During Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week, we will be spotlighting NPs to highlight the important roles they play at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Meet Jillian Runke, who works on our Regional Stroke Unit.

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Jillian Runke, NP, Regional Stroke Unit

Tell us about your current role.

I currently work as the Nurse Practitioner on the Regional Stroke Unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). My role involves managing the inpatients admitted to the Regional Stroke Unit, collaborating with the attending neurologists, the interprofessional stroke team and organizing transfers and discharges from our Hospital.

What is the most challenging part of your profession? 

The most challenging part of my profession is assisting patients in their stroke journey who are transferred to our unit from throughout Northwestern Ontario. Our large geographical region has limited resources in regards to stroke rehabilitation and many patients are far from their family and communities for a lengthy period of time.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession? 

The most rewarding aspect is appreciating the immediate improvement with urgent interventions stroke care offers at TBRHSC, as well as observing the improvements patients can make in such a short time during their admission.