We Are IH: Nurse practitioner believes in trusting the process

In her health-care career, Shawna aspires to play a supporting role like you see in the movies.

“My goal isn't to be the leading character, but to instead be someone who is present by their side,” she explains. “This would be the person who offers options and resources for that leading character to take their next steps in life. Every role I have ever had in health care gives me that opportunity in one way or another.”

Curiosity is what motivates her the most. Shawna can readily identify patterns and seeks to understand them. "I really want to hear about someone's experience, and show consideration and gratitude that they are willing to share. For someone to speak about their needs for inclusion, belonging and accessibility often means that they have had times where they have experienced just the opposite."

Throughout the past 20 years, Shawna attributes every decision she has made—from entering nursing to getting her nurse practitioner (NP) degree, and eventually settling into Interior Health (IH)—to intuition and happenstance. She believes in “trusting the process.”

For Shawna, a typical workday is a mixture of meetings, project creation, clinical support and patient care. “My role gives me opportunities to meet with many other departments within IH to share the lens of the nurse practitioner in health planning,” she says. “I support my fellow NPs in their clinical practices and take on project initiatives with the goal of improving care delivery and employee well-being.”

When she’s not working, you might find Shawna doing some indoor rock climbing. One day, she’d love to create a small bouldering area in her home, so that she could play a never-ending game of "the floor is lava!" She is also a fan of going to the local farmer’s markets and is looking forward to exploring the ones throughout communities in the Secwépemc and syilx territories this year.

Shawna is fascinated by insects and animals in nature. She enjoys sitting quietly and observing how they go about their daily routines. You might be surprised to learn that one of Shawna’s favourite pastimes is to mow the lawn.

Playing, observing, listening, being engrossed in activities: these are the things that make Shawna feel fully alive as her authentic self. This engagement travels in both directions, and Shawna finds valuable insights in all of it.

Shawna cares about what people have been through in their lives and honours everyone’s learned experiences and contribution to the whole.

In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, we asked Shawna which person at IH who identifies as a woman inspires her, and why they inspire her.

Have you thought about a career as a nurse practitioner at IH?

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