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Nursing on home ground

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, March 26, 2009

DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Evelyn Sabourin is using her homecoming as an opportunity to give back to her community.

Sabourin, a licensed practical nurse (LPN), moved back to Fort Providence almost a year ago after a 22-year absence.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Evelyn Sabourin is using her nursing skills to help her home community of Fort Providence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Sabourin now works out of the Fort Providence Health Centre where she's devoting her nursing skills to the home care program.

She's currently the only LPN working in the hamlet who was born and raised there. Sabourin said she "definitely" likes being back in the community.

In addition to her nursing duties, Sabourin volunteered in January to take an emergency first responder course in Yellowknife. The course is designed to teach participants how to take charge of the response efforts in an emergency.

"I think it's really important because you're first on the scene. People know you have that experience so they depend on you," said Sabourin.

Some members of the Fort Providence Volunteer Fire Department have the training but they tend to cycle out of the community, said Sabourin.

"They need someone in the community who stays there," she said about why she took the course.

Sabourin was one of six people in the course and finished with the highest grade. She points to her nursing background as one reason for her success.

Sabourin chose a career in nursing because of the example of her aunt Rita Coats who was an LPN.

"She said she really liked helping people," Sabourin said.

Sabourin spent six years working as a nurses' aid in Hay River before deciding to further her career by taking the nursing course offered by Aurora College in Yellowknife. She graduated in 2000.

Being a LPN is rewarding because you get to do a lot of hands on, one-on-one care, said Sabourin.

"I really like helping people, especially the elders," she said.

Sabourin said she enjoys listening to the elders' stories in Fort Providence and talking about traditional medicine with some of them.

"The stories they have, some are so funny," she said.

It's nice to see someone return to their community like Sabourin has and use their training to benefit the people of the region, said Connie McNab, the regional home care co-ordinator for Dehcho Health and Social Services.

"As a Dene person you're taught to respect your elders and what better way than to work with them," McNab said.