Nurse practitioner Kelly Murray is helping people live well at every stage of life

After 30 years in nursing, Kelly Murray has found a role that brings together her experience, her love of patient care and the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.

As a nurse practitioner in Pictou County, her work looks a little different depending on the day. She might be helping someone manage diabetes or high blood pressure at the One Door Chronic Disease Management Centre in New Glasgow, or supporting residents at one of two long-term care homes.

Kelly began her nursing career working as a registered nurse for 16 years before moving into management. While she enjoyed those experiences, she wanted to return to direct patient care and take on a bigger role in helping people manage their health.

With three young children at home, she returned to school part-time while continuing to work full-time. She graduated from Dalhousie University as a nurse practitioner in 2021.

Today, she splits her time between two different care settings.

At One Door, she works alongside another nurse practitioner, pharmacists, registered nurses, dietitians and a social worker to support people living with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The goal is to help people manage their health while continuing to work, raise families and enjoy their daily lives.

Kelly says managing a chronic condition is rarely as simple as prescribing medication. “There is so much to consider, for example, if someone is living with diabetes - can they afford the groceries they need? Can they afford their medications? Maybe housing is an issue,” she says.

Working as a team allows them to look beyond a person's medical needs. That might mean connecting someone with a social worker, helping them access affordable medications or finding other supports and resources that make it easier to manage their health.

Two days a week, Kelly shifts her focus to long-term care, providing care for residents at two long-term care facilities. It's a different setting and stage of life, but one she finds very rewarding.

“It's a privilege to come into their home and help meet their health needs,” she says. “Because that's what it is – their home. We help them live the best way they can every day.”

For some residents, that might mean adjusting medications, arranging physiotherapy or consulting with specialists. For others, it means respecting their decision not to pursue further treatment. Kelly believes listening to residents and respecting their choices is just as important as managing their medical needs. This person-centred approach is something she values about being a nurse practitioner in every setting.

“It's not just, say, treating a broken shoulder. It's asking: What extra support is needed? Do you need help to bathe? Do you need help with mealtimes? Do you need physiotherapy?” says Kelly. “We're trained to see the person as a whole, not just the medical condition they're dealing with, and provide or connect them to the care that meets their needs.”

Nurse practitioners can assess patients, diagnose and treat health conditions, prescribe medications, order tests and refer patients to specialists. While many nurse practitioners provide primary healthcare in family practices, Murray hopes more people recognize the growing range of opportunities available in the profession, from long-term care and chronic disease management to mental health, specialty clinics and virtual care.

She also credits the support of fellow nurse practitioners for helping her grow in the role. In Pictou County, nurse practitioners regularly meet to share knowledge and learn from one another. Kelly extends that same support to students she mentors, encouraging them to stay in touch even after graduating. “Having people you can reach out to for advice and support makes such a difference, especially when you're starting out,” she says. “We all learn from each other, and we want to see each other succeed.”

As Nova Scotia celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week, Kelly hopes other nurses considering the profession will explore the opportunities it offers.

“It's a lot of learning. It's a lot of hard work. But it's just so rewarding, getting to help people. I truly love what I do.”

🎥 Video of Kelly Murray.