July's Nurse of the Month: Michelle Lagasse RN(AP), BN, CCHN(C), CDE

Michelle Lagasse RN(AP), BN, CCHN(C), CDE has always been passionate about empowering people to take control of their own well-being. 

Working in community health for over two decades, she’s making a real impact teaching people, promoting health and preventing illness.

“When I graduated, I wanted to help people in a more upstream type of way in the community and I wanted to help people help themselves,” Michelle explains. “I've always valued knowledge, both teaching and learning. I value the right to self-determination and informed decision making, and I like to provide information to the community to help them make decisions about their health.”

Originally thinking she might become a teacher, Michelle knew she wanted to help people, so she followed that interest into health care and the Health Care Aide program at RRC Polytech. After seeing nurses inside the hospital setting, it was a natural progression for her to go into nursing.

“I did get hired into my dream role where I still am today, so I've been there for 22 years and that's at Youville Community Health Center,” she shares. “But throughout the years I've also done a lot of casual roles to experience other parts of nursing and to enhance my experience and grow my skills, exploring all that I can.”

These roles have included as a primary care nurse in medical clinics; in cardiac rehab; and most recently - nursing education and clinical competency assessments.

Michelle also teaches in nursing programs at Red River College Polytech - in the Authorized Nurse Prescriber Program; and Nurse Re-Entry program; and at the University of Manitoba College of Nursing - in simulation labs. As well, she is involved in assessing the competency of nurses through two universities and two nursing regulators.

She was one of the first group of nurses to receive a notation as an authorized prescriber in Winnipeg, being able to order tests, diagnose, and prescribe certain vaccines and drugs related to birth control and STI treatment.

“The thing about the nursing profession is that there's just infinite possibilities, there's so much you can do and so much you can learn,” says Michelle. “You can experience so many different areas and have it so that no two days are the same. You can really impact people's lives in many ways. That's what I love about the nursing profession.”

She also encourages other nurses to explore everything the profession offers.

“I think I'm just trying to experience all that nursing has to offer in my areas of interest and get the most out of my career and so I would encourage other nurses to do the same. All you have to do is seek out opportunities, reach out, network, contribute, and doors will open. Some of my greatest opportunities developed from volunteer roles that I had actively sought out.”

Michelle adds that being a nurse means more than just providing medical care. It means being a caring, trusted and valued helper to the public. That taking the time to listen and support patients is just as important as administering medication or treatments.

“It's such an honour to connect with people. I might be a small part of their day when they see me, but I'm helping them take care of themselves and get them on their way. I appreciate that I'm able to do that,” Michelle shares. “We just have these short little moments with them and then we may not see them again, but we just have faith that we've made a difference and it's amazing to know you made a difference in someone's life every single day.”