Nurse practitioner grad champions better health
For Jessica Newcombe, being a nurse is about helping people in their most vulnerable moments. As an undergraduate, she shifted from a life sciences degree to nursing, drawn to the hands-on nature of the profession. Since then, she has worked as an emergency department nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria and as a clinical instructor for the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Emergency Nursing Specialty Program.
The next step in Jessica’s professional journey was pursuing a Master’s in Nurse Practitioner program at the ³Ô¹ÏÍø, where she received the Edson-Simpson Graduate Scholarship in Nursing. She says the award provided financial support during her second year of her ³Ô¹ÏÍø while also reinforcing the sense of possibility and excitement to contribute to community health in this new career.
Each year, 22 nurse practitioner students receive these donor-funded scholarships, made possible through the generosity of Charlene Edson and Grant Simpson.
Now a nurse practitioner at an urgent and primary care clinic in Esquimalt, Jessica has found a role that blends her passion for the fast-paced energy of the emergency room with the opportunity to build lasting relationships—offering long-term support to patients and making a meaningful impact in her community.
What inspired you to become a nurse practitioner?
"I loved working in emergency nursing. I enjoyed the interdisciplinary teamwork, the fast pace and seeing patients of all different ages.
In the nurse practitioner role, I also get to support people in improving their health and lifestyles. I can reach vulnerable populations to help meet that unmet need in my community and be part of the solution."
What is most rewarding about being a nurse?
"I feel very privileged to walk alongside people in their moments of vulnerability. That's at the core of it. I'm privileged to be a nurse and I like to be able to help people work towards better health."
What is most challenging about being a nurse?
''Time. I always felt I could use more time with my patients. As a nurse practitioner in a clinic, I am able to book longer appointments."
How were you affected by the EdsonSimpson Graduate Scholarship in Nursing?
"The scholarship not only provided monetary support, but also made me feel like someone was supporting and encouraging me. It showed me that I can be a nurse practitioner and that this profession is valued. I have so much gratitude."
What do you like to do when you're not at work?
"I love Vancouver Island. Coming from Ottawa, we did a lot of skiing, and here in BC we spend pretty much all of our free time in the back country. Around the time that I started the nurse practitioner program, we were able to ski every month of the year."
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