Alexandra Beaumier's Story

My story, my journey, how I became a remote nurse in Nunavut. 

It all started when I was a young girl listening to the many stories of my grandfather who travelled the world and visited many remote communities. I remember him coming back with local crafts for presents and millions of stories about all the wonderful people he would meet. 

I wanted to live his beautiful adventures. Seeing how much I loved all the travel stories my grandfather would tell us, my father started sharing bedtime stories of a nurse that would travel to faraway places carrying a cart of medication to remote communities. Every night a different adventure awaited us as Jane the nurse travelled through the jungle, oceans, deserts and frozen land of the north. Without knowing, these experiences as a young girl forged my desire to work remotely.  

Time flew by, I aged and followed many paths until I chose to become a nurse. From the beginning of my career, I always knew I wanted to work remotely; I was fascinated by the scope of practice in the North. I was a young single mother then and couldn't travel remotely so I chose to fill my backpack of nursing skills and knowledge to facilitate me becoming a remote nurse one day. I read many articles and books about nurses that worked far away where there was not even a doctor. 

I knew that's what I wanted to do. 

I worked in an ICU and ER for many years and continued packing skills and became more confident in myself as a nurse. Then it happened - my son was of age and it made me realize that it was time to take care of my dreams and life goals. It was the time for me to go ahead and start my new journey as a remote nurse. I was terrified but so excited. I initially was hired by an agency in Quebec where they trained me for 6 weeks and off I went for my first ever contract to Kugluktuk almost 6 years ago now. What a thrill!!!! I was hooked!! 

I have nursed in many communities throughout Nunavut but fell in love with the Kitikmeot and decided that I wanted to belong to this beautiful family of amazing nurses, so I joined the Government of Nunavut and have never regretted it. I can truly say I have never been so satisfied professionally as this job is such a rich and fulfilling experience. My journey in Nunavut has never stopped evolving and I keep growing as a nurse, a mentor, and a leader. 

Remote nursing has many challenges. Most of the time it will push you to your limit, but at the same time it has been the most rewarding work that I have experienced in my 20 years of nursing.  Every day I feel so privileged and grateful to have the opportunity to care for Inuit, care for children, elders, be a part of and learn from these communities. Nursing in Nunavut helps me grow every day, I learn more about myself and others, and met amazing people that will stay in my heart forever. I love nursing in Nunavut.