ESTEVAN — Alana Johner joined St. Joseph's Hospital as a registered nurse in February 2021 after graduating from the University of Regina.
She said even though she started during tough pandemic times, her career choice has never disappointed her.
Joining the health-care field became her call, and she followed it to the best of her ability.
"I feel like I always knew I wanted to do something in the health-care profession," Johner said in the interview with the Mercury. "It might be a cliché answer, but I had that strong need of helping others. And I always did. As a little girl, growing up on the farm, I always wanted to help out the animals. And then when I got to school age, I volunteered tons in my small town. And I just loved it. I volunteered at the hospital when I was in high school, and I think that's where I initially started to love the hospital scene."
Her older sister also went into nursing, but Johner said unlike many families where younger siblings want to follow the footsteps of older role models, in their case, she originally didn't want to go into nursing as she wanted "to pave her own path". So, when it was time for university, she decided to take three years of general arts and science classes.
"And then I just realized no, nursing is for me, that's the career I want to do. So that's when I switched to nursing," Johner recalled.
With many prerequisite classes completed during her three years of arts and science at the University of Saskatchewan, she was able to get into the nursing program, which was through the University of Regina, but took place in Saskatoon.
"I knew I wanted to stay in Saskatoon, I'm from up there. So, I got my nursing degree through the University of Regina but in Saskatoon, and it took me 3 1/2 years from when I got into the nursing program," Johner said.
Born and raised on a farm near Rosetown, Johner had never even been to Estevan until she started dating her future husband. He had family in the Energy City, but at the time was living in Rosetown selling John Deere equipment.
"He wanted to come back and farm with his family here in Estevan, and so I came with him," Johner shared.
She noted that when one is finishing their nursing degree, they all have to do a 12-week preceptorship. Already knowing that she would be eventually moving to Estevan, Johner completed her final steps at St. Joseph's Hospital and then she was hired right after that.
She said she's learned a lot throughout her time here.
"Since I've only been a nurse for two years, it's been such a learning curve. I've learned so much in the last two years. It's crazy. They try to prepare you for nursing in school but you don't, you get the most learning done on the job," Johner said. "And St. Joe's, I love where I work. I work in Unit A, which is a basic medical unit, so you get such a variety of patients there, you get anything and everything there. So, I've just learned so much about so many different diseases and illnesses."
She noted the reality appeared to be very different from her dream vision of a nursing job.
"I feel like nobody really understands what a day-to-day job would look like for a nurse until you're actually doing it. I thought it would be a lot more like personal care and things like that. But I didn't realize the extent of the science behind it, like having to know all the medications and the lab work and other things, where you really have to use your critical thinking skills with your science background. And I think growing up not really knowing what nursing was, I didn't realize how much science combines into it," Johner explained.
Johner said she loves her job, and she sincerely appreciates the development and personal growth, which are a big part of the work.
"I love that I learn something every day. I get to work with so many different people, I learn from my fellow nurses, the doctors, the pharmacists, lab and x-ray techs, physiotherapists, and the list goes on. I love that I work with so many smart people," she shared.
"And then on the other half of that, I love interacting with the patients, I love getting to know them on a personal level and being able to connect to each patient. That's been community too."
