Kristie Loeppky Career Spotlight
Kristie Loeppky is a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner working in Primary Health Care located at the Kincaid & District Health Centre in Kincaid, SK.
What are you responsible for a Nurse Practitioner?
My responsibility is to address the health care needs of my patient population. I provide care to folks in all stages of life, from prenatal to the elderly and everything in between. Every day is different, which makes my job exciting and challenging at the same time. As a Nurse Practitioner, I can autonomously diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications and perform medical procedures. My focus is to treat each patient with a holistic approach and individualize their treatment for the best outcome. As Nurse Practitioners, we do a lot of teaching and health promotion as part of our visit. This is something I am very passionate about.
How is your work-life balance as a Nurse Practitioner?
I feel like I have a very good work-life balance working Monday - Friday 8:00-4:30. I am able to attend many of my children’s sports and events, which is something that I was not always able to do when I worked shift work.
Have you always wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner?
I have wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) since my first year of nursing training. I changed my mind on that by the end of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), thinking that there was no way I wanted to go back to school again. I started my nursing career working as a Float Nurse at Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current in April 2007. I worked mostly between medical/surgical unit and women/children's health. Labour and delivery was always my favorite! From there, I ended up moving rural, and working at Assiniboia Union Hospital, first as a Nurse on Acute/ER, and then as Nurse B Unit Coordinator of Long-Term Care. After almost 5 years of practicing as a RN, I decided it was time to start my path to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, and I have never looked back.
Do you have any advice for someone pursuing a career as a Nurse Practitioner? Are there opportunities to further your career as a Nurse Practitioner?
I would say DO IT!!!! It was the best decision I ever made for my career. I love my job; it is so rewarding on many different levels. It is an exciting time in Saskatchewan right now for Nurse Practitioners, as the government has recently announced new initiatives to enhance and expand Nurse Practitioner roles and clinics within our province.
NP’s work in a variety of settings including community care, long-term care, NP led clinics, hospitals in a variety of specialty areas including neonatal and emergency to name a few. There is a lot of diversity in the work that Nurse Practitioners can do, which is wonderful!
What is the number one thing you love about being a Nurse Practitioner?
I love providing care to my wonderful communities. It is very rewarding to provide support and help for folks when they are vulnerable and need it the most.
