Cape Dorset (June 23/03) - Wen Bogues arrived in Cape Dorset for the first time on Dec. 16, 2002. She was alone with her cat in a territory she'd only heard of from friends.

Wen Bogues said her experience in Cape Dorset is one she'll never forget. As a nurse practitioner, Bogues said coming to the North was one of the best decisions she's ever made. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

It was seven days before Christmas. Her two sons were in Ontario attending university and she was about to start working at Cape Dorset's Health Centre. Bogues said her first week was quite an experience.

"A lot of the full-time nurses were going away for vacation when I first arrived. There were four of us relatively new nurses and we made it through Christmas. Everyone was really welcoming," she said.

Bogues works for the Canadian Health Care Agency and had asked her director for a six-month Northern placement. She got a stint in Cape Dorset and it has been extended several times. She will, however, soon have to go back to her regular job at the community health centre in Portland, Ontario.

She said her time in the North has gone by so quickly and that's mainly because of how wonderful the people are.

"I found the Inuit people to be thoughtful, genuine, caring people," explained Bogues.

She said having patients that know you're doing the best you can is very important. After working in Cape Dorset for several months, Bogues realized how much more is required from a nurse posted in a Northern community.

She said nurses are often on their own -- making assessments, doing physical exams. Often, she explained, the only contact a nurse will have with a physician is overthe phone.

"Our doctors are not at our fingertips. Nurses do the bulk of the work. It's been a wonderful professional growth experience," said Bogues.

With all of the lessons she's learned working at the Cape Dorset Health Centre, Bogues feels she's a better nurse.

Nursing is a big part of her life, but it's not the only thing she does. Bogues really embraced the Inuit culture in Cape Dorset. She's gone out on the land with some of the community's residents and has even tried her hand at fishing.

July 21 is Bogues' last day in Cape Dorset.

She said her experience has been invaluable and who knows, she may even come back.