It is National Nursing Week and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. Meet Chunyan Qu, a Nurse Practitioner at our Hospital.
Before Chunyan became a nurse practitioner (NP), she worked as a bedside registered nurse on Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Surgical unit for approximately four years. During that time, she became more comfortable and felt great satisfaction with her career.
“I was the care partner for my patients and their family; I was their cheer leader, coach/educator, and much more,” says Chunyan. “I was there when they needed support during a difficult part of their lives.”
Chunyan started thinking about what would come next in her career. She wanted to advance her skill set while staying in nursing and became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. After figuring out the logistics of balancing work, family and school, she determined becoming an NP was achievable.
As an NP, Chunyan has the autonomy to assess patients at an advanced nursing level – ordering necessary diagnostic testing/lab work, interpret results and creating treatment plans for patients who are medically stable independently. She can also refer them to the appropriate physician or specialist when needed.
“Being a nurse is rewarding; being an NP is extra rewarding,” says Chunyan. “I feel my care and effort in trying to make a positive change in other’s lives is recognized by my patients and their families. I’m considered as someone who is reliable and can be depended on.”
