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With The Heart of Health series, we’re shining a light on the many dedicated employees, physicians, learners and volunteers who make Nova Scotia Health such a remarkable place to work and receive care. Today we’re featuring Carla Williams a family practice nurse who has been working at Eastside Collaborative Practice in New Glasgow for 12 years. In that role, she cares for patients from birth to death. She also holds a specialty role at the clinic in ostomy/incontinence care.
In this specialty role, “I see patients who are living with fecal and urinary diversions and help them navigate their life and get the best out of their life as they live with an ostomy,” said Williams. “This role is 80 per cent emotional and 20 per cent physical. Patients will come in initially with a physical complaint related to the ostomy but in conversation you realize it’s not a physical issue – it’s an emotional burden.” Williams helps provide both emotional and practical support and care to patients.
Williams’ colleague, Jenny Hecimovich, said Williams is exceptional both as a family practice nurse and a specialist in ostomy care. “It’s a struggle learning the process of changing the ostomy bags, and most are dealing with a diagnosis of cancer,” said Hecimovich. “Every patient that comes through the door praises Carla’s compassion, her knowledge and ability to help ease their mind through this process. She goes far above and beyond to help her patients. Our clinic is so blessed to have her as part of our team.”
Regardless of the patients she’s caring for, Williams believes, “If we can make patients have a good experience during a difficult time, it can really change their outcome.” She says her greatest professional joy is seeing the look on her patients’ faces when she’s said or done something to help them improve their overall health.
What keeps Williams going amid challenges? “A lot of our challenges are system problems. I try to remind myself that the patient is front and centre and there’s always a way to improve their experience. Being an advocate for patients helps push through those difficult times.”
“It’s a privilege to work in health care. I feel honoured to be part of a patient’s journey. Some of those are happy times and some of those are sad. Professionally I’m proud to call myself a nurse and it’s a pretty unique relationship. Sometimes patients open up a little differently to a nurse than they would to other health professionals – it’s a pretty cool experience.”
We want to learn and share your stories. What keeps you going, despite challenges? What does working in health and health care mean to you, both personally and professionally? Who is that colleague or teammate that makes going to work easier when things feel hard?
Whether you’ve had a defining moment that reaffirmed your purpose or want to recognize a colleague who embodies the heart of health, share your story with us. Let’s celebrate each other! E-mail: heartofhealth@nshealth.ca.