National Nursing Week

10 ● THE FREE PRESS NATIONAL NURSING WEEK MAY 8-14, 2023 OUR NURSES. OUR FUTURE. BY LINDSEY ENNS J esse Lamoureux is a passionate advocate for his patients and his community. Raised in Pine Falls, Lamoureux initially gravitated to Winnipeg to pursue education and an early career in oncology working as a registered nurse at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and CancerCare Manitoba. Lamoureux's connection to his community, and to his Métis heritage, eventually called him "home" to Pine Falls where he now works as a nurse practitioner supporting the primary care needs of the community in which he grew up. "With my heritage, I have this intimate understanding of the dynamics, demographics and health-care needs of our population," Lamoureux said. "I've had the privilege of nursing for 11 years, but serving the region of my roots in is an incredible honour." Lamoureux was first drawn to a career in nursing because of the opportunity it provided to have a direct impact on the lives of others, a passion for helping that fuels his day-to-day interactions with patients from Pine Falls and surrounding communities. "I am inspired by the people I care for every day," Lamoureux said. "I see people in my community who are facing tremendously challenging circumstances, yet they maintain dignity, courage and strength. They teach me many lessons in both resiliency and the tenacity of the human spirit." Lamoureux spends a significant amount of his working time in the community, offering services to youth and adolescents at one of 13 teen/youth health and wellness drop-in clinics operated by the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. "The interactions where we are able to directly help people and positively impact their care are what bring me the most joy in this line of work," Lamoureux said. "It's that moment when you help someone feel better, happier and healthier that sustains us as nurses. It's a challenge that has meaning — and that's tremendously fulfilling." In the time Lamoureux spends at the drop- in clinic located within the community's École Powerview School, the opportunities for those types of positive care interactions are diverse — and numerous. "The clinic bridges the gap between the school services and health-care services. We work closely with the amazing team at École Powerview School. It's been a fantastic program that has been well received in our community," Lamoureux said. "We are able to remove barriers and create easier access to care and improved adherence to medical treatments. It's a way to improve the health and safety of our local youth. It's a real privilege to feel the direct impact of our work on a daily basis." Lamoureux works alongside a team of providers at the École Powerview School Youth Health and Wellness Clinic, connecting students with health and support services that may include referral for additional support or to see a specialist. The team, typically made up of a nurse practitioner, public health nurse and a combination of other resources or community volunteers, works closely with school staff to have the greatest combined impact. Providing a mix of primary care and public health supports, the clinics offer free and confidential services including information about reproductive health, prescriptions and refills for birth control, sex advice and sexually transmitted infection testing, immunizations, pregnancy testing and counselling, and treatment of minor illness and pain. "I like being able to bring care where the people are and to the community they live in, instead of waiting for people to come to me," added Kaitlyn Klassen, a nurse practitioner and colleague of Lamoureux's at the clinic. "The teen clinic is one example of how we meet people where they're at. I've learned so much and grown so much from these experiences working with different populations." Klassen divides her time between the École Powerview School Youth Health and Wellness Clinic and Little Black River First Nation, supporting care for members of these communities. For Klassen, pursuing a career that involved caring for others was a passion from a young age and she enjoys the variety that her career in nursing offers. "At first the students can be guarded, but once you build that trust and a relationship with them, they are much more comfortable expressing how they are feeling," said Klassen, emphasizing the importance of providing students with a safe place to talk about stress, depression, relationships or anything else on their minds. "Sometimes it's just as simple as being able to provide a listening ear. Showing some compassion and empathy makes a big difference." Building connections through compassion and care and making a difference each and every day, Klassen and Lamoureux are shining examples of the positive impact that nurses have not only on the patients they care for directly but also on entire communities. SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 Nurse practitioner Kaitlyn Klassen divides her time between the École Powerview School Youth Health and Wellness Clinic and Little Black River First Nation. (Photo by Aaron Cyr) Jesse Lamoureux is a nurse practitioner who serves Pine Falls and surrounding communities. (Photo by Al McKay) NURSE PRACTITIONERS BRING CARE HOME TO INTERLAKE COMMUNITIES "I see people in my community who are facing tremendously challenging circumstances, yet they maintain dignity, courage and strength." Jesse Lamoureux, nurse practitioner

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