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 Kristin Kovac, who works on our Nurse-Led Outreach Team.

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Kristen Kovac, NP, Nurse-Led Outreach Team

What is your education and training?

Before completing my education as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), I worked as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department (ED). I graduated from Lakehead University in 2011 with my Masters in Public Health and Nurse Practitioner certificate. I have had the opportunity to work at a few primary care clinics and am now working at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with the Nurse-Led Outreach Team.

Tell us about your current role.

As one of the NPs on this outreach team we provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment to patients living in long term care, retirement homes or assisted living homes with the overall goal to help prevent avoidable ED visits. We also provide follow-up in the home once they have had an ED visit or hospital admission.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?

Being able to work autonomously as a Nurse Practitioner and having the ability to assess and treat the geriatric population within their own home environments.