Saskatoon nurse recognized for exceptional dedication

Eleven years of serving the tiny northwestern Saskatchewan community of Birch Narrows First Nation has resulted in unexpected recognition for a nurse practitioner.

Tracy Daigneault was shocked to learn the community had nominated her for the Award of Excellence from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of the federal government. And that she had won.

“I travel there once a month and stay for a few days. It’s like a second home to me and the community is like family. I’ve been going there since 2000, and lived there for two years when my husband was stationed by the RCMP.  I’ve been going back since then as they need continuity of care,” she said.

As a nurse practitioner, Daigneault carries on numerous nursing activities and is also trained and authorized to write prescriptions and request medical and lab tests. She also refers patients to specialists for further care. Her presence in the community of 300, which is miles from any physician, is crucial.

“And they often phone me to bring things that they can’t get there when they know it’s time for my monthly trip,” she added. “But they treat me good, too, and I’m grateful for their consideration.”

The Dene community recognized Daigneault for her dedication, work ethic, compassion and respectful care of clients. In supporting letters, it was noted that she excelled when facing new challenges, all the while finding time to continuously upgrade her nursing skills.
She is also much appreciated for her approach to her work, in which she melds traditional and Western medicine. The northern communities in which she has worked over her 14 years in her profession often have less-than-desirable equipment and unpredictable power supplies.

“We have to improvise a lot in the bush,” Daigneault laughed. “We are really multi-dimensional. We’re managing pre-natal care, paediatrics, emergencies, casts and sutures, to name just a few.”

Now based in Saskatoon, she travels the 500-km round trip on weekends and when on holidays from her work in the city. In the city, she works at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge, holding half-day clinics for kids “who aren’t always sick but need a lot of community building,” she said. She also works at Mount Royal Collegiate which has a high population of students from northern Aboriginal communities.

Don Ragush, a nurse practitioner, who works with Daigneault at White Buffalo Youth Lodge, said Daigneault is deserving of the award and the recognition as she goes beyond the expectations of her job.

“I’ve worked up north too and it’s a special kind of relationship that’s built, one that’s mutually beneficial to both patient and practitioner,” he said.

Photo caption: MP Tony Clement congratulates Tracy Daigneault for her award which she received in Ottawa.

Photo: supplied