11/13/2025
It’s Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week! We’re shining a spotlight on the incredible NPs who make a difference every day at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Meet Nakita Cuglietta, part of our Complex Malignant Hematology team.
➡️ Why did you decide to become a Nurse Practitioner?
I decided to become a Nurse Practitioner to expand my role and gain greater autonomy within the health care system. As a Registered Nurse, I loved direct patient care but often wished for more time to build meaningful relationships. In acute care, patients are frequently discharged quickly, and I wanted to follow their journeys more closely. Becoming a Nurse Practitioner has allowed me to have a more significant and lasting impact on patient care and outcomes.
➡️ Tell us about your current role.
I am the Nurse Practitioner for Complex Malignant Hematology, a role that combines inpatient and outpatient responsibilities. On the inpatient side, I manage patients with acute leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other hematologic disorders admitted for systemic therapy or supportive care. I collaborate closely with an internal medicine physician, a physician assistant, and our exceptional hematologists to develop and implement treatment plans.
In the outpatient setting, I work in the Complex Malignant Hematology (CMH) clinic alongside a dedicated group of nurses who provide systemic therapy. I perform assessments, manage treatment-related toxicities, coordinate referrals, and provide counselling and continuity of care. This structure allows for seamless transitions between outpatient and inpatient settings, often reducing Emergency Department. I also perform both inpatient and outpatient bone marrow biopsies.
➡️ What is the most challenging part of your profession?
One of the most challenging aspects of my profession is balancing the increasing demands of patient management within a complex health care system. Every patient brings a unique combination of physical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs, which requires thoughtful, individualized care.
In malignant hematology, many patients are critically ill, and while this adds clinical complexity, it can also be emotionally taxing. However, these challenges reinforce the importance of compassion, teamwork, and the privilege of being part of each patient’s journey.
➡️ What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?
The most rewarding aspect of my role is the deep and lasting relationships I develop with patients and their families. In malignant hematology, we often care for individuals over many years — through treatment, remission, relapse, and sometimes palliation. Sharing in their experiences, supporting them through difficult times, and celebrating milestones together is a privilege.
It’s also deeply fulfilling to work alongside such a committed and collaborative team including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, rehabilitation staff, speech language pathologists, dieticians, social workers, administrative staff, patient flow coordinators, and management. Our shared dedication to providing compassionate, patient-centred care makes even the most challenging days rewarding.
➡️ Do you have any advice for those considering a career as a Nurse Practitioner?
If you have the passion and drive to advance your career, becoming a Nurse Practitioner is an incredibly rewarding path. NPs have tremendous potential to transform healthcare by improving access and delivering holistic, patient-focused care across all settings. My advice is to stay open-minded—your ideal role may not be what you initially envision. I never imagined working in malignant hematology, yet now I can’t picture myself anywhere else.
