“The Best Job I’ve Ever Had”

For Sally Howard, nursing was never a straight path—it was a winding trail filled that often required a leap of faith or two. Today, as a Primary Care Nurse with the East Kootenay Primary Care Network (EKPCN), Sally has found a role that blends her clinical expertise with her deep-rooted desire to make meaningful connections with patients, families, and physicians in her community.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had,” she says, without hesitation. “And probably the best job I’ll ever have.”

After earning a kinesiology degree from Simon Fraser University, Sally pivoted to nursing and graduated from British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2005. She spent years immersed in critical care, first at Vancouver General Hospital, then in Cranbrook, where she and her family moved in 2008 for a better lifestyle and access to the outdoors.

Though ICU work was her passion and specialization for most of her career, Sally saw the chance to join what would eventually become the Primary Care Network as a new opportunity. “It was a leap of faith—just a temporary role supporting diabetes care—but it quickly felt like the right fit.”

This leap of faith led to Sally being one of the first nurses hired in the EKPCN.

“The best part of being part of the PCN team is the collaboration—it’s not just about doing my job, it’s about working alongside physicians and other professionals to make care more connected and accessible. We each bring something different to the table, and together we can do so much more for our patients.”

Today, Sally’s co-located at Fisher Peak Medical Clinic in Cranbrook, where she works closely with family physicians, supporting a wide range of patient needs. No two days are the same: she might start with an allergy shot, follow up on lab results, visit a homebound patient, or help someone manage their diabetes or cognitive health. Whether identifying factors that help a patient better manage medication or connecting them to financial support or PCN allied health services, she’s often the person patients turn to for longer, in-depth healthcare conversations.

“Family physicians do incredible, complex work, and my role is really about supporting and complementing that care—helping to ease physician’s workload where I can and spending extra time with patients to explore their individual needs, challenges, and goals,” she explains. “I get to ask questions, dig into their challenges and provide continuity of care, which is incredibly meaningful.”

Working in a rural setting has its challenges—limited resources, long travel distances for care—but it also fosters deeper connection. “I’m grateful to be part of people’s health journey. Everyone’s story is unique. Everyone. And each one is interesting and important to someone's health. I like that in my role as a PCN nurse I can be the one who says, ‘I’ve got time—let’s figure this out together.’”

Outside of work, Sally finds balance skiing, hiking, and traveling for disc golf tournaments with her family. “Being active and outside helps me recharge,” she says.

To anyone considering a career in nursing, Sally offers heartfelt advice: “Always follow your gut. Be open to opportunities. Seek out support and mentorship. And know that the connections you make can be just as important as the care you provide.”

This International Nurses Day, we celebrate nurses like Sally—whose skill, heart, and dedication help make our communities stronger, healthier, and more connected.

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