Community & Culture

We Are IH: Salmon Arm nursing unit assistant finds job rewarding

Left to right: Jacqueline’s husband Erwin, Jacqueline, Jacqueline’s son Christopher and Christopher’s wife.

Name: Jacqueline Stewart (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Nursing unit assistant
Years of Service: 10
Worksite: Shuswap Lake General Hospital
Community: Salmon Arm
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Nation
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: I was born ready!

Jacqueline Stewart was born in Kamloops at Royal Inland Hospital and moved to North Vancouver when she was eight. A happy-go-lucky person who is always ready for adventure, she set off for California with a girlfriend in their Volkswagen van the day after Jacqueline’s 21st birthday. They lived in beautiful Santa Barbara for three years before Jacqueline returned to North Vancouver, where she raised her two children. 

Eleven years ago, Jacqueline decided to go back to school and start a new career. She chose to go into the medical field and earned her nursing unit course certificate. She’s now been working at Shuswap Lake Hospital for 10 years.

Learn more about her journey with IH

A woman with blonde hair wearing a black sleeveless shirt, black pants and a green fanny pack.
Jacqueline soaking up the sun in Puerto Vallarta.

Jacqueline says she finds her job "very rewarding."

My job is demanding but, at the end of the day, I know I have helped a lot of people. The best part by far is when a newborn is brought into the world. I work with a lot of great people and have made many friends.

-- Jacqueline Stewart

Jacqueline is happy with her choice to work in health care, being able to help people in the moments they can't help themselves. “It has opened my eyes in so many ways. I am grateful to work with so many inspiring people.”

Jacqueline’s two children are Jocelyn, an avid traveller currently living in Mexico, and Christopher, a computer electrical engineer. Christopher has provided Jacqueline a grand-dog so far (Ollie), and she’s waiting patiently for grandchildren.

A small brown dog with wiry fur, with white paws, underbelly and nose.
Jacqueline’s grand-dog, Ollie.

Jacqueline also recently married her boyfriend of 15 years, Erwin, which she describes as the “best day ever!!!”

In her spare time, Jacqueline enjoys paddle boarding, going for long walks with friends, outdoor lunches in the sun, and reading a good book.

A man with grey hair on the left wearing a black suit, with his right leg up while standing on the left, and holding an umbrella, facing a woman with blonde hair in a wedding dress, holding a bouquet of white and yellow flowers, with her left leg up while standing on the right.
Jacqueline and Erwin on their wedding day.

A little known fact is that Jacqueline is also an author. She wrote a children's book about alopecia. “When I was in my early 30s I got alopecia. I was given a journal from a good friend and put my daily feelings down. I took those feelings, turned my frown upside down and turned my thoughts into a book. Very rewarding.”

Explore Nursing Unit Assistant Careers@IH

Have you thought about a career as a nursing unit assistant at IH?

Explore career opportunities

top employer

Stories@IH

Read our latest stories

View All Stories

3 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
Knowing the signs of an opioid overdose could save a life

With B.C.’s ongoing toxic drug crisis., it’s more important than ever to know how to recognize the signs of an overdose and what to do if someone needs help.

/stories/knowing-signs-opioid-overdose-could-save-life

2 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
Protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases in B.C. and Canada

Mosquitoes in Canada can carry viruses that may cause serious illness in humans. Here are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

/stories/protect-yourself-mosquito-borne-diseases-bc-and-canada

4 Minute Read
Community & Culture
IH works with partners to continue dialogue on toxic drug crisis

Learn how IH and partners are remembering, healing and finding hope together.

/stories/ih-works-partners-continue-dialogue-toxic-drug-crisis

4 Minute Read
Community & Culture
A cooler kind of care: An extreme heat story from Nelson

Learn how Nelson and Interior Health partnered to educate people on the dangers of extreme heat.

/stories/cooler-kind-care-extreme-heat-story-nelson

6 Minute Read
Community & Culture
What Worked for Me: Nadine’s journey of counselling, culture and healing

Learn about Nadine's path to sobriety, shaped by intergenerational trauma, poverty, loss, addiction and, ultimately, by love.

/stories/what-worked-me-nadines-journey-counselling-culture-and-healing

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture
Elder's basket inspires artwork for Cariboo Memorial Hospital

A handcrafted basket by Elder Sally Wynja will inspire artwork at the new Cariboo Memorial Hospital, reflecting Indigenous culture, healing and community voices

/stories/elders-basket-inspires-artwork-cariboo-memorial-hospital

STAY CONNECTED

Receive news, alerts, public service announcements and articles right to your inbox.

Sign up today
mail