Prairie Mountain Health Welcomes Four New Nurse Practitioners

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) has successfully recruited four new nurse practitioners to enhance medical services in the Westman region, specifically in communities such as Shoal Lake, Melita, and Rossburn. This initiative addresses the significant gap in primary healthcare, as these areas have been without a full-time doctor for some time, according to PMH’s CEO, Treena Slate.

The newly appointed nurse practitioners have begun their roles, providing essential medical care not only in the aforementioned communities but also in Canupawakpa First Nation, the Brandon Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, and the Dauphin Primary Care Outreach Clinic. This was confirmed in a PMH news release issued on Monday.

Local Impact and Community Support

Kiersten McNabb, one of the new nurse practitioners, will serve the communities of Rossburn and Shoal Lake. A native of Minnedosa, McNabb is acutely aware of the challenges rural residents face in accessing primary healthcare. She expressed her enthusiasm in an email statement, stating, “I am excited to be providing care to communities who need more primary care providers.” McNabb holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Manitoba, which she completed in 2013, and she recently obtained her master’s degree, transitioning into her role as a nurse practitioner just last month.

Joining McNabb are Stacie Gardiner-Graham, who will be practicing in Melita and Canupawakpa First Nation; Erin Ryback, stationed in Brandon; and Jolynn Harder, who will provide care in Dauphin. Nurse practitioners in this region are equipped to operate independently, similar to physicians. They are authorized to diagnose patients, prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests—including blood work and imaging studies—and perform minor procedures such as suturing and biopsies.

Treena Slate emphasized the importance of having healthcare professionals who understand the local context, stating, “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.”

Addressing Healthcare Needs in Rural Areas

The need for healthcare providers is particularly acute in rural areas like Shoal Lake, which will now have three nurse practitioners following the new hires. In contrast, urban centers like Brandon have greater access to physicians. Currently, Shoal Lake receives physician support from Hamiota only once a week. Meanwhile, Rossburn has not had consistent physician support but may see an increase in services as more doctors become available in nearby Russell.

As outlined by Slate, Shoal Lake and Melita have historically relied on nurse practitioners for consistent primary care. In Melita, the community benefits from weekly physician support from Virden and monthly support from Deloraine. The addition of these four nurse practitioners is expected to bolster primary care services and reduce the need for patients to seek treatment in emergency rooms or hospitals.

According to PMH, six nurse practitioner students are anticipated to complete their second year of training and begin working in the fall of 2026. Currently, there are 31 nurse practitioners employed within the PMH region, with 11 serving First Nation communities.

Uzoma Asagwara, the Health, Seniors and Long-term Care Minister, remarked on the significance of these new hires, stating that they will make a “tremendous difference” for residents in southwestern Manitoba. He clarified that the onboarding of nurse practitioners is not intended to replace physicians but rather to complement the healthcare team, reinforcing their invaluable role in various healthcare settings.

The ongoing recruitment efforts by Prairie Mountain Health highlight the commitment to attracting more healthcare professionals to the area, aiming to enhance the overall health outcomes for the communities they serve.