Staff Spotlight
Nadeem Rahemtulla, Nurse Practitioner
It's Nurse Practitioners (NP) Week! Meet Nadeem Rahemtulla, an NP working in long-term care (LTC) at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
Continuous learning for providing patient-centred care
In celebration of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) week, taking place this week, we caught up with Nadeem Rahemtulla, an NP working in long-term care (LTC) at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). Nadeem is one of 170 NPs working in over 100 positions across the organization including acute care, community, specialized ambulatory settings, emergency and urgent care settings and more.
In a field that demands both expertise and heart, Nadeem shares “I've always enjoyed working in the area of geriatrics and find working in this area to be very satisfying and rewarding.
Inspirational moments
His team and their empathetic and respectful approach when supporting residents struggling with dementia-related behaviours inspire Nadeem. He recounts an inspirational moment involving collaborative teamwork, where by working together, the team was able to develop a plan that truly met the needs of the resident.
Supportive team environment
Nadeem feels supported and a sense of community through regular virtual team meetings. He found that having these meetings creates a platform for sharing best practices and learning from each other's experiences. The virtual format also allowed for flexibility and convenience. “This was a valuable tool for our team to connect informally and discuss any challenges and concerns, build relationships, network, and work together to provide excellent patient care.”
Commitment to EDI
“As a person of colour, knowing VCH strives to dismantle racism in healthcare and places emphasis on the high importance of equity, diversity and inclusion really resonates with me,” says Nadeem. It is empowering to know that healthcare providers are actively working towards creating an environment where patients of all races, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds feel safe, respected and heard.
Dedication to lifelong learning
Upholding the VCH value of ‘we are always learning’, Nadeem says he feels this happens daily through a variety of sources. “At care homes, I learn from residents, their families, and the interdisciplinary team members. I also learn via the NP Lunch and Learns, group chats and community of practice meetings,” he says.
Nadeem views continuous learning as a key component to providing high-quality patient care. This is evident in his participation of learning opportunities available and for taking on leadership roles such as being the Associate Head of the VCH NP Department from 2019-2020.
With gratitude for the VCH NP Continuing Education Fund, Nadeem encourages his colleagues to embrace every opportunity for learning and growth, recognizing it leads to better outcomes for their patients.
Nadeem finds motivation at the end of each day by knowing that he has the chance to touch and enhance the lives of the elderly and frail population living in long-term care facilities in our region.
The growth of NPs
NPs have been a part of VCH for the last 18 years and have been instrumental in improving access to care for patients. In 2005, there were only five NPs and the department has now grown to 170 NPs working in over 100 positions across the organization including acute care, community, specialized ambulatory settings, emergency and urgent care settings and more.
The growth of the NP profession at VCH reflects a commitment to improving access to care and supporting the best possible outcomes for patients and families. VCH is proud to have such a dedicated and skilled group of professionals working to improve the health and well-being of patients across the region.
Join the team
Explore the current career opportunities for Nurse Practitioners at Vancouver Coastal Health.