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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 John Orme, registered nurse and infection control practitioner/leader patient flow operations.
“Long ago, I went to school to become a veterinarian. I made it to one lab and said, ‘This isn’t for me,’” said John Orme, registered nurse. When Orme’s grandmother had a stroke and then experienced vascular dementia, he was inspired by the care she received and decided “people health care,” in the form of nursing, was the right path for him.
Orme has worked in various areas of the health care system – surgical, medical, geriatrics, mental health, and emergency. He now works in Infection Prevention and Control, where he’s excited to further develop his leadership and managerial skills. He still loves floor nursing, so picks up a shift every other weekend at Queen’s General Hospital emergency department.
A patient who is transgender recently expressed what Orme’s compassion meant during their emergency department visit. The patient noted that Orme made sure to ask about and use the patient’s pronouns and made sure the patient was aware of prideHealth and other services and resources.
“I eventually would like to have a managerial role in the mental health field,” said Orme, who completed a graduate certificate from Dalhousie in Mental Health and Addictions and would like to pursue a higher education with a Masters in that field in the future. “I have become more passionate about mental health and addictions because I am part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and have seen how the social determinants of health have impacted not only myself, but other community members. Being part of a vulnerable community, I want to be able to make a difference in creating safer spaces for the provision of services to members of this community.”
Orme also enjoys mentoring students. “If a student is on the floor, I’ll take them under my wing and show them things. I like to broaden their understanding of the holistic nursing approach by looking at the person as a whole: physical health, mental health, spiritual health. How do the social determinants of health impact them and what brings them here for us to help them today?”
For Orme, working in health care “gives me the opportunity to give back to the community. I want to inspire people to make changes in their own life so they can make healthier choices. It’s an area that you’re always learning new things. You’re continually helping the public. When someone stops you on the street and says, ‘I want to thank you for the care you provided,’ it’s very rewarding.”
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.