Investing in Skills to Strengthen Local Care

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Friday, May 02, 2025, …. Investments in continuing education are helping to advance both the quality of and access to health care in Pictou County, ensuring more patients can receive expert care closer to home.

Registered Nurse Rylee MacDonald recently completed certification in pediatric chemotherapy and biotherapy administration. This allows some young cancer patients to receive parts of their treatment at Aberdeen Hospital instead of traveling to Halifax. While the IWK remains the hub for pediatric cancer care in the province, having nurses certified means that Aberdeen can supplement that care with services delivered locally. This helps reduce the financial, physical, and emotional toll of repeated travel for children and their families.

Rylee MacDonald, RN

“Having access to cancer care close to home is so important,” says Rylee. “There are so many barriers associated with traveling for treatment. Costs like fuel and parking, of course, but also the physical and mental exhaustion associated with travel. Families are often away from their support systems and communities for long periods of time, and children away from their siblings and friends. Being able to provide parts of their care closer to home helps reduce some of these burdens.”

Rylee has worked with the Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program since 2019 and has administered systemic therapy for adult cancer patients across the province for 6 years. In 2024, she completed the APHON (Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses) Pediatric Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Course, with support from the Aberdeen Health Foundation.

“Pediatric chemotherapy access isn’t new at Aberdeen, but there was a gap for a time when no one on staff held an active certification,” explains Rylee. “There was a move to rebuild that capacity, so myself, our Clinical Practice Lead, and our educator all completed the course. Alongside that, there was also a pediatric crash cart added to the clinic, which was also funded by the Foundation.”

Being certified means Rylee and her team can provide a range of pediatric cancer care services locally, depending on each patient’s care plan. “It can look different for every patient,” she explains. “Sometimes it means we do bloodwork in between their treatment cycles. Other times, treatment can be given here in New Glasgow.”

“For some patients, their initial treatments might start in Halifax, but as they transition to maintenance treatment, they’re able to return home and continue some of their care here. The goal is always to minimize how often they must go to the city.”

Rylee also spoke to the broader importance of investing in ongoing professional development for community-based health care providers. “Being from rural Nova Scotia, I think a lot about the standardization and equity of cancer care across the province,” she says. “Having these types of courses funded helps ensure nurses in places like Pictou County are kept up to date with best practices, even as care evolves. That improves the quality and safety of treatment, and it improves patient outcomes.”

Rylee is grateful for the Foundation’s support to bring this service back to the hospital. The Foundation’s readiness to invest meant the opportunity didn’t have to compete with other operational priorities for funding. “It is important to ensure community sites have the same access to professional development. We are thankful to have the Foundation here to make these opportunities possible.”

By supporting specialized training for nurses like Rylee, the Aberdeen Health Foundation is helping ensure patients across the region have access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home.

The Aberdeen Health Foundation is the leading charity for enhancing health care in Pictou County. In 2024, the Foundation invested over $2.7 million to fund medical equipment and enhance health programs at the Aberdeen Hospital and in the community. Your contribution can be the catalyst for even greater change — find out how you can make an impact here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Megan Manuel Murphy
Administrative Coordinator
Aberdeen Health Foundation

902-752-7600 ext. 4600
Megan.ManuelMurphy@nshealth.ca