As a public health nurse in Rankin Inlet, Angnaluaaq (Tia) Friesen鈥檚 work is focused on preventive health and being proactive to ensure people in her community stay healthy.

鈥淲hat I really like is working upstream, like preventing things before they happen, 鈥� Friesen said.

A good part of that work for Friesen is public outreach and health promotion throughout the community.

鈥淚t would be going to the schools to educate kids on how to wash your hands, or talking to the middle school or high school about smoking cessation, smoking reduction or vaping, and really trying to prevent people getting seriously sick down the road, or preventing illnesses from going around," she said.

鈥淚t's really fun to go out to the community and to have that connection.鈥�

鈥淎nd another reason why I like to go to the schools is to show other young Inuit that they could also go to school, even at a later point in life; it doesn't have to be right after high school to go to college or go to university.

鈥淚t can be later where you have other life experience, and you're able to mature, and I find having this kind of job is really beneficial for my own independence because it's really empowering,鈥� Friesen said.

May 12鈥�18 is National Nursing Week and a time to celebrate the vital role nurses fulfill in the healthcare system. This year's theme is The Power of Nurses to Transform Heath.

Friesen said her public health work also includes clinic appointments for newborn babies and children, plus immunizations or early detection for anemia or other health issues. She also does TB or sexual health screening as part of her daily work.

And while she said there is often 鈥減ushback鈥� on some health topics, she gets enjoyment from the fact that she is always learning something new in her role that ultimately increases the quality of care for her patients.

After studying to become a nurse in Nova Scotia, Friesen said she was happy to return to her hometown to care for her family and to see many familiar faces.

鈥淎nd it鈥檚 nice that when people come in the clinic every once in a while and say that it鈥檚 nice to have an Inuk nurse,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hat I like about providing care at public health is when people are taking care of themselves and putting themselves first. And for some people, that's really hard to do.鈥�