Indigenous Talent – Success Stories from the SHA - Clarissa Hoostie
Clarissa Hoostie is a Registered Nurse from White Bear First Nation. Read more about her healthcare career journey below!
What area of healthcare do you work in? What motivated you to get into nursing?
I work as a Registered Nurse. I always wanted to be a nurse because I enjoy helping people.
What are your roles and responsibilities as a Registered Nurse?
I work as a clinical outreach nurse and a neonatal nurse. I primarily provide care to infants and women. I provide some care in the hospital and some outside in rural First Nation communities.
Please describe a typical day for yourself and explain how you incorporate your Indigenous ways of life into your workplace?
My typical workday depends on where I am for the day. I provide prenatal care to women in First Nations communities. I draw their lab work, do their checkups and coordinate all their care throughout their entire pregnancy until birth. In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I work with premature babies and or sick babies providing them the care they need while in hospital which could include NG/OG feeds, medication, IV fluids, etc.
Thinking of the Medicine Wheel, how do you balance your work life and personal life working as a RN?
To balance my work life and personal life, I spend work time working and personal time doing more physical, mental and spiritual activities. You have to learn to set boundaries between your personal and professional life - this allows you to better balance all aspects of your medicine wheel. Physically, I like to keep active and workout. Mentally and spiritually, I smudge when I need to and attend some ceremonies yearly. I also speak to a therapist to better support my mental health. In my personal time I like to ensure I have down time to recuperate from the demands of work.
Please compare your current experience working as a Registered Nurse (RN) to other jobs you have had in the past.
I have worked in the past at a coffee shop & as a laundry attendant. Being an RN is rewarding, has great pay and benefits and has a ton of room for individuals to grow.
Do you have any advice for students or new graduates looking to pursue a career as a RN? Are there specialty areas that are in more demand than others?
My advice would be to stick it out even when it gets hard. It is worth it. Nursing is such a versatile, evolving field. There are always jobs and a lot to learn.
What is the number one thing you love about being a Registered Nurse?
I love meeting people where they are at in their health journey and starting to see change.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?
On my own time I like to read and also work out. I am also learning to pow wow dance & bead.