care Unit rotation, before moving to the Ambulatory Clinics 21 years ago.
That I can make a difference both short and long term in someone's life. We form long-term relationships with our clients in the clinic and we get to stay with them on the journey as long as they want us to be there.
I started martial arts just shy of 50, got my black belt two weeks before by 55th birthday and my 2nd Dan at 57. My love language is food; ask anyone in the clinic!
Just small enough; like Goldilocks, it's not too big and not too small. We have beautiful scenery, an active arts community and are welcoming more diverse residents who enrich our experience.
A few quotes I live by:
In my current role as the Telemedicine Registered Practical Nurse, I have the pleasure in assisting and coordinating patients' appointments with specialists from outside of our community. Telemedicine provides patients with access to specialists for their much needed health care needs in a space close to home, decreasing the anxiety of travel and expense.
Graduating in 1983 from St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in Ottawa, I was a young and enthusiastic new RPN grad, excited to move back to my roots in the Ottawa Valley. The Pembroke General Hospital, now known as the Pembroke Regional Hospital, gave me my first employment opportunity in nursing as a casual employee. My career began on the OBS Nursery ward, gradually extending to the Paediatric unit, eventually moving to the Medical floor and Ambulatory Clinics and ultimately securing a full time position on the Medical Floor. Throughout my career at PRH, I have had the opportunity to provide leadership as a preceptor for many nursing students. My journey as a Registered Practical Nurse has led me to my present PRH RPN role in Telemedicine.
I am truly blessed to have such an amazing career as a Registered Practical Nurse, with so many wonderful memories. It has been an honour to assist patients and their families in their most vulnerable times in their lives - caring for them and their loved ones, treating patients with respect and compassion, and being able to assist them in any way I can. To be able to cry, laugh, teach, sit silent, hold their hand, or pray with them, whatever they may need at that time. This has filled my heart. I have been fortunate to work with so many gifted co-workers, colleagues and students in all departments who have truly become part of my family. I really love what I do.
On a personal note, I am happily married with three beautiful children, one great son-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren who call me Nan. Spending time with my family is another great joy of mine.
Being raised and able to live in the Ottawa Valley is a gift. Always a smile to greet you or a hug to comfort you. Someone is always there for you.