Let us know who to profile!
NNPBC in collaboration with the NP Council hopes to profile NPs working in all areas across the province. We encourage you to nominate a colleague to profile by emailing us at info@nnpbc.com with the subject 'NP Profiles'. Please ensure you have the person's permission before emailing us and be sure to include their name and contact details in the message.
Featured Nurse Practitioner:
Lynn Guengerich MS NP(Peds)
Previously featured NPs
Monica Gosal, NP(F)
Why did you decide to become an NP?
I pursued a career as an NP in order to advocate for my patients and help them manage the different chapters in their life in regard to their health needs and health care. Also as an NP, I could have an active role in helping navigating their health, and collaborate with my patients in seeking the health decisions that are right for them.
What has been the most rewarding part of being an NP?
The most rewarding part of my job is being able to be there for my patients to listen and acknowledge their symptoms, emotions, presentations, and know that I will help them navigate to get answers, treatments, or supports. To be able to help my patients and make an impact in their life that is positive makes my work rewarding.
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
From an NP perspective, my proudest accomplishment to date is receiving the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada’s Nurse Practitioner Aware of Excellence. I never thought this would be attainable personally, as we work with many excellent providers, who go above and beyond. To be recognized as one of those providers leaves me speechless.
What advice would you give anyone thinking about becoming an NP?
My advice would be to become a Nurse Practitioner for the right reasons and remember those reasons when you are out providing care. If you do it for the right reasons, then you will continue to provide excellent care. The road getting there is challenging and hard, but 100% worth it.
What do you wish more people understood about the NP role?
I want people to understand that the role of an NP is not an 8 to 5 job. It is a career choice, which requires a lot of advocacy to help to continue to pave the way for new NPs as so many experienced NPs have done thus far and have brought our profession to where it is today.
Being an NP is...
...Worth it!
Why did you decide to become an NP?
I am not sure I did. It was all I knew! My original nursing program was five years and it was a combined bachelors and certificate family NP. I didn't know anything else. I worked as a RN but just assumed I would always get my Pediatric NP because that was the natural next step.
What has been the most rewarding part of being an NP?
Being invited into the lives of children and their families and watching them grow and live life. It feels very honoring that families share that with me, and I can help along the way.
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
I would say Health Care on Yates, but that was a group effort by a whole lot of people. Instead of that, I would say all the students and new NPs I've been able to support through the years.
What advice would you give anyone thinking about becoming an NP?
Don’t wait. If you love the part of nursing that is direct patient care, then becoming a NP just takes that to the next level. Life never gets less busy so stop putting it off and go for it.
What do you wish more people understood about the NP role?
I think sometimes we underestimate the depth of our work and its impact on those we care for, and I want people to know how important this aspect of being an NP is.
Being an NP is...
...pretty much the best job. I am extremely fortunate that I can do a job I love alongside people I respect and admire.