Nurse Practitioner Roles and Experiences
Introduction of Nurse Practitioners
Pam Sweeney, NP
Pam Sweeney is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializing in gynecology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. She graduated from the Masters of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Calgary (UFC) in . Her career path has been varied:
Early Career: After graduation, she served as a neurology NP at both the Rocky View and South Health Campus. Her primary responsibilities included inpatient care and consultations across the hospital and in the emergency department for neurology cases.
Correctional Health: She had a brief period as an NP at Calgary Correction in Spyhill and Lethbridge.
Current Role: She began her role in gynecology in and has been there since.
Stephanie Hubbard, NP
Stephanie Hubbard is a Nurse Practitioner working with the head and neck group at Tom Baker Cancer Centre. She graduated from the UFC NP program in . Her career trajectory includes:
Initial Role: Upon graduation in , she secured a position with the hematology group at Tom Baker. Having always worked with blood cancer patients, this role was a natural fit. In the early days, a significant part of her work involved creating and defining the NP role, identifying gaps in practice, and addressing unmet patient needs.
Role Evolution: She worked in hematology for an extended period, developing innovative clinics, the success of which has been carried forward by her colleagues.
Current Role: Two and a half years ago, seeking a new challenge, she transitioned to the head and neck position. This role, initially outside her comfort zone, has been very rewarding. It involves less day-to-day clinical work and more immediate, moment-to-moment patient care.
Impetus to Study to Become an NP
Pam Sweeney's Motivation
Pam felt a continuous journey of education, progressing from a diploma-trained Registered Nurse (RN) to a degree at Athabasca, then completing the ACCN course before embarking on the Masters of Nursing program. Initially, she was unsure whether to pursue a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) path, working full-time and taking one course at a time.
Her decision was influenced by several factors:
Observation of NPs: She had worked with early-stage neurology NPs (stroke, Multiple Sclerosis) and observed their evolving function in acute care settings. She also worked with advanced practice nurses (master's prepared clinical nurse specialists).
Desire for Direct Patient Care: Through her initial courses, she realized a strong preference for working more directly with patients, seeking greater autonomy and the ability to provide more comprehensive care.
Population Knowledge: Her experience in neurology provided a familiar population for her Master's studies, allowing for a