Disclosing a personal secret is always a daunting experience. So today I want to share some tips with you that might make the process a little bit easier. Whatever the secret, the tips still apply, so read on.
A different kind of coming out
Category: News from Even Keel Health
Even Keel Health needs a new home
Sadly, I had to leave Even Keel Health’s first home at the end of June. Many thanks to my colleague in mental health, Julie Clarke of julieclarketherapy.com, who welcomed me with open arms as I got started with my private practice.
Virtual technologies have their benefit but I sure miss face-to-face sessions as many of you do too. I’m not sure when we will get the “go ahead” to resume in-office sessions but I’m hopeful that it will be soon. With that in mind, I’m resuming my search for a great space and I’d like your help finding it.
I can imagine a few different scenarios. I’m sure there are many creative ideas out there but here are a few examples. I might be happy with…
- sharing an already existing professional office with one or a few other health practitioners
- getting together with kindred spirits and setting up a new space we find together
- setting up office by myself in someone’s unused space such as a small apartment in someone’s home ( I would need a private entrance )
- having an office space at an organisation where I could trade some of my services for space.
The “must have”
- I live on White Lake and I’d like to travel no more than 50 minutes to get to the office. In or near Almonte would be my favourite but I’d consider other places.
- With a practice focused on mental health and addiction, most of what I do can be done sitting in comfortable chairs, in a quiet, cozy space but I also need enough space to put up a portable massage table which I use as an exam bench when needed.
- The main room needs to be large enough to sit 4 people with enough space around to not feel crowded.
- Access to water in or near the room
- Access to a washroom
- Access to a waiting area
- Parking nearby
- Easily accessible for people with mobility restrictions
- Good mobile phone reception (I use Virgin i.e. Bell Network)
- I could use the space on at least 3 separate days, for up to 24 hours a week with some hours in late mornings, afternoons and early evenings
- Non-smoking space and minimal use of scented products
The “would be nice”
My time working as an outreach nurse prepared me to work out of a well organized backpack just about anywhere. However, given a choice, I prefer a well thought out space, engineered just right to help my people feel comfortable and safe, and help me be extra efficient and effective.
If you’ve got something that might be suitable, have some suggestions or would like to hear more about my vison for my next space – please contact me.
Nathalie
credit: Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash
In-person versus remote counselling sessions
I’ve always preferred face-to-face communication and no doubt always will.
Another truth about me is that I’m a good problem solver. I am one of these people who respond to challenges by “working the problem.” I love solving puzzles, to break problems down into manageable bits and to find solutions for the parts, and eventually for the whole.
COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, too much, for some.
Like everyone, I have my own list of worries. More than anything, I worry about the long term effects of this pandemic. I worry we might be treating this problem like a sprint and not a marathon. I worry we might be all so focussed on COVID-19, the virus, the pandemic and its immediate effect, that we might be neglecting other problems and in particular other health problems. I worry that people might not be looking after their whole health and might be neglecting to work at building resilience to deal with what is happening now and what remains to deal with ahead. Getting through this will require resilience and stamina.
This time is a time for interdependence. We need to get “OK” with leaning on each other. If you’ve never learned to do that, if all your life you’ve been programmed to rely on yourself and on yourself alone then now is the time to challenge that way of doing things.
I predict that it is those who are drawing on the necessary internal and external resources, those who are accepting help and who are offering help to others, who will fare the best.
The wise will use all the tools available, to not only survive but also thrive. In these times of social distancing, we are all looking for new ways of doing things. We are all looking for new ways to cope. If you are struggling to cope during these extra challenging times, know that you are not alone. Do not isolate in every sense of the word! Maintain social distancing, yes, but also reach out. Accept the help available so that you may thrive not only survive. If you have ways to help – help out! We’re in this together. If you don’t need help but wish to help let me know, let others know. Someone might just be looking for what you have to offer!
I’ve now got things setup to offer services by phone or via secure video (doxy.me). I’m working from home so I’ve expanded my hours of availability.
If you’ve considered mental health counselling and never had the time or the opportunity to get started, then now might be the right time.
If your are a frontline worker and would like some support, I’m here.
I’m here for you all.
Let me help you get back on an Even Keel.
Nathalie Héloïse Graveline
Nurse Practitioner
Even Keel Health
Do you have what you need to get back on an even keel?
Happy New Year Everyone!
One of my plans for the next year is to set some new ground work with new information. If you’ve read my blog before, you might know that I feel strongly about the value of working near home, for personal and environmental benefits. Of course, not everyone is able to do this. But I want to work near home while contributing to the welfare of my community. That’s why I’ve created Even Keel Health, my private Nurse Practitioner practice.
So far, there aren’t many Nurse Practitioners in private practice. A private practice brings its own sort of challenges. One of which, is dealing with a provincial health care system which hasn’t yet made the requisite infrastructure changes to allow NPs to bill the Province for the health services they provide to its citizens.
In Ontario, Nurse Practitioners have been providing health care in various communities and settings for more than 45 years. So we are not exactly new. However, our scope of practice and where we practice our profession is in constant evolution as is all of healthcare. This might, in part, explain why so many people are unclear about what we do and what we don’t do.
A friend recently told me that someone vehemently argued with her that Nurse Practitioners only prescribe medications under the supervision of a physician. That isn’t so.
Her story, however, served to reaffirm in me the belief that more needs to be done to dispel misinformation about NPs. Is misinformation keeping patients and providers from finding each other?
You know what they say about those who assume. When you assume you make an ass of u and me. Please forgive the sassiness and consider this: I sure would love for people to feel comfortable to ask more questions about NPs. I would love it if people informed themselves instead of making assumptions. And I would love it if those who are misinformed stopped spreading inaccurate information.
This reflection led me to consider whether or not I am guilty of the same. Am I making assumptions about what health services, people in my community need?
Recently, I wrote a blog post titled Lead By Example! I encouraged people to behave as they would like others to behave. So here I am, putting that advice into practice.
I am aware of some of the gaps in the health services available in my region. I have taken some steps to inform myself about what is available and what is missing but I would really like to hear more about your experience seeking and accessing health services offered in this region.
Your answers to the survey will help me better understand what you are looking for and inform the choices I will make about how to best serve my community.
Please take 5 minutes to speak up via this survey. I am genuinely interested in learning and making informed decisions about how to best use my skills, knowledge and experience while serving my community. Spread the word the more answers the better! Answer now ! This will only be available until February 10 2020.
Nathalie Héloïse Graveline
Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!
I want to take a moment to celebrate my Nurse Practitioner colleagues. This week is National NP week. A good time to take a breath and recognize the valuable contributions of these amazing healthcare providers.
Some people say Nurse Practitioners are “fairly new.” Really!? How long do you have to be around to no longer be fairly new? I guess everything is relative. Still, did you know that we’ve had nurse practitioners providing care in Canada for nearly 50 years? At first, we saw most of them working in remote and rural areas but now we’re in acute care hospitals, family health teams, community health centres, Physicians’ offices, NP-Led clinics, private practice and many other places where health care is needed.
My post graduate nursing education has prepared me to expand my scope of practice and allowed me to really grow as a nurse. I love that as an NP we can diagnose illnesses, order & interpret diagnostic tests, refer to other health care professionals and specialists, provide counselling and education, provide treatment, prescribe all medications and manage chronic diseases.
I, personally, feel most passionate about helping people recover from mental health and addiction problems. I feel strongly about integrating my patients’ mental health and or addiction problems within their overall health care plan. My mission : to get you back on an even keel.
Please join me in celebrating the Nurse Practitioners in your life.
Learn more about the 3,700 Nurse Practitioners in Ontario at NPAO.org
Learn more about Nathalie Héloïse Graveline, Nurse Practitioner at EvenKeelHealth.ca
Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
It doesn’t have to be this hard!
Those who know me well, know that I’m not really good at asking for help. I’m working on it. The journey to get to this success has been a difficult one. I will not bore you with the details but suffice it to say that when I first set out to start building my nurse practitioner private practice, I reached out to several people to help me with web design and after several very disappointing attempts I decided to create, on my own, the original version of evenkeelhealth.ca. It was ok. I learned a lot in the process but it didn’t have to be this hard.
I live by a few mantras. One which I learned when I was in the sea cadets is “Lead By Example.” When I’m talking myself into doing something hard, I think to myself: what would I want my patients to do? Be brave, ask for help, and if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
Asking for help isn’t easy but struggling alone isn’t either. Reach out! Do it once, do it twice, do it as many times as it takes to find your match. If you haven’t found the mental healthcare you need I encourage you to give me a try. Book a free introduction session and find out how I might be able to help you.
Nathalie
Even Keel Health 