Originally born in Edmonton, Alberta, Lindsay Wickware’s life has taken her around the world — from Ottawa to Germany — thanks to her father’s military career. Eventually, her former marriage to a police officer stationed in northern Ontario brought her to Cochrane, where she embraced the opportunity to pursue a new career path as a nurse.
Lindsay’s first foray into healthcare began when she took on a role as a graphic designer for Public Health. While the job satisfied her creatively, it lacked the deeper sense of meaning she sought. Inspired by the nurses she worked alongside — and the influence of her two grandmothers, both nurses — Lindsay began considering a career change. After relocating to Northern Ontario, she qualified for the province’s Second Career program, which covered the cost of her nursing education at Northern College. In 2014, she graduated as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), discovering at last the fulfillment she had been seeking.
“I really like connecting with people, and I get to do that in a much more meaningful way as a nurse,” says Lindsay, reflecting on her transition from graphic design to nursing.
Lindsay’s nursing career began in long-term care, but life took another turn after she had her daughter, Isla, and the COVID-19 pandemic began. In July 2020, as a single mother, she faced the difficult decision to move due to the challenges of finding weekend childcare while working shifts. Despite the obstacles, Lindsay remained determined to advance her career, even considering bridging to become an RN. However, quitting her job to return to school wasn’t an option.
Resourcefully, she found a new path. After a four-month break, Lindsay secured a position with the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team (OVFHT) as a clinic nurse before moving into the triage department. Her responsibilities there were critical: supporting patients with potentially infectious symptoms, determining whether they needed urgent care, and providing symptom management advice for cases that could be monitored. Her role helped streamline treatment by enabling patients to manage symptoms at home before coming to the clinic, allowing for timely diagnosis and reducing strain on the healthcare system.
Mental health also became a significant part of her work, as Lindsay received distress calls from patients facing long wait times for specialist appointments. She was responsible for providing immediate support and performing risk assessments to determine if patients needed to be referred to crisis services.
When OVFHT received funding for a mental health program, Lindsay was promoted to Care Coordinator. She now triages mental health referrals, matching patients with the most suitable on-site practitioners, whether psychiatrists or psychotherapists, while continuing to provide crucial resources and crisis numbers to those in need.
“It’s really rewarding to work with a team of mental health specialists who can support our patient population,” Lindsay shares, noting that the launch of the mental health program has eliminated the need to refer patients to external organizations.
Lindsay finds fulfillment in all the roles she’s held at OVFHT, crediting the organization for allowing her to work within her full scope of practice. She highlights how this environment has not only enhanced her skills but also made pursuing further bridging to an RN position unnecessary.
“The environment of the organization and the available opportunities made the difference between thinking I had to be satisfied with reaching a certain level and realizing that there’s so much pride you can take in your work when you feel fulfilled on a professional level,” Lindsay explains.
She also notes that RNs and RPNs are often expected to take on distinct roles due to their designations: “As RPNs, I think we can sometimes get pigeonholed into a specific category.” Luckily for Lindsay, her manager was an advocate for RPNs working within their full scope of practice, allowing them to assist in procedures and collaborate with doctors to provide care.
Lindsay emphasizes the importance of finding the right professional environment: “It’s easy to just look for a job, but it’s also really important to look for a job within an organization that doesn’t just promote growth, but also allows you to grow. I don’t think I even knew that the job I’m in existed, and it’s kind of surreal that I’m able to do this work as an RPN. I think that has a lot to do with the organization that I work for, so finding the right fit professionally is really important.”
Recently, with the support of new government funding, Lindsay and her team launched a specialized program focused on mental health patients. Partnering with a consultant, OVFHT now offers a range of services that include short-term psychotherapy for acute issues like grief, loss, and relationship challenges. Patients receive 10–12 sessions funded by Ontario Health, with options for external referrals if further support is required.
“It’s been a really fun project to build,” Lindsay says about the new mental health hub within their clinic. “We’re trying to make it feel really therapeutic and welcoming, while also making it as easy as possible for people to cope with the big issues that come with mental health struggles.”
Lindsay’s journey reflects her unwavering commitment to creating meaningful change, both in her own life and in the lives of her patients. From her early days as a graphic designer to her current role as a Care Coordinator, she has transformed her passion for connection into a lifelong career that’s making a profound difference.