Prairie Mountain Health Welcomes Four New Nurse Practitioners

Prairie Mountain Health has successfully recruited four nurse practitioners to enhance medical care in Westman, specifically in communities such as Shoal Lake, Melita, and Rossburn, which have lacked a full-time doctor. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to address healthcare gaps in rural areas, according to Treena Slate, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health.

The newly hired nurse practitioners are now actively seeing patients in these communities, in addition to providing care at Canupawakpa First Nation, the Brandon Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, and the Dauphin Primary Care Outreach Clinic. This move aims to bolster primary healthcare services in regions where access to doctors has been limited.

Kiersten McNabb, one of the new recruits, will serve the communities of Rossburn and Shoal Lake. Having grown up in nearby Minnedosa, she is well aware of the challenges faced by residents in securing primary healthcare. “I am excited to be providing care to communities who need more primary care providers,” McNabb stated.

McNabb, who completed her master’s degree in nursing to become a nurse practitioner just last month, is joined by Stacie Gardiner-Graham, who will work in Melita and Canupawakpa First Nation; Erin Ryback, who will practice in Brandon; and Jolynn Harder, who is set to work in Dauphin. The recruitment of these professionals is significant, as nurse practitioners have the capability to operate independently, diagnosing patients, prescribing medications, and performing various minor procedures.

Slate emphasized the importance of having healthcare providers who understand the local context. “We know that if we can support nurses within our own region… who know the region and their communities, they will stay here and work with us on a long-term basis,” she explained.

The need for nurse practitioners is particularly acute in rural areas like Shoal Lake, which will have three nurse practitioners following this recruitment. In contrast, urban centers such as Brandon have a larger number of available doctors. Currently, Shoal Lake receives limited physician support from Hamiota, approximately once a week, while Rossburn has not had consistent doctor support recently.

In this context, the addition of four nurse practitioners is expected to strengthen primary care in these rural communities, potentially reducing the need for patients to visit emergency rooms or hospitals for basic health concerns.

Looking ahead, Prairie Mountain Health anticipates that six nurse practitioner students will complete their second year of training and begin practicing in the fall of 2026. As of this month, the health region employs a total of 31 nurse practitioners, including 11 in First Nation communities.

The recruitment efforts align with ongoing initiatives to attract and retain healthcare professionals in the area. Uzoma Asagwara, the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care, remarked that the introduction of these new nurse practitioners will make a “tremendous difference” for residents of southwestern Manitoba. “Onboarding nurse practitioners isn’t… to replace or in the absence of a doctor. They’re invaluable no matter what healthcare team or setting they’re a part of,” Asagwara added.

As Prairie Mountain Health continues its recruitment initiatives, the organization aims to ensure that residents in these rural areas have access to essential healthcare services, improving overall community health and well-being.