Jenn Crockett

2007 Trail, B.C.

Jenn Crockett participated in IRPbc during the summer 2007 and did her placement in Trail, B.C.  Working and living in a rural community has both benefits and challenges. Because towns are smaller and there are fewer health care professionals, different disciplines often work more closely together than they do in larger centres where there are more professionals to handle a larger number of cases. Additionally, the small town life and outdoor adventure opportunities offer a lifestyle that is highly desirable for many. According to Jenn; “I know of a couple of medical students who really enjoyed the lifestyle a small town has to offer. They’re both considering practicing in smaller communities in part because they really enjoy the way of life.” In spite of the benefits, rural communities face challenges in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals and there are difficulties in accessing health care for those who live outside of the regional centres. As Jenn explains “People often have to drive 20 to 40 minutes or more to access the regional health centre. Needless to say this is terrifying in an emergency situation.”

When considering the benefits of IRPbc for rural communities, Jenn said; “I think IRPbc draws attention to small communities and that’s a good thing. Without people coming from these smaller areas and being able to detail their experiences, both good and bad, the needs of these communities would be far less understood. When I get a chance, I talk to people at Interior Health about what I learned so that they are aware of the needs and challenges of rural communities.”

After her IRPbc experience, Jenn continued to build on her interprofessional experience by being co-chair of the Interprofessional Practice Committee in Trail. She refers to her time with IRPbc as “enlightening”.

“Before my IRPbc experience I had a much more limited view of roles on the health care team. Of course I knew what nurses and doctors did but the broader roles were not something I really had direct experience with. Out of this I now understand how we all fit together as part of the health care team. During IRPbc, our team worked with one patient in particular and we developed a comprehensive plan for him. Each of us worked together to develop a plan that brought a patient few saw as having a chance for success back at his home a few months later and doing great. What a wonderful thing for us to have been able to accomplish.”

Today Jenn is a nurse at Kelowna General Hospital. She credits her IRPbc experience with benefitting many of the working relationships she has today because she has a better appreciation for the role that each member of the health care team plays. “I’ve learned to really value my role on the health care team. I understand where and how I fit in and how to interact with others on the team to benefit patient care. I share this approach with others because I know that when the health care team works together we can accomplish so much more.”

“Are you a former IRPbc student?  If so, email Kathy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  and let us know what you’re doing now. We look forward to hearing from you!”