“Throughout history, Canada’s frontline nurses have always been highly trained, skilled, respected and compassionate.”

For someone who describes herself as having an “endless desire to learn”, nursing has provided Susan Shumay the ideal mix of challenge and reward. After years of practice as a registered nurse, including work for the federal government in northern outposts in the Yukon, Baffin Island, and Saskatchewan, Shumay completed a master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. For 20 years she has been employed by the BC Women’s Sexual Assault Service (based at Vancouver General Hospital), and has worked at the Pine Community Health Clinic in Kitsilano, a clinic that provides primary care, counseling, and diagnosis. She is also one of UBC Nursing’s most active community practice partners, working with NP students and researchers.

Shumay is also involved in a unique partnership between the Vancouver School Board and the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). The Pinnacle School program helps youth who face multiple barriers to complete their high school education. Many have experienced personal hardships such as poverty, exploitation, family disorder, abandonment, trauma, addiction challenges and mental health issues. Some also experience developmental or learning delays.

Key to the program’s effectiveness is a model built on participation, and working closely with a range of professionals such as teachers, social workers, medical providers, subspecialists and other allied health care professionals.

“We see these youth in the full context of their lives and help them transition into adult services in all aspects of life,” says Shumay. “A full team approach is essential to the students’ success.”

Shumay believes Nurse Practitioners are particularly effective in the delivery of health care services to interagency schools such as Pinnacle. With funding from a grant provided by the Quail Rock Foundation, Shumay has been able to build an active NP practice in the Pinnacle program and engage with their students to identify their health care needs.

“What is special to NP practice is the unique ability to customize the delivery of health care services. Although each patient’s health care needs can be vastly different, an NP can provide an innovative approach to improving access to primary care, case management, and referral, which can further facilitate improved outcomes to patients’ health care needs.”