We are IH: Registered nurse of 35 years pursued her dream

Diana has worked for Interior Health for 35 years. For the first 25 years, Royal Inland Hospital 6 South was her home.

“I worked with a great group of nurses. We basically grew up and matured together,” she says. Diana was thrilled when her daughter Echo Porlier, a rural nurse educator, joined her at 6 South after graduating from nursing.

For the past 10 years, Diana has worked in day care surgery with many “amazing” nurses. Her job varies from preparing patients for their surgeries, ensuring they are stable post-surgery, and helping them with instructions and prescriptions before they go home. Her goal is to make each patient feel important and cared for during their surgical experience by treating them with respect and dignity and honouring their unique qualities.

At home, Diana and her husband tend to a small farm, raising beef cows and caring for their animals. “My parents immigrated from Holland in the 1950s,” shares Diana. “They were hard-working farmers who instilled a great work ethic and common-sense approach to life.”

The Heighes enjoy being active outdoors and spend time camping with their three children and eight grandchildren. When asked what she’s most looking forward to, Diana replies, “At my age, it’s retirement!”

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