‘Every time I step foot into the Emergency Department at The Pas Health Complex, I’m pushed to think outside the box. We see a lot of complex patients, and each of them brings a new set of challenges and experiences – we never quite see the same thing twice.

Some people feel that a rural setting won’t give them the same experience as a large urban centre, but the truth is we’re a very fast-paced department. There are plenty of opportunities to build your skills, and even though I’ve worked as an emergency nurse for fifteen years, I still feel like I’m learning something new every day.

In the North, we don’t always have access to the same resources as an urban centre, so we have to collaborate, and problem solve to provide safe, competent care for our patients. It’s helped us become a close-knit team, and I know I can count on my coworkers for anything.

I grew up in The Pas, and I know a lot of the patients I care for. The satisfaction of seeing them get better, be discharged from the hospital, and return to the community is a huge highlight for me. Whenever I run into a former patient out in the community, I always get a big smile and a thank-you, and it just makes my job that much more special.’