For Ronnie Keough, going above and beyond the standard of care for her patients is just what you do as a nurse.

Born and raised in Thompson and now working as a clinical resource nurse in Thompson General Hospital’s emergency department, Keough works hard to ensure patients in the northern region are receiving the same standard of care as those in other regions across the province.

“To meet someone at their absolute worst and bring them to what could be the best or a better outcome, I love it. I find it such an honour and a privilege to be able to make a positive impact for patients,” she says.

“With the systemic pressures that patients — and us in health care— are aware of and experiencing, to be that little glimmer of hope for them in such a vulnerable time is what I thrive for every day.”

After the few nurses in the Thompson area specializing in PICC line placements either retired or moved on from the region, Keough saw there was a gap to fill.

“We had no nurses that were trained to do PICC lines, with the exception of a few casual nurses that were travelling very intermittently to Thompson. I noticed the disservice that northern residents were facing as a result of not having that service,” Keough says, noting that PICC lines (peripherally inserted central catheter) are put in for patients that are receiving chemotherapy or other medications in critical times of need.

“We were having to send patients to Winnipeg or other health regions. Recognizing the geographical barriers as well as the financial barriers and constraints that we experience every day living rurally, it pushed me to want to bring that service back to the north.”

She reached out and inquired about obtaining education and the certification to become a PICC nurse inserter.

Now, Keough goes above and beyond her current role as a clinical resource nurse to complete PICC line placements for the patients that need them.

“Most often I’m just coordinating with patients for PICC insertions on my days off to ensure that they get the service they need. It keeps me quite busy from time to time,” she says. “The demand is increasing, unfortunately.”

Along with a colleague who is a casual nurse in Morden, Keough advocated further to develop a PICC nurse inserter program, in collaboration with the Northern Health Region, for nurses to follow suit and acquire education and certification.

“My colleague and I reached out to one of the companies that provide the PICC lines who have clinical nurse specialists — and, as a result of that collaboration, it was a driving force to push the north to create a robust PICC nurse inserter program as well,” she says.

“That’s getting off the ground now with hopes that in the near future we’ll be training some more PICC nurse inserters and can keep that service here within Thompson and within the north. It’s been absolutely rewarding.”

Alongside providing quality, safe patient care, one of Keough’s top priorities focuses on the accessibility and resources available to those living rurally.

She serves as the Manitoba Nurses Union worksite president for the Northern Health Region, continuing to push for equality among regions within the health-care system.

“My goal every day is to push for the same standard of care for the patients that are receiving health care in the north to get the equivalent to what they would receive in the southern part of the province,” she says.

“Advocacy is definitely at the heart of who I am and always has been. It’s something that I have chosen to pursue to make the system better to the best of my capacity for the nurses that are working within it to provide the quality of care that I would expect for all patients.”

After all, Keough has seen firsthand how critical it is to support nurses in every aspect.

“By supporting nurses, you help build a better, stronger system, which in turn gives better patient outcomes. Nurses are the backbone of the health-care system — but, more importantly, they’re leaders, advocates and critical thinkers,” she says.

“If we want safe patient care, we have to invest in and listen to nurses. Each role has given me a different lens clinically. I support patient care as a leader, I support teams as union president and I advocate for the conditions that make both possible, so it’s a win-win.”

Keough would encourage anyone considering a career in nursing to absolutely do it — and to also consider working in the northern region.

“Coming to the north provides so much opportunity for growth. It’s a great foundation for nurses to build their skills and knowledge base because we’re not specialized. We’re more generalized, which allows nurses to really branch out on their scope of practice. It is such a wonderful place to work,” she says.

“It is such a meaningful, rewarding career.”

Naomi Nickerson says the diversity of roles and breadth of work she oversees is just one of the things she loves about working in an ambulatory clinic providing specialized outpatient services out of the Thompson General Hospital.

As a community care nurse practitioner, Nickerson bridges the gap between patients who have issues more serious than primary care can address (chronic issues such as diabetes or minor illnesses and infections) but not serious enough to require emergency intervention. According to her colleagues, Nickerson embodies the true meaning of a nurse by providing the highest standard of care to clients and patients through her experience and expertise, while also continuing to improve and learn new skills.

After graduating with a nursing degree in New Brunswick, Nickerson moved westward to start her career and quickly learned she enjoyed working in the community more than in a hospital setting. She applied for a job in Thompson and has called the community home ever since.

“I’ve had so many great opportunities here over the years to experience things in my practice and in life that I would not have had the opportunity to do at home,” she says.  

“Here, I’ve had so many opportunities to work in different programs and learn new things that I never would have had anywhere else. This is a great place not only to start your career but also if you like career variety, which is definitely what I like. I absolutely recommend working here.”

After taking on some management responsibilities in addition to her role as a registered nurse (RN), Nickerson realized her first love was clinical care. She went back to school to get her master’s degree and became a nurse practitioner (NP). Nurse practitioners are RNs with advanced education and greater autonomy, allowing them to diagnose, order diagnostics, refer to specialists and prescribe. She worked in the Thompson clinic for six years and has spent the last two in ambulatory care.

“One of the things about NPs, I don’t know if people really realize, is that NPs come from the nurses who tend to be in their communities and know their communities. So instead of a stranger coming in, this is somebody who already knows the people and understands the culture of where you are. It doesn’t really matter what community you’re in — whether it’s north, south or rural — but NPs understand what the issues are in that community because they’ve usually lived it.”

In a typical week, Nickerson primarily spends her time in the community care ambulatory clinic but also takes on prenatal care, addiction services and is a sexual assault nurse examiner. Regardless of what area she is working in, she believes in patient-centred care and truly taking the time to understand each patient as a person. Her approach is humanizing and she gives her patients the power of choice by presenting them with options that can only come with a thorough understanding of their situation, beliefs and values. 

“This may sound strange, but I love working in addictions. There’s such a need for it. I don’t think people realize how often in addictions, it’s not just the addiction — so many other things are happening. It could be mental health, housing, domestic violence, coping issues and grief. When people trust you enough to tell you what is actually going on, I think it’s a hopeful thing — and I think that’s what I love about it the most,” she says.

“I believe in women having the right to make their own decisions about their own body. With the sexual assault nurse examiner role, I want and I’ve chosen to be there for females who are going through something horrendous and just really need somebody in the health-care system who is going to be an advocate for them. I’m very much in favour of advocacy and having people support you through your journey.”

Nickerson is also passionate about nursing standards and continued growth and development. She believes in patient safety and ensuring that patients receive high quality care. As such, she also dedicates her time as a union steward, sits on the provincial college council and has been coordinating wound care education with other nurses and interdisciplinary health-care professionals for the past two years.

“I think you actually have to care in nursing,” she says. “The opportunity to do so many different things and have so many experiences and meet my patients at various different avenues and venues, I feel like I get the opportunity to care about people in different ways.”

The Thompson Community Care Clinic is located within the Thompson General Hospital and operates seven days a week. The Northern Health Region,  created this service to take the pressure off the emergency departmentand help patients avoid long wait times.

Becki Elias is a Registered Nurse who has been with NHR since graduating in 2010. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of roles across departments, building a broad base of experience. Today, Becki works at the Fischer Clinic as a Primary Care Nurse – a role new to The Pas that she helped introduce, shape, and grow into a valued part of the multidisciplinary team.

Working as a nurse in Northern communities, Becki has seen firsthand the meaningful impact Primary Care Nurses have on the health and well-being of individuals and families. In many cases, they are the first – and sometimes only point of contact for care, offering not just clinical support but also education, advocacy, and culturally responsive care. This role helps improve access, build trust, and address unique challenges such as geographic isolation and limited resources.

Looking ahead, the nursing profession will continue to evolve to meet changing healthcare needs. Nurses are stepping into expanded roles in primary care, leadership, and community-based services, supported by advances in technology and a growing emphasis on holistic, patient-centered care. As the system adapts, nurses will remain key in shaping equitable and accessible care for all communities.

In her newly established position, Becki played an important role in defining and developing how the Primary Care Nurse fits within the clinic. She helped create effective workflows and built strong relationships within the healthcare team. By identifying ways to better support both physicians and patients, she has contributed to more coordinated, efficient care – helping to improve access and reduce wait times for patients in The Pas.

Becki is currently the only full-time nurse at Fischer Clinic, and she feels right at home. The team is more than just coworkers – they’re like family. They support one another both in and out of work, creating a positive, collaborative environment. Whether it’s working together to meet patient needs, sharing a laugh, decorating the clinic for special occasions, or enjoying lunchtime potlucks and team-building activities, the team brings both dedication and heart to what they do.

For Becki, nursing isn’t just a job. It’s truly her passion.

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.

Working in a role that involved caring for others was always what Danita Lechelt pictured when she thought about her future career. Growing up, Lechelt was inspired both by watching her mother (also a nurse) and from the experience of having someone close to her, a cousin, receiving health care throughout her childhood.

“Ever since I was in elementary school, I have known without a doubt that this was the career I wanted to pursue,” said Lechelt, a Clinical Resource Nurse at St. Anthony’s General Hospital in the northern community of The Pas. “It felt very natural for me to move into a role where I’m able to take care of others, and see people not just as patients but as people, with families who love them.”

Lechelt worked in a number of locations across Manitoba, including Dauphin and Winnipeg, before finding the perfect fit for her career – and her family – in The Pas.

“My husband and I moved here initially with the intention of staying for two years,” said Lechelt. “That was 14 years ago. We are still here in large part because I love my job.”

“We have a pretty great little nursing family here. We call it the tiniest work family because we are a small group, but we know that our team will grow again. Being in a smaller setting gives you that opportunity to develop more personal relationships with the other people in your unit and in the facility in general. I know pretty much everybody by their first name,” she added.

In her role, Lechelt supports education and training at the hospital, passing forward her knowledge and approach to patient-centred care on to the next generation of northern nurses.

“Trust is a big part of healthcare, especially in northern Manitoba. Building those relationships with patients so that you really get to know them is important in our community,” said Lechelt. “As nurses, we advocate for our patients, we want them to be healthy and that extends beyond the care in the hospital to things in the community.”

“We live here, so making sure people in our community are safe and healthy matters to all of us, so whether that’s advocating for a crosswalk or to address barriers, those are the things we can do that improve a community’s health as a whole.”

With the experience of working through the pandemic behind her, Lechelt remains very positive and optimistic about the future of nursing.

“Even with the pandemic and everything that the health system has been through, I would absolutely choose nursing again,” she said. “I love being a nurse and even if I knew what was coming 17 years ago, it wouldn’t change my mind.”

Nursing Week runs May 6-12 this year and is a time to recognize the incredible accomplishments and contributions that nurses bring to health-care teams and the delivery of services across the province.