Jessica Johnston BA Psych, BNSc, MA, PHC-NP

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Jessica Johnston BA Psych, BNSc, MA, PHC-NP
Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner

Hi, I’m Jess Johnston, a nurse practitioner with 18 years of clinical experience, 5 as a registered nurse and 13 as a nurse practitioner. I’m a fresh face to the Durham Natural Health Centre and am beyond excited to join this amazing team. I grew up in a household that valued cooking from scratch and sticking to whole foods and scant amounts of junk food. Although I coveted the twinkies in my best friend’s lunch box it instilled a lifelong appreciation for clean living.

I have always been passionate about health, wellness and physical activity; heavy emphasis on physical activity! My time in university competing as a varsity athlete (lightweight rowing at Queen’s University and volleyball at Griffith University, Brisbane, Aus) was my first introduction to how significantly nutrition influences peak physical performance. I learned how vital clean living is to not only perform athletically but to achieve good overall health and wellbeing; as a former coach used to say: “eat clean, workout dirty!” That said I also firmly believe there is a time and place for pharmacological interventions. For example, when alternative measures don’t provide the desired health results, when people are faced with acute illness, or individuals are simply blessed with less than stellar genes that work against their best health outcomes.

I feel there is a gap in current health care. Working primarily in emergency departments in Canada and the United States I’m well-versed in band aid like solutions instead of taking a proactive/wholistic approach to health and wellness. I believe there is room in health care for utilizing all the tools available and collaboration with other professionals to achieve your optimal health.

I am an avid learner and took the indirect route to becoming an NP, that said I feel that education is never wasted. I loved to learn about cognition and behaviour and so I began my education studying psychology at Queen’s University. Halfway through my degree my passion for health was facilitated by entry into a dual degree program to continue studying psychology but concurrently pursue a degree in Nursing Science. After entering the field of nursing in the emergency department at Sunnybrook I was fortunate enough to become part of EMAT (Emergency Medical Assistance Team) which provided exposure to disaster response. So back to school I went to complete my master’s in Disaster and Emergency Management while working full time at Sunnybrook (with copious amount of caffeine!)

After completing my coursework, I wrote my NCLEX, moved to California and began working in the emergency department at Stanford University where my husband was finishing his PhD. I finished my thesis while working in California and after exposure to different policies and procedures I again felt the pull towards further education; I returned to Queen’s to complete my NP. Since graduating I’ve had the privilege of working 9 years in primary health care (primarily women and children’s health), the last 4 years in emergency and 13 years as the first NP with EMAT.

In my spare time you’ll find me anywhere outdoors with my husband and 2 amazing boys; canoe camping, hiking, sailing, cross country or downhill skiing, racing triathlons (my oldest kiddo completed his second with me this summer! Proud mama moment!) and making maple syrup in the spring. Our wild and crazy Friday nights; making homemade pizza, building a blanket fort, and watching a movie.

I look forward to helping to bridge the gap, use all the tools and help you achieve your health and wellness goals!

Jessica Johnston BA Psych, BNSc, MA, PHC-NP

Rachel Klompmaker BNSc, MA, PHC-NP