“My team is my family. We work as one cohesive unit and are adaptable in any situation. There is never a dull moment, and I will never forget the connections made here."
- Gurpreet
Registered Nurse (RN), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Burnaby Hospital
Gurpreet describes a day at work as “exciting, intense, and rewarding.”
“Across [each of] the different facilities I have worked in Fraser Health, I have witnessed nothing but genuine, compassionate, and innovative health care workers. I am proud to say that I get to work beside these individuals.
I have learned countless skills, techniques and approaches in care. Most of all, I have mastered my competency in holistic care. The NICU environment can be a very frightening and isolating experience. I have learned to help create a supportive environment for NICU families by developing and maintaining connected relationships while staying within my professional boundaries.”
We asked Gurpreet what she enjoys most about working with her team, and we’re heartened to hear what she had to say.
“My team is my family. We work as one cohesive unit and are adaptable in any situation. There is never a dull moment, and I will never forget the connections made here. NICU nurses celebrate small achievements every day. Our latest achievement celebrated was in honour of Kangaroo Care Awareness Day in May, where our team celebrated a skin-to skin-thon. Skin-to-skin treatment is one of the best ways to help babies adjust to the outside world, and helps in building the parent/child bond.
The most enjoyable part of my job is knowing that I'm making a huge difference in many lives. The success stories make every single moment of my shift worth while. NICU is where the little things matter.”
Gurpreet shares that, if you’re considering a career in NICU, “you need to have a passion for working with newborns/families and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. Our shifts are based around small slivers of hope, and start with being unsure of what the next 12 hours might bring. Our accomplishments usually come in the tiniest, smallest form possible.”
Outside of work, you’ll find Gurpreet cooking, crafting, and out exploring nature in our beautiful province. “I love making babies name tags, name bracelets, and quilts. On special occasions, like Mother's Day, or Father’s Day, I love making cards for the families with footprints and pictures.”