GORE BAY—The Manitoulin Lodge has hired a full-time nurse practitioner, Sarah Bremner.
“As our nurse practitioner, Sarah will increase the quality of care we are able to offer our residents with her knowledge and experience,” said Jaime-Lynn Kalmikov, administrator of Manitoulin Lodge. “She is supporting our physician and nursing group as well as providing education to our staff to increase the level of care for our residents.”
“I am originally from the Island,” she told the Expositor. “My parents Vic and Nancy McCutcheon moved to the Island after I was born. They operated the post office in Sheguiandah, and when the post office was closed, they relocated off-Island when I was in my teens.”
“I was previously a nurse practitioner in a long-term care facility in Barrie and prior to that worked as a cardiac nurse in South Lake and a trauma nurse in Sunnybrook long term care,” said Ms. Bremner, who had been living in Coldwater before she moved back to Manitoulin. “I have been a nurse practitioner for the past 13 years and previous to that had been a registered nurse for 17 years.” She has a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree as well as a nurse practitioner certificate from Laurentian University and a Masters degree in Clinical Science and Wound Healing from the University of Western Ontario.”
Ms. Bremner explained as a nurse practitioner, “we can diagnose, treat, prescribe and order tests for residents. We help to share in the workload with doctors and staff. And in long term care we are a member of a medical team and provide support to staff and doctors.”
“We feel kind of privileged and spoiled to add Sarah to our staff medical team as a nurse practitioner,” said Brittany Honess, director of care at Manitoulin Lodge.
“The education and skills Sarah has brought and is providing to Lodge staff is wonderful,” said Ms. Kalmikov. “Sarah is the first nurse practitioner we have had at the Lodge. We had posted for this position because the ministry funded this position. The ministry (Health and Long-Term Care) wants nurse practitioners in long term care home facilities.”
Ms. Honess explained, “we previously had an agency nurse, and we did all the legwork in the fall to hire a nurse practitioner, but this fell through. But we advertised again and are very fortunate to have Sarah apply and that we could hire her.”
Ms. Bremner moved back to Manitoulin Island late last summer. “It was part of my plan to move back to the Island,” she said, noting she is widowed, having lost her husband and a son in a snowmobile accident. Her oldest son lives and works for CN Rail in Coldwater.
“We live on this side of Manitowaning with my significant other on their family farm,” said Ms. Bremner.
