The World Health Organization has designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
As part of this year-long celebration, Northern Health is highlighting a different nurse or midwife each month. For September, we interviewed Meggan Wood, a Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) in Haida Gwaii!
Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us, Meggan!
Where do you live? How do you feel about it?
I live in Haida Gwaii on an island called Robertson Island. I kayak/canoe to and from work every day, which is a fun, yet sometime stressful part of my day (it gets pretty windy here!). I love where I live: It’s a little piece of paradise that I cannot believe I am fortunate enough to call home!
Tell us about your nursing experience and role(s).
I have been a registered nurse since 2005. I started out in Ontario working at two different hospitals and a methadone clinic and then moved to Vancouver in 2006. There, I worked on a busy medical floor at St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) and then transitioned to the ICU at SPH in 2008. In 2014, I assumed the role of Nurse Educator in the ICU at Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver and then in 2015 I moved to Haida Gwaii as the PCC.
What do you like about your role?
I like how interconnected my role is. As the PCC, I get to have direct contact and connection with the patients, while educating, supporting, and leading the nurses. I also appreciate collaborating with the entire interdisciplinary team, from within our facility to across all of Northern Health. I get to dip my toes into various different areas of healthcare, which I find very fulfilling.
What impact does your role have on patients?
As a PCC, I am able to ensure that patients are receiving care that is patient-centric – focusing on not only their physical needs, but also any spiritual, holistic, social and cultural needs that they may have. I ensure that the nurses have the knowledge and resources available to them to provide the best possible care to their patients.
What has your nursing background taught you?
Oh my goodness, it has taught me so much! One of the hardest lessons that it taught me was to laugh and to not take myself so seriously. After my time in the ICU, I realized that life can be very short and it can end in a sudden. Take time to laugh and to appreciate the small things, because in the end, it’s the small things in life that can have the greatest impact.
What made you want to go into nursing?
To be honest, I wanted to go into environmental resource management, but my mom said no because of job instability, and told me to be a nurse. I guess moms really do know best! It was the best job for me and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What drew you to NH?
It was Haida Gwaii. The beauty of the land is outstanding and the people that work at the hospital are irreplaceable.
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