January 2025 Featured NP – Jennifer Richard
Jennifer Richard is the 2024 NPAC NP Award of Excellence recipient from Newfoundland and Labrador. Jennifer is an extraordinary, high performing NP whose contribution the profession deserves both national and provincial recognition.
During her NP program at Memorial University – Newfoundland, Jennifer tailored her learning beyond the traditional NP curriculum to encompass theories of critical care medicine and nursing, while seeking out additional training in intensive, anesthesia, palliative, & emergency/trauma care. Shortly after graduation, Jennifer joined the city hospitals Critical Care Team at Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (then Eastern Health) making her the first MUN NP program graduate to pursue a career in critical care and the second adult critical care nurse practitioner in east of Ontario.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer energetically volunteered to provide relief in Toronto and Fort McMurray. During her time in Toronto, all of her patients required ECMO and experiencing the most extreme health crises. Despite the demands of her deployment, Jennifer completed an ECMO Specialist certification and gained the technical skills to prescribe and operate this rare form of life-sustaining therapy.
At the peak of the pandemic, Jennifer answered the call again and travelled to Fort McMurray where she provided relief at the North Lights Regional Health Centre. She was the first nurse practitioner to ever work at the hospital where she served as the most responsible provider for upwards of ten critically ill COVID-19 patients, a testament to her adaptability and unique skillset. Her time in Fort McMurray left a lasting impression as the hospital subsequently developed a framework for the implementation of a critical care nurse practitioner position in the ICU. Furthermore, for her contributions to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal Canadian Mint awarded her a medal of recognition in 2021.
Jennifer’s spirit of volunteerism was again on display in January 2024 when she travelled with Team Broken Earth to Guatemala, South America. There, she provided primary care and assessed individuals to determine who would benefit from future surgical missions to the country. Her courage and bravery in providing much-needed care to those in crisis is evident.
At home in Newfoundland and Labrador, Jennifer improves patient’s outcomes in critical care units. As intensivist colleagues rotate weekly and resident physicians change every other month, Jennifer is the consistent provider who ensures care plans seamlessly transition from week-to-week. She has developed a well-respected reputation within her organization as a mentor, advocate, and leader. She is approachable and has a natural talent for interdisciplinary collaboration. Her calm demeanor and reassuring attitude is welcomed and valued in the high-stress critical care environment.
As a critical care nurse practitioner, Jennifer possesses a skillset not taught in traditional nurse practitioner education. Her role necessitates rapid critical thinking and action. She develops and executes complex care plans for the sickest patients and has developed skills in airway stabilization, vascular access, percutaneous and surgical drain placement, point of care ultrasound, and ECMO, among others. She is involved in quality improvement initiatives in critical care and most recently championed the implementation of a percutaneous tracheostomy program in our critical care unit. Jenifer is constantly seeking continuing education initiatives to broaden her scope of practice and expand her outreach. She is currently completing her Certificate in Medical Teaching at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Jennifer provides training and mentorship to NPs, NP and medical students and resident physicians. In recognition of her contributions to medical education, Jennifer was the first to receive appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor within the Division of Surgery at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine. She was also elected to the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses Board of Directors representing the Eastern Region.