In the community of Fort St. John, there are five nurse practitioners (NP) who support primary and acute care services alongside a supportive group of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.
Shannon McRae works in the Fort St. John Family Practice Associates clinic while Brody McGee, Raelene Marceau, Jessalyn Moskalyk, and Mikaela Pond work at the Fort St. John Primary Care Clinic.
Not all nursing careers look the same and each NP brings a unique knowledge and skill set based on their own history, training, and experience. When asked what she considered to be the most important skill for an NP, Jessalyn explained, “Recognizing the value you bring to the table from your experiences as a registered nurse. There is so much learned from the years of working with people that is not reproducible in formal education. Value those experiences, reflect on how they have shaped you, and use them to build on your own practice.”
NPs are registered nurses that complete additional education (Master’s Degree Nurse Practitioner) and experience, and who provide medical care in a variety of clinical care settings. They can diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medications, order tests, and refer patients to specialists. They work independently and provide care to patients of all ages.
Jessalyn and Shannon agree that while becoming an NP was challenging, they both have the same advice to anyone thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner: “Do It!”
Nurse practitioners care for patients throughout their lifetime and are supporting the growing demand for primary care services. Through the Health Connect Registry, patients in Fort St. John who need a primary care provider can be attached to a nurse practitioner.
Interested in learning more about the NP portfolio in Northern Health? Contact us at NHANursePractitioners@northernhealth.ca
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