MN, NP
President – Canadian Association for Rural and Remote Nursing (CARRN)
Nicki Armstrong is the in-house Nurse Practitioner at Villa Marie, Covenant Care in central Alberta, occasionally teaches as a sessional clinical instructor for Red Deer College's B.Sc.N program, and is a founding partner of ObesityLink, an organization that provides expert bariatric care throughout Alberta via telehealth. Nicki started her career in health care as a Canadian Armed Forces Reserve Army medic while completing her B.Sc. in Exercise Physiology at the University of Calgary. After a few years in the fitness industry, she returned to U of C to obtain her BN and a fortuitous assignment for her final preceptorship landed her in rural Alberta where she rediscovered a passion for rural and remote health. After several years in rural acute care and emergency, teaching nurses both in Canada and Bangladesh, and starting a family, Nicki landed in Red Deer, Alberta. A career in bariatrics has allowed her to use her exercise physiology background while furthering her nursing practice and serving patients throughout Alberta. With support and encouragement from her team at the Red Deer Bariatric Specialty Clinic Nicki earned her Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) from Athabasca University – a career decision that renewed her excitement about rural and remote practice.
After a somewhat nomadic early career, Nicki has settled down on an acreage in central Alberta and is firmly committed to supporting rural and remote nursing practice through her work with CARRN. Nicki’s broad clinical experiences exemplify the specialist-generalist nature of rural practice and a lifestyle that bodes regular commutes to a regional referral centre will be familiar to many rural nurses. She strives to maintain her clinical practice while remaining equally engaged in teaching and committee work, believing that praxis is at the centre of nursing theory. While still a newly graduated nurse herself in 2004, Nicki remembers ‘road tripping’ out to Saskatchewan with a crew of nursing school friends (and getting T-Shirts to mark the occasion) to attend Nursing the Future’s Inaugural Annual Conference. “I could not be more honoured to have been asked to contribute to the Nursing the Future Speaker Series”.
After more than twenty years of national leadership in supporting nursing students and newly graduated nurses through professional role transition, Nursing the Future (NTF) is concluding its current operational chapter.
Since 2004, NTF has served as a vital bridge for new nurses, educators, and leaders navigating the vulnerable early months of practice. Through evidence-based programming, national partnerships, and a commitment to building a safe “cul-de-sac” for early-career nurses, NTF has supported thousands across Canada in cultivating connection, confidence, and professional identity.
We extend deep gratitude to our partners, including the Canadian Nurses Foundation, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Nursing Students Association, provincial ministries, healthcare institutions, and countless contributors whose belief in transition-to-practice support made this work possible.
While formal operations conclude, the scholarship, curriculum, intellectual property, and program infrastructure developed over two decades remain intact and available for strategic partnership and collaboration. For further dialogue on potential collaborations, please contact Dr. Duchscher directly: newgraduates@nursingthefuture.ca
We welcome conversations with ministries, health regions, academic institutions, and professional associations interested in advancing initiatives such as:
The mission of healthy and supported professional role transition remains urgent. The work continues, sustained through scholarship, partnership, and shared commitment to the future of Canadian nursing.
With enduring gratitude,
Dr. Judy Duchscher - Founder & CEO, Nursing the Future
Kathryn Corneau - Program Director, Nursing the Future
For our FULL letter of Gratitude CLICK HERE
