Nurse Practitioner Week
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Ontario is a highly trained healthcare professional who takes care of patients in many ways. NPs are registered nurses with advanced education and specialized clinical training. They provide primary care services like diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and managing long-term health conditions. NPs can work in places like hospitals, clinics, long term care homes, and community health centres.
Why are NPs Important?
Nurse Practitioners play a key role in keeping our community healthy. They help people stay out of hospitals by managing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. NPs work closely with doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to make sure patients get the best care possible.
Path to becoming an NP:
- complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN),
- become a Registered Nurse (RN),
- gain clinical experience,
- complete a Masters’s level Nurse Practitioner program
Meet Three Amazing Nurse Practitioners in Oxford
During Nurse Practitioner Week (November 10 – 16, 2024), we’re highlighting the work of three NPs who serve different areas of our community.
Natalie Mendola
Focus: Chronic Disease
Natalie Mendola is a Nurse Practitioner at the Oxford County Community Health Centre (CHC). She helps people with chronic conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She also supports patients with substance use disorders through her work at the CHC Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic. Natalie believes in building trust with her patients and giving them the care they need, no matter their background or current situation.
“It is a huge privilege to be a part of someone’s journey through health and to walk alongside them as they navigate that. I think NPs bring a unique perspective as we have always been taught to meld both the art and science of health care together and I think this helps us bring a holistic lens to care and meet our patients where they are at.”
Over the last year Natalie has been part of a collaboration between the CHC and the Community Paramedicine Team to roll out their chronic disease program. The partnership has already led to improved management of chronic conditions for participating patients and has reduced trips to the emergency department.
Lavourne Simpson
Focus: Long Term Care
Lavourne Simpson is a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner at Woodingford Lodge. She takes care of seniors, many of whom have serious health conditions. She provides the primary care treatment they need with the aim to improve their quality of life and supports them and their wishes as they progress toward end-of-life care.
Lavourne works collaboratively in a team environment and provides leadership and mentorship to members of the team. To keep patients from having to visit the hospital as often, Lavourne helped create a policy to allow certain treatments, like infusion therapy, to be done in the Long-Term Care Home.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I am afforded to positively impact the lives of my fellow humans. I am passionate about providing exemplary care for our seniors who may not have the cognitive or functional capacity to care for themselves.
‘Exemplary health care extends the lifespan and is deserved by everyone with no exceptions.’ ”
Megan Maloney
Focus: Primary Care
Megan Maloney is an NP at the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic (INPLC). She manages a caseload of enrolled patients and takes care of people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, with a wide range of medical conditions. As the main healthcare provider for many families, Megan gets to know her patients well.
“The best part of my job is the patient’s and families that I get to work with. One of the fundamentals of nursing is providing holistic care to our patients, which is reflected in the longer appointment times that Nurse Practitioners have with our patients. This time allows us to really get to know our patients and understand their unique health concerns and needs. Primary care providers are in short supply in so many communities and Nurse Practitioners have the opportunity to play an important role in helping to close this gap in care.”
The INPLC works alongside with many community partners in Oxford to provide better care to their patients. Some of these partners include Oxford County Community Paramedics, Oxford County Community Health Centre, Thames Valley Family Health Team and the Oxford OHT.
Celebrating Our NPs
Nurse Practitioners are essential to our healthcare system. Whether they’re managing long-term conditions, helping seniors, or supporting families, NPs are improving the health and well-being of our community every day. Their ability and willingness to collaborate across the Oxford OHT with other healthcare professionals and community partners enhances the quality of care for all patients. This week, we celebrate Natalie, Lavourne, Megan, and all NPs for their dedication and hard work. Thank you!