Story by Minah Cap
A nurse practitioner since 2012, and a current provider of primary health care in Thunder Bay, Shawn Dookie’s core teaching philosophy is focused on breaking down the stigma around mental health and addiction. Since 2017, he has been teaching at Bloomberg Nursing’s Centre for Professional Development (CPD) as an instructor for courses in the Mental Health & Addictions Certificate program for Nurse Practitioners. It is as a teacher that he emphasizes providing compassionate, prejudice-free care to people from all walks of life.
For Dookie, patients with specialized mental health needs or substance use disorders, deserve more understanding and empathy from healthcare professionals. This concept of judgement-free caring has also become the focus of his teaching modules with CPD.
“People with addictions don’t receive the same level of healthcare services due to judgement,” he says. It’s essential to remove the existing prejudices and foster inclusive medical access for all patients.”
Bridging Gaps, Breaking Down Stigma
In his clinical work, Dookie has seen firsthand that people struggling with substance use disorders frequently face barriers to care, often because of prejudice or misunderstanding within the healthcare system itself.
By teaching learners how to provide care without judgement through specialized medical practices, he hopes to change this perspective and foster improved healthcare accessibility. He encourages healthcare professionals to see the person beyond the condition, to listen without bias, and to help patients access the resources they need to heal and thrive.
“Spreading wisdom and knowledge to people is simply a part of my role as an NP, and it was the starting point for me as a nursing instructor,” he says. “I appreciate the flexibility the Centre for Professional Development allows, not only for myself as an instructor to be able to share my knowledge, but also the tremendous chance it offers students across Canada to enhance their professional knowledge regardless of time constraints.”
Case Based Learning
As a teacher, Dookie is drawn to CPD’s emphasis on reciprocal learning. He develops his teaching method by inviting participants to explore real-life case studies, reflect on their own practice, and connect with peers who share their passion for patient-centred care. His goal is to create a safe, supportive space where healthcare providers can build confidence and learn practical ways to apply theory in their day-to-day roles.
For him, seeing learners grow and watching them bring that growth back to their own clinical practice is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. It motivates him, he says.
“Bloomberg Nursing’s CPD values the exchange of ideas and experiences between instructors and learners, fostering broad and in-depth discussions,” he says. “The program’s emphasis on collaboration and real-world application mirrors the teamwork that is so vital in healthcare.”