Kendra Goetz has always been drawn to the fast-paced, dynamic environment of the emergency department. Starting her career as a registered nurse (RN) at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in 2017, she quickly found her calling. By 2021, she was working at Cobequid Community Health Centre’s emergency department, gaining invaluable experience.
While enrolled in the nurse practitioner (NP) program, Goetz completed clinical rotations and a 400-hour practicum at Cobequid, working closely with the physicians there. This past May, she graduated as an NP and joined the emergency department team, where she now sees lower acuity patients who would otherwise face long waits to see a provider.
“By focusing on more stable, predictable patients with straightforward clinical outcomes, I can often see 15 or more patients a day," said Goetz. “I can also suggest patients come back the following day for reassessment, or perhaps for IV antibiotics; they can see me the next day and receive that continuity of care.”
As an NP, Goetz has a broad scope of practice. “I can independently assess, treat, order blood work, order X-rays/CTs, order medications, diagnose, and discharge a patient on my own,” she said. “The physicians in the department are really supportive and I can always bounce ideas off them if needed.”
“With her extensive emergency experience and specialized training, Kendra is exceptionally skilled at managing these cases efficiently,” said Dr. Valerie Ross, Cobequid Community Health Centre’s emergency medicine head. “This helps us ensure that patients with more serious conditions receive the necessary nursing support, while also reducing wait times for everyone.”
While the emergency department low-acuity track is still fairly new, patients appreciate Goetz’s role in providing more timely care. “Not everyone fully understands the NP role, but I’ve not had any complaints, particularly when the wait times are reduced. That’s very much appreciated,” she said, noting that she’s also happy to educate people about her scope of practice. “I’ve yet to have someone demand a physician see them instead.”
Goetz’s journey from RN to NP is a testament to her dedication and the positive impact of nurse practitioners in emergency care. Nova Scotia Health has added NPs to emergency departments across the province to support patients and improve patient flow through the healthcare journey.
