We Are IH: Nurse practitioners positively impact patients’ lives
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play a pivotal role as health-care providers to improve timely access to care in the short term and on an ongoing basis. They see people at their most vulnerable and provide continuous care, support, and compassion no matter how hard it may get, often working tirelessly for long hours to help those in need.
Let’s meet some of the incredible NPs who are providing patient-focused, compassionate care that improves the health and well-being of patients in the communities they serve.
Meet Jodi Bunting, nurse practitioner, general cardiology
Name: Jodi Bunting (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Nurse Practitioner - General Cardiology
Years of Service: 2.5
Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital
Community: Okanagan
Ancestral Territory: syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Life is short, buy the handbag.
Jodi Bunting is a hard working, approachable, intermittently funny nurse practitioner who loves walking her dogs, anything outdoors, travel, yoga, and spending time with her family.
She also loves seeing people transition from their worst days to their best. In fact, it inspired her to become a nurse practitioner.
I enjoy seeing people transition from their hardest days to their best. I am always grateful that I get to be a part of their journey.
Born in Ontario and raised in Orange County, California with a brief stint living in Malaysia in between, Jodi wants to travel to places she’s never been before. Where will she vacation next? Portugal, Morocco, and Australia are high on her list!
Meet Kim Orwaard-Wong, family nurse practitioner
Name: Kim Orwaard-Wong (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Family nurse practitioner
Years of Service: Over nine years as a nurse practitioner and 22 in health care
Worksite: Rutland Urgent & Primary Health Center
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: You cannot give people what we don't have, nor can you ask people to do what we are not doing.
Originally from the Netherlands, Kim Orwaard-Wong loves traveling with her husband and two kids. Now residing in Kelowna, Kim is a family nurse practitioner at the Rutland Urgent & Primary Health Centre. She works with patients to move them forward in life and feels incredibly grateful to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Being open to change has been the biggest influence in how NP services have moved people forward.
She's looking forward to Primary Care NPs continuing to excel in medicine, strengthening the already great relationships NPs have with other medical, nursing, administrative, and allied health staff.
Meet James Kitch, nurse practitioner
Name: James Kitch (he/him/his)
Job Title: Nurse practitioner
Years of Service: 20
Worksite: Waneta Primary Care
Community: Trail
Ancestral Territory: syilx, Ktunaxa
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Change is inevitable – relish joy.
Born in the UK and raised in a small country town, James Kitch moved to Canada in 1999. Now living in Trail, B.C., James is a nurse practitioner, father, and a husband who in his spare time loves to tend to his garden, ski, and mountain bike - he even plays the drums!
James calls the Kootenays paradise and enjoys the opportunity to help people to live full and satisfying lives.
I am inspired by the excellent team at Waneta Primary Care who are inventive, courageous and compassionate people that strive to better the lives of those around them.
Meet Taaryn Miller, hospitalist nurse practitioner
Name: Taaryn Miller (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Hospitalist nurse practitioner
Years of Service: 4 years with IH, 1.5 years as an NP
Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: They may know the science, but they don't know you.
An avid water polo player and novice knitter, Taaryn Miller is a hospitalist nurse practitioner at Kelowna General Hospital who strives to be thorough with high standards of practice. She’s particularly passionate about providing care to older adults and believes in her unique role in health care committed to learning and growing in her practice.
I am passionate about providing care to older adults at KGH. This unique group is medically and socially complex. Working with this group brings me immense joy. Everyday is challenging, diverse, entertaining, and rewarding.
In addition to playing water polo and knitting (luckily a lot of her patients are knitters - she often brings projects into work for help) Taaryn enjoys travelling and tasting foods from around the world and believes a cheese board is the perfect dessert!
Explore nurse practitioner Careers@IH
Have you thought about a career as a nurse practitioner at IH?
National Nurse Practitioner Week is being recognized from Nov. 10 to 16, and brings an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the dedication of Nurse Practitioners who provide essential care for our loved ones and communities.
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