Heather O’Dell’s nursing journey from Vermont to Nova Scotia

For Heather O’Dell, nursing has always been close to her heart. Her mom was an operating room nurse, and Heather dreamed of following in her footsteps, even if her path to get there took a few unexpected turns.

“I actually began my professional life in the United States as a high school French teacher,” Heather shares. “From there I became a flight attendant, a school administrator, and even earned a doctorate in education while serving as a principal.”

Eventually, Heather developed a passion for the healthcare field. While in nursing school, she became a phlebotomist who collected blood samples at her local hospital and then became a patient care technician at the same hospital, where she learned more about basic nursing care. Soon after, she found herself working in the operating room, intermediate care, and intensive care units as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and then as a registered nurse (RN) in Vermont. 

When the opportunity arose to continue her nursing journey in Nova Scotia, Heather embraced it fully. Today, she is a registered nurse in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax.

For Heather, moving to Nova Scotia was about more than career growth, it was about safety and belonging. As a woman of transgender experience, the political climate in the United States left her feeling unsafe. “I knew on the day of the 2024 presidential election that I was going to move,” she recalls. 

Since arriving in Halifax, Heather says she’s felt welcomed and valued. “The Atlantic coast has my heart, and Nova Scotia felt like home the moment I arrived. I also discovered that Nova Scotia is home to a large number of gender-diverse residents, which made the move feel like the perfect fit.”

Heather’s career in Nova Scotia began on the vascular surgery unit, where she worked alongside what she describes as amazing nurses. But it was after shadowing in the CVICU that she found her true calling. “Within two hours, I knew this was where I belonged,” she says.

Heather completed the critical care nursing program in Nova Scotia and is already looking ahead to earning her Canadian Nurses Association certification as a cardiovascular nurse. She has also taken on a leadership role as treasurer of her local union chapter. “I want to better the lives of my patients and colleagues,” she says.

Heather says the move has been worth it. She loves Nova Scotia weather, especially winter, and is looking forward to exploring Cape Breton this fall. “I am now applying for the Nova Scotia nomination for permanent residence. I hope to be a Canadian citizen one day!”

At work she feels she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. “I get to care for some of the most critically ill people in Atlantic Canada. When patients learn I came from the U.S. many tell me they’re glad I chose Nova Scotia. That lets me know I made a difference on what was likely one of the worst days of their lives. What an honour.”

Heather doesn’t hesitate when asked what she would say to other American nurses considering the move north: “Come! It’s great here. I love Nova Scotia and want to share Halifax with everyone I know.”

Heather not only found a new home in Nova Scotia, but she also found a place where she can thrive as both a nurse and a person. 

Interested in advancing your career with Nova Scotia Health? Visit our website: https://jobs.nshealth.ca.

Photo of Heather O’Dell.