Staff Spotlight
Conrad So, Registered Nurse
Continuing our highlight of VCH nurses for Year of the Nurse and Midwife is Conrad So, a primary care nurse within the Integrated Care Team (ICT) located in the downtown eastside (DTES).
“Within the ICT model, I work with physicians, pharmacists, dieticians, counsellors, social workers, clinical support workers and peers, and many other healthcare providers within the DTES community”, he says of his collaborative team. “We also have a lot of patients who come in regularly and we are able to develop a deeper relationship with them and get to know them as a person, something that is harder to do in fast-paced acute care setting.”
In 2016, Conrad was in his second year of nursing school when B.C.’s provincial health officer declared a public health emergency in response to the rise in drug overdoses.
“I did a clinical rotation in the DTES and witnessed first-hand the health inequity suffered by the residents there due to unequal access and distribution of the social determinants of health.” This includes conditions in the environment where people live, learn and play including housing, employment and social services which greatly affects health functions and quality of life. “There is so much more going on than just the violence and drug use that the media typically portrays.”
Conrad tells us of how he is inspired by the people he provides care for.
“A lot of our clients are really talented musicians, artists and writers,” he says. “The collage behind me (in the photo) was created by an elderly gentleman who is 89 years old and still walks to our clinic every day. We see a lot of older folks down here that need help managing chronic diseases, and they are so sweet and pleasant, but you would never expect them to be living in the DTES.”
So how does Conrad feel aligned with VCH values (We Care for Everyone, We Are Always Learning and We Strive for Better Results) and the team he works with?
“I truly love the environment and the people I work with. We have a diverse roster of staff and we celebrate people of all gender, sexuality, race, background, and religion. It is a very safe environment,” he says. “Our management team is also very approachable and is receptive to feedback and concerns. I feel like they are doing an excellent job responding to the ever-changing situation with COVID-19.”
In addition, Conrad says the Downtown Community Health Centre clinic is low barrier so the team sees almost everyone. “A lot of our clients are afraid of going to the hospital because they often feel judged and stigmatized by healthcare workers, so I almost feel honoured that they’re coming to us because they feel safe here,” he says. “We also regularly implement Quality Improvement initiatives to improve patient safety and care.”
Join our team
Explore the current career opportunities at the DTES with Vancouver Coastal Health.