https://www.infirmiere-canadienne.com/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/05/15/linfirmiere-du-nord-abby-nash
Northern nurse Abby Nash views working with Indigenous communities as an act of commitment
By Michelle Ramos
May 15, 2026
Courtesy of Abby Nash
“Taking the time to listen and making space for questions and family presence is what makes people feel safe, seen and heard. People remember how you made them feel,” Abby Nash says.
BELLA BELLA, B.C. — In a coastal community accessible mainly by air or sea, where distance can shape access to care, nurse Abby Nash’s work is as much about building trust as it is about treating patients.
Nash’s nursing journey began long before any classroom or clinical placement. As a child, she was cared for by a dedicated hematology/oncology nurse, a steady presence during an uncertain time in her life.
“Her kindness and compassion left a lasting impression on me,” Nash recalls.
That nurse became a blueprint. Today, Nash is the one at the bedside, offering the same comfort and reassurance she once received.
As she moved through the next stages of her career, lessons from being a patient helped shape her steady, deeply human approach to care. This approach proved critical during her time in remote and northern communities, where geographic distance makes compassionate, dependable care especially important.
Bringing care to Bella Bella
Nash, through Bayshore HealthCare, completed a contract in Bella Bella earlier this year. Situated on British Columbia’s Central Coast, Bella Bella is home to the Heiltsuk Nation, where accessing specialized health care can be limited.
For Nash, the work is deeply personal. “It feels like coming home,” she says, describing her time supporting Indigenous patients and families. That sense of connection is rooted in her own heritage as a member of Sitansisk Wolastoqey (St. Mary's First Nation) in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Nash views working with Indigenous communities as an act of commitment. She believes in reliably being present for patients and offering them the same respect and care she would give to her own family.
“I feel deeply honoured to serve patients in communities and to ensure they receive the best care I can provide. Building trust and delivering the care people deserve means a great deal,” Nash says.
After her time in the North, Nash discovered that trust is built in the small moments: “Taking the time to listen and making space for questions and family presence is what makes people feel safe, seen and heard. People remember how you made them feel.”
National Nursing Week: reflection over celebration
This National Nursing Week, Nash chooses introspection over celebration. She’s taking a moment to pause and take stock of the kind of nurse she is becoming.
“It’s a time to reflect on my practice and to acknowledge the care and compassion I provide,” Nash says. “It reminds me to look closely at how I show up for patients and families, and to keep learning from every interaction.”
For Nash, that reflection includes the small, often unseen parts of nursing: staying steady during uncertainty, offering clear explanations when things feel overwhelming, and making sure patients feel listened to, respected, and safe.
“You can’t always change the circumstances,” she says. “But you can change how supported someone feels inside them.”
A continuing journey in nursing
Nash’s journey continues as she enters a new chapter of nursing: serving more Indigenous communities and forging meaningful connections with people facing their most difficult moments.
Guided by values instilled in childhood, Nash’s commitment to kindness and presence remains at the heart of her practice — helping ensure patients feel seen, supported, and never alone.
Michelle Ramos is the team lead for Bayshore HealthCare’s public affairs and communications department, enhancing the organization’s visibility through strategic storytelling and initiatives that strengthen communication with diverse audiences.
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