Belinda LeBlanc, the Clinical Operations Manager at Hope to Health
National Nursing Week is upon us again and the BC-CfE is proud to celebrate this event honouring our registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), and nurse practitioners (NP). Many of our frontline nursing staff work at the BC-CfE’s Hope to Health Research and Innovation Centre (H2H) in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), where they serve a difficult-to-reach population with compassion and strength.
Belinda LeBlanc, the Clinical Operations Manager at Hope to Health, recently answered some questions on what it means to be a nurse with the BC-CfE.
Why did you decide to work for the BC-CfE? How do you feel about the work done by the BC-CfE and what are you looking forward to in the future?
For years I had been aware of the world-leading education, treatment and research work of Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC-CfE.When I learned that the BC-CfE was beginning to provide clinical services through a primary care research & innovation centre, I didn’t hesitate to explore joining this incredible organization. I am very grateful to be part of the Hope to Health Team and the BC-CfE.In the future, I believe the team-based care model with a research, innovation and quality improvement (QI) focus will allow the Centre to continue ground-breaking work and look forward to extending additional clinical services to our clients and residents of the DTES.
Please explain the types of nurses needed at Hope to Health.
The Hope to Health Centre’s team-based care model includes RNs, LPNs and RPNs doing both clinical and research work.In our model, nurses collaborate with all members of the team in providing wrap-around services to our clients. The ‘voice’ of the nurse is valued at H2H and the BC-CfE in clinical and quality improvement work and in research.
What does National Nursing Week mean to you?
Especially during this difficult year, it’s so important to recognize the commitment and selfless dedication of nurses to their patients, communities and health care organizations as a whole.
What does a typical day as a nurse at Hope to Health look like?
Nurses at Hope to Health provide front-line primary care to our clients. A typical day can include chronic disease management, wound care, triage & nursing assessments/vitals, acute care, outreach, and health counselling.
What is the clientele like at Hope to Health?
Hope to Health provides primary care, safer drug supply and supervised consumption services, and HCV and HIV testing and treatment to adult residents of the DTES. Many of our clients are marginalized with complex medical issues including substance use, mental health, infectious diseases, and psychosocial issues such as homelessness and poverty.
Do you feel you make a difference?
As part of the Hope to Health team, yes. Each team member here is integral in the Centre’s success and we all make a difference collectively.
As a nurse, what advice do you have for people who are considering nursing as a career?
Nursing is very diverse and a nursing degree or diploma can lead you down a variety of paths and open a lot of doors. When thinking about it as a career, many envision a hospital ward or Operating Room and that’s it. Nursing roles can be in research, teaching/education, public health or administrative work.