July's Nurse of the Month: Caitlin McNeill (she/her), RN BN, Director of Health Services, Opaskwayak Cree Nation

Caitlin McNeill (she/her) is a dedicated Registered Nurse who is responsible for overseeing all the clinical services at Opaskwayak Health Authority. With over 60 programs, a care home, a mental health department that includes an opioid treatment program, doula services, a primary care clinic, and a public health team, Caitlin wears many hats.

“I'm very lucky to work for OCN. They're a very progressive community and they're always looking for ways to provide better services and to advocate, not just for themselves, but for other First Nations communities in the region as well,” says Caitlin. “They're willing to take risks and to develop partnerships and really taking that harm reduction approach to service delivery. I'm constantly being supported and I’m able to be creative in the ways that we address problems.”

She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2015 and has worked in a variety of areas such as emergency, long-term care, and maternity in communities all over Northern Manitoba, including Thompson, Gillam, and The Pas. 

“I love the north. I'm a northerner. This is where I belong. I never imagined working anywhere else. The way I look at it, this is where I can have the biggest impact. I’ve been told that I should go and work for bigger organizations or be in the city, but I think it's important for me to remain where the challenges are. Seeing them firsthand and seeing what it's like for patients as they navigate systems,” she says.

Having worked on OCN as a teenager before leaving to pursue her education, she originally returned to the community to work in the opioid treatment program.

“At the time it was something that had never been done in a first Nations community before, so I had the opportunity to really grow and develop the program,” says Caitlin. “I also got involved in policy development and all these extra things where I learned a lot about addictions and mental health. Working in the north is challenging, there are so many barriers, but it is so, so, so rewarding. The people that you meet and getting to make a difference for them is huge. In these long-term programs, you're following these people for years and just seeing patients grow and improve their lives, while building relationships, is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.”

These days, along with overseeing Health Services on OCN, Caitlin also does some consulting work, and is also currently pursuing her Master of Public Health degree. With this qualification, she aims to deepen her understanding of policy and program development and gain insights into how healthcare providers can navigate and adapt with changing government priorities.

“It's just a different type of caring for people because the barriers and the problems, they just keep going on. So, my role is in system transformation and working against systemic racism, and being an advocate, just having the ability to make a difference,” says Caitlin. “Every single Canadian, regardless of where they live is supposed to have the same access to services and that's just not what's happening right now. I'm realizing like this is probably where I am meant to be.”