"Becoming a nurse practitioner brought me home."

“There’s really something to be said about the PEI charm,” said Amber Johnston, a nurse practitioner newly practicing on Prince Edward Island. “Everyone has been so lovely and happy to have us home.”

Amber and her husband moved to Cornwall, PEI in December of 2022 when she was hired by Health PEI to provide prenatal care to mothers and care to babies up to 18 months old.

Amber grew up in Summerside but has lived off-Island for many years, most recently Ottawa, where she completed her training.

“The move back to the Island happened much sooner than we ever expected,” she said. “With the pandemic and my husband’s work becoming remote, it allowed us to really think about where we wanted to be. For us, it was beautiful PEI.”

She found the recruitment process from Health PEI refreshing.

“They answered all my questions, no matter how many I asked. They sent me lots of ads and postings and ensured I didn’t fall through the cracks. They were very family-focused during the hiring process. If you recruit a family, you get a family lifestyle. That makes recruits much more willing to stay for the long term.”

     - Amber Johnston

Health PEI connected Amber with other nurse practitioners on PEI, where she found an extremely supportive community.

“They want us to succeed, which is very nice coming from a larger province,” she said. “Everyone has been very supportive working with me in what fills my cup. They want me to stay, and I want to stay!”

More than a half year into her new job, Amber knows she made the right decision.

“It was the right place and the right time. My husband and I really believe everything is timing, and things line up the way they’re supposed to. This is how we feel about the move to the Island.”

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