Hailie Peters’ Path to Advanced Nursing Practice
From a small northern village to USask’s nurse practitioner program, Hailie Peters is dedicated to improving primary care in Saskatchewan.
Hailie Peters’ (BSN’18) passion for nursing began in a small northern Saskatchewan village with a population of under 100 people.
Today, as a third-year Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner (MN-NP) student at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), her journey into the nursing profession highlights a commitment to patient-centred care.
Her interest in healthcare grew from regularly volunteering at a long-term care home, where she spent time playing board games, baking, and reading to residents. Observing the care provided by registered nurses (RNs) inspired her to pursue the nursing profession.
After speaking with RN mentors, she made the move to Saskatoon to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at USask.
“It was quite overwhelming coming from my small hometown,” said Peters.
After completing her undergraduate degree, she gained vital clinical experience across medical-surgical, post-anesthesia care, and emergency room units.
Peters returned to USask as a contract lab teacher after discovering a passion for mentoring nursing students on hospital units.
She began teaching clinical labs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For many students, these labs were their first on-campus university experience, and Peters prioritized creating a supportive environment.
A fellow lab teacher, who at the time was pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree, encouraged Peters to seek out additional academic experience.
This led to Peters’ involvement as a research assistant with a study conducted by the University of Saskatchewan School of Rehabilitation Science. The lead researcher of the study, Dr. Audrey Zucker-Levin, encouraged Peters to pursue further education and gave her the confidence to apply.
Working directly with the study participants revealed gaps in primary care and broadened her perspective on holistic health.
“I was drawn to the nurse practitioner (NP) role because it offered an opportunity to bring together the aspects of healthcare I found most meaningful: clinical practice, patient education, prevention, and continuity of care,” she said.
USask was the clear choice for her graduate nursing studies.
Living in Saskatoon and utilizing the program’s flexible online structure allowed her to continue working part-time and complete a year of the program while on maternity leave.
Peters also emphasized how vital preceptors were to her journey, offering a special shoutout to the NP and medical doctor (MD) preceptors who dedicate their time to teaching students like herself.
"I am so grateful to all the preceptors who have taken students in the past and continue to do so now," said Peters.
"Their effort, leadership, and dedication to guiding the next generation of healthcare providers is truly invaluable."
Once completing her program, Peters hopes to work as a nurse practitioner in Saskatoon, either through contract work or within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
She is excited to contribute to the growing presence of NPs across the province.
She also plans to celebrate her milestone achievement with a personal reward.
“I hope to take a holiday to Italy, as I feel I will deserve it after completing my NP studies,” she shared.
For those early in their MN-NP program, Peters offers simple advice:
“Take each day one day at a time. It can get overwhelming with the amount of reading and assignments required, but keep picturing the finish line and reminding yourself why you started. My support system has been key to my success in this program, and I wouldn't have made it this far without their help."
As we celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 10 - 16, USask College of Nursing proudly recognizes and thanks our nurse practitioner faculty, staff, students, alumni, and preceptors whose dedication, expertise, and service are strengthening healthcare and improving lives in communities across Saskatchewan and Canada.