Registered Nurse Nicole McNeil has spent 15 years delivering skilled, compassionate care on the frontlines of Manitoba’s only neurosurgery unit
Nicole McNeil works as a Registered Nurse on HSC’s A5 Neurosurgery unit.
When Nicole McNeil first walked onto HSC’s Neurosurgery unit for her clinical rotation as a nursing student, she felt something click. “I knew this is where I was meant to be,” she recalls.
Now, 15 years later, McNeil continues to dedicate herself as a Registered Nurse on Manitoba’s only neurosurgery unit. Every day, she and her team deliver compassionate, skilled care to patients recovering from trauma, tumours, strokes, and other complex neurological conditions.
“To be able to witness and be a part of patients’ physical and cognitive recovery while tending to their emotional well-being during this vulnerable time in their life is most rewarding,” McNeil says.
The unit consists of 20 beds and eight step-down beds, which have a higher nurse to patient ratio. Neurosurgery patients often behave differently depending on what part of their brain or nervous system is affected. They can be confused, forgetful, or have trouble speaking or understanding. Some may be emotional, anxious, or have unpredictable changes in mood or behaviour. Others might be physically affected, experiencing weakness, difficulty walking, or seizures. Many patients can be very vulnerable and need a lot of specialized care to help them recover or manage their conditions safely.
“Working on Neurosurgery can be physically, intellectually, and emotionally demanding. It requires one to be highly skilled and adaptable in the event of neurological fluctuations and complications,” she explains. “We must be highly observant and closely monitor patients for even the most subtle change in neurological status.”
Originally from Winnipeg, McNeil describes her work as both a privilege and a calling. “It takes patience and resilience, but it’s intellectually stimulating and deeply fulfilling. We have an exceptional team and get to learn something new every day.”
Nicole McNeil with her colleagues from HSC’s A5 Neurosurgery Unit.
In 2023, the province of Manitoba funded a new Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) on HSC’s B5 Unit. To complement the expanded EMU, HSC Foundation donors funded the development of a new four-bed unit, which opened in December 2023. The new space, called Unit B5B, is an expansion to the step-down unit for neurosurgery patients and will increase capacity required for epilepsy surgery patients.
One of the four new beds in the donor-funded B5B unit.
“The B5B space has already made a difference,” McNeil says. “The four beds in B5B have increased neurosurgery bed flow and capacity. These four beds will soon be able to also accommodate the patients who will undergo surgical intervention for epilepsy.”
Through every shift, every patient, and every challenge, McNeil’s passion for neurosurgical care has only deepened. In a field defined by change and complexity, one thing remains constant: her dedication to being exactly where she’s needed most.
To honour a nurse at HSC this National Nursing Week, make a gift to the HSC Foundation in their name today at hscfoundation.mb.ca or call 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).
Read the rest of our National Nursing Week 2025 stories here.
By Jen Golletz
