Power is also part of a team that’s working to expand the women’s health program in Grande Prairie. The project aims to create a clinic specifically for women, where patients are seen and treated in the same day. “[This clinic] would be a real enhancement to women’s health in Alberta and I’m very excited about this opportunity,” says Power. “We will potentially see positive steps in women’s health … It’s really something exciting that I hope Alberta Health Services (AHS) embraces.”
Dayna Walker, LPN
There is no question that the healthcare landscape in northern Alberta is changing and opportunity for healthcare professionals is growing. According to AHS, a new hospital and state-of-the-art cancer centre that is under construction
management]. Now we circulate and scrub. It was a big door blown open, and we’ve gained acceptance and comradery [within the department].” Power says, in her experience, people in northern Alberta are willing to listen, open to new ideas and willing to work together to make changes to broaden the scope of practice for LPNs in the area. “As people start to understand that we [as LPNs] are highly educated professionals, they’ll be more willing to open their areas to us. If you are willing to educate yourself and put in a bit of work to prove to others that LPNs are a great choice for their facilities, then I think you’d have a really strong career here. We’re only limited by being complacent.” Since advocating for change in the operating room eight years ago, Power has found other opportunities to step up as a leader within the region. As a senior member of the operating team, she does a lot of teaching within the hospital, mentoring students. “I’m always looking for something new in the O.R., that’s why I got into the educational component, to help others.”
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care | VOLUME 33 ISSUE 3
Jennifer Power, LPN
