Get to know: Lisa Bethune

April 14, 2023

#WeAreNorthern 

Meet Lisa Bethune, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care Service

 

Q: Tell us about your role at Northern Health?

A: I am a palliative care nurse practitioner and I work with the Northern Health Palliative Care Consult Service, caring for patients with palliative care needs. This can be providing symptom management, participating in family meetings and communicating with patients and families about what is the most important thing to them. Often this involves facilitating discharge home with palliative care supports or referral to our palliative care unit. I am also involved in education and support for staff providing palliative care and ensuring that dying is recognised, and patients are comfortable at the end their life.

 

Q: If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

A: It’s difficult for me to imagine being anything other than a palliative care nurse. I always harboured a desire to write a novel, so in my fantasy world, I would be a writer.

 

Q: What career advice would you give to your younger self?  

A: Keep listening, learn from those around you, have confidence that you will find the job position that is right for you.

 

Q: What was cool when you were young, but isn’t cool now?

A: Legwarmers! Very cool in the early 1980s.

 

 Q: City or country?

A: I love both equally. I like to be surrounded by nature wherever I am.