University love story sparks passion for rural nursing

Nolan O’Brien never expected that he would live or work in rural Alberta.

However, that’s just what happened after he fell in love with fellow nursing student Shelby Skelton while they were both enrolled in their final year at the University of Calgary.

“I’ll be honest, rural wasn’t even on my radar, initially,” admitted Nolan, who grew up in Calgary.

The two had been friends while pursuing their Bachelor of Nursing degree and eventually began dating. After graduation, Shelby landed a job in northern Alberta’s Lakeland region as a registered nurse (RN) and Nolan eventually joined her.

They now live in an apartment in St. Paul, a community of almost 6,000 residents, located 200 km northeast of Edmonton and an hour from the Saskatchewan border.

“I’ve heard great stories of people working up north or in small rural towns. The amount of experience they get is incredible. I’ve had a couple of family members work rural in health care, and they’ve said it’s been fantastic; they’ve absolutely loved it. So, [when Shelby suggested we move, I decided] ‘yeah, let’s give it a shot. I couldn’t be happier with the decision.”
— Nolan O’Brien, a registered nurse in St. Paul

Shelby works as an RN at the Bonnyville Health Centre in acute care, and Nolan works in a similar role at St. Therese Health Centre in St. Paul.

Shelby was raised “all over,” but she graduated from high school in Drayton Valley, a community of 7,500 west of Edmonton. She was familiar with rural living, so securing a job during the pandemic in northern Alberta was an easy decision.

Even though rural work wasn’t Nolan’s original interest, he was willing to try it out for himself.

“I’ve heard great stories of people working up north or in small rural towns,” said Nolan.

“The amount of experience they get is incredible. I’ve had a couple of family members work rural in health care, and they’ve said it’s been fantastic; they’ve absolutely loved it.

“So, [when Shelby suggested we move, I decided] ‘yeah, let’s give it a shot. I couldn’t be happier with the decision.”

Nolan appreciates the variety of work that rural health care offers.

“In acute care, you get to do everything. We have some maternity, so you get to do the maternity and the labour and delivery, and postpartum. It’s all in one up here.”

Shelby is also pleased with the variety of skills she is learning including time management and the opportunity to put her special obstetrical training to work. She commutes to Bonnyville, about a 45-minute drive one way and often connects with Nolan on the way.

“I’ll call him when I’m on my way to work, or he’ll call me,” said Shelby. “If we’re picking up extra shifts, we look at when the other one is working so we can hopefully have a few days off together.”

On their down time, the couple make time for each other and their two cats named Jelly Bean and Franklin.

They enjoy the gym (which, luckily for them, is open 24-hours) and enjoy snowboarding at nearby Kinosoo Ridge Ski Resort during the winter months.

They have met new friends through their nursing jobs and still keep in touch with others back in Calgary, too.

“In [rural] acute care, you get to do everything.”
— Nolan O’Brien

Choosing a nursing career stemmed from personal experiences for both Shelby and Nolan.

Twenty-four years ago, Nolan was born at the Vancouver Women’s Hospital at 25-weeks’ gestation, weighing just one pound and 12 ounces. He was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 101 days, an experience his mother documented in a journal.

Nolan read his mother’s journal, where she positively reflected on the exceptional care she received, and the hands-on way she and her husband were able to help nurture their tiny baby to a point where he could go home. He was so touched by what he read that he decided he wanted to become a nurse himself.

Shelby, too, had a fateful experience with a nurse as a teenager that changed the trajectory of an otherwise scary experience when her mother had a health crisis.

Nine years ago, Shelby’s mom experienced an aortic aneurism that nearly took her life. During a particularly late night when Shelby was waiting at the hospital, a nurse, who was off shift and had already changed into her street clothes, stayed to sit and talk with Shelby and answer any questions she had.

“That was so cool. That made such a difference to me,” said Shelby, recalling the comfort the nurse offered that difficult night.

Like Nolan, Shelby’s experience led her toward a career in nursing.

Today, the couple are creating a life together, and consider it a blessing to be in a relationship with someone in the same field.

Since they face similar circumstances in their nursing roles, they often can relate and understand how a typical workday plays out.

Nolan said, “you can empathize,” while Shelby shares, “it’s validating” when describing how much that understanding is valued.

The nurses are excited for what the future may hold.

“Our hopes at this point are to get married, buy a house or acreage, get a dog, and travel, in no particular order…”