Sarah Goodreau, the health promotion nurse at the Giiwedno Mshkikiiwgamig – North Bay Indigenous Hub is this year's recipient of the Nursing Now Ontario Award in the registered practical nurse (RPN) category.
“I feel really blessed. I didn’t know I was being nominated. It really took me by surprise. I am honoured," Goodreau tells BayToday. “We work with a vulnerable population. Part of my role is to become an ally for the people's healthcare — advocating for them or empowering them to take charge of their own healthcare. What we have to do is build trust with people. We provide a really safe space here.”
Goodreau is one of three extraordinary Ontario nurses who have gone above and beyond in making invaluable contributions to patients’ lives and the healthcare system. The awards recognize a registered practical nurse (RPN), a registered nurse (RN) and a nurse practitioner (NP) who demonstrate high professional standards, superior clinical skills and compassionate practice. They will be honoured at the fourth annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards on May 12, to coincide with International Nurses' Day.
Goodreau plays a major leadership role at the Indigenous Hub and is frequently involved in making decisions for the organization regarding things like program planning, training and hiring. Her nominator, Carly Collins, says her “work ethic and ideas are invaluable to the Hub, and the work she has done for [her] patients will have a life-long impact."
Goodreau is known to demonstrate exemplary nursing practice by always going above and beyond for patients and communities involved with the Indigenous Hub.
“We get to travel to remote communities, one being the community that my family is from,” says Goodreau, who is originally from Cobalt and is a member of Temagami First Nation but is now based in North Bay.
As part of her role, Sarah visits Temagami First Nation, a partnering Indigenous community located on Bear Island, to assist in running their Clinic Day. She ensures that all the needs of her clients are addressed and performs thorough assessments of patients before they are seen by their primary care provider. She also ensures that all equipment and medical supplies required for the Clinic Day are organized prior to travel and performs many hands-on nursing tasks, including skin treatments, wound care, ear flushing and more.
“I just help people. That’s what I do," says Goodreau. "It really comes down to just wanting to help people who need help and cannot get the help or cannot access the help. I want to hop in my car and take somebody to an appointment if they can’t get there. It’s really important to me that everyone has health equity. Everybody deserves proper health care. That’s why working here is like a dream. I feel like I am in my perfect spot.”
Goodreau has greatly impacted her clients by helping them reconnect with their culture. She frequently refers clients to other hub departments — including the traditional healing team — to allow them to connect with elders, get involved in cultural events and activities and access traditional medicines. Using the Two-Eyed Seeing approach that incorporates Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, Sarah views the “medicine wheel” as “our healing tool,” integrating physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health wellness.
Collaborations with community members, such as the Health Unit and other health partners, spurred by Goodreau improve the level of services available to patients. She recently spearheaded the North Bay Indigenous Hub smoking cessation program and will see patients for smoking cessation appointments in the upcoming months. Sarah's collaboration with team members and others is making a huge difference in the lives of Indigenous people in North Bay and surrounding communities.
The Nursing Now Ontario Awards showcase nursing excellence and celebrate exceptional individuals for their contributions to Ontarians and our health system. The Nursing Now Ontario Awards are presented by the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN), the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA).
