We Are IH: Nurse practitioner believes in trusting the process

February 25, 2025

Shawna Glassel

Name: Shawna Glassel (any)
Job Title: Nurse Practitioner Lead - Primary Care South & Virtual
Years of Service: 1.5
Worksite: Remote
Community: Clearwater
Ancestral Territory: Simpcw territory of the Secwépemc Nation
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” – Charles Schaefer

Shawna Glassel has lived in the Simpcw territory of the Secwépemc Nation for five months, where she truly appreciates the picturesque beauty of the land. As a grateful uninvited guest here, reconciliation is important to Shawna.

“To me, reconciliation means learning and listening with humility to the experiences of First Nations Peoples who live on the ancestral territories across what is currently known as Canada,” she says. “It is hearing individuals’ and communities’ stories of experiences throughout their history. It is acknowledging injustices that have been and still are present within a colonial system. I commit my personal efforts to collaborating and taking steps toward the goals of healing and growth.”

In this Story…

Learn more about Shawna Glassel’s journey with IH

In recognition of International Women's Day

Explore nurse practitioner Careers@IH

Learn more about Shawna Glassel’s journey with IH

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."

People and systems are full of patterns. My motivation is in hearing the stories and histories of our workplace patterns, as well as the dreams of my colleagues as to where they hope our health-care system will evolve. Mindful progression is what gives me purpose and fulfillment in my work.

-- Shawna Glassel

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.”

Person wearing teal tank top and black pants balances across pegs on indoor rock-climbing wall with painting of sun and mountains. — Shawna indoor climbing at the community recreation centre in Mackenzie, B.C.

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.

Underwater woman with braided brown hair snorkelling and wearing goggles. — Shawna snorkelling in Chileno Bay, Los Cabos, Mexico.

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

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.

I would say that is Isla Coombs. Her work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within IH is inspiring. She brings an approach of open learning and curiosity into every one of our interactions, whether it be in a group or one on one. She is the type of person who naturally creates an inviting safe space for questions and to view things with a new perspective.

-- Shawna Glassel