Bridging the Gap as an Agent of Change 
July 24, 2025
Nurse Practitioners at the heart of health outcomes in Transitional Health
Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Alison MacMellon had her sights set on working in a healthcare setting from a young age; like the patients she serves, her journey has been one with many layers.
There’s an understated grit in Alison’s story—perhaps influenced by overcoming cancer in her 20s, pursuing post-secondary education as a mature student, and being personally driven to dig underneath complex challenges to be part of a solution. That internal drive is what fueled her desire to become a Nurse Practitioner, and what inspires her daily as a respected leader at West Bedford Transitional Health.
As Alison approaches her one-year anniversary with the Shannex team, we had the opportunity to sit down and hear about her journey in this innovative model of care.
Early Inspiration
Alison’s strength of character is deeply rooted in Spryfield, a community located just outside the Halifax peninsula. Like Alison, her neighbourhood is vibrant and home to residents who step up to help one another. “I always wanted to do a degree, but didn’t pursue it until later in life,” she says. “I’ve always been the type of person to do things on a whim, so when I made the decision—I was all in.”
During her undergraduate studies, Alison also took on a role at the IWK Health Centre—a move she credits to her sister who also worked there, thus beginning her healthcare journey. As a unit aide and clerk, Alison made an impression on the nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “A few special nurses encouraged me to go to nursing school,” she says. “I suppose the rest is history.”
Learning from the Classroom to the Front Line (and back again)
With resilience and determination, Alison completed not one but two degrees from Dalhousie University. First, a Bachelor of Science with a double major in biology and psychology, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with distinction in 2016 as part of the accelerated nursing program. She then quickly entered an acute care environment, working in a local hospital as a Registered Nurse (RN).
In her eight-year tenure as a floor nurse, then as charge nurse, Alison saw increasing workloads for nurses and doctors being worsened by a shortage of alternate level of care (ALC) placements. “ALC patients are often the most complex and need a holistic approach in terms of care planning,” she says. “I saw patients occupying medical beds for long periods—sometimes months or even years—with less-than-optimal exposure to specialty staff based on flow and capacity.”
Alison’s combined education and experience led to a shift in her personal nursing philosophy. “School can never prepare you for what real nursing is all about,” she says. “Once I had both, I saw a path for myself and the ALC patients who needed dedicated supports.” It was then she decided to pursue a Master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP).
On her application, Alison included the following statement: “Nurses should have a reciprocal relationship with theory and experience; patients are essential collaborating members of the healthcare team; environment is the greatest determinant of health, and thus should be part of the care plan…”. It was as if she was describing the approach and philosophy that’s being brought to life at West Bedford Transitional Health.
The Journey to Shannex
During her Master’s program, as Alison was contemplating what a role would look like if offered within the current hospital environment, construction on the first phase of the new West Bedford Transitional Health facility was nearing completion. And while Alison wasn’t familiar with Shannex, someone in her social network shared a job posting that looked exactly like the role Alison had envisioned for years.
Admittedly, leaving her role in a hospital environment with colleagues and a community she loved was a big decision, but her passion for this patient population and the opportunity to (quite literally!) get in on the ground floor of building a new team service delivery model made the choice clear, “I had built my entire Master’s degree around this specialized model of patient care, so it was a move I was excited to make.”
As a trusted partner of Nova Scotia Health and service provider at West Bedford Transitional Health, Shannex welcomed Alison and dozens of clinical, allied health, administrative and support services professionals in the Fall of 2024. Since that time, the team has served hundreds of Central Zone patients who are discharged from an hospital environment when they no longer require acute care, but are not quite ready to return home. With transitional care services provided by Shannex team members, and wraparound at-home supports provided by the team at Nova Scotia Health, patients are receiving the support they need in an environment where they can thrive.
Measuring Impact and Responsibility
As a Nurse Practitioner who is also the MRP (Most Responsible Practitioner) for her assigned floors, Alison has a substantial impact on patient outcomes and is responsible for directing and coordinating their care. When asked about how she feels about her role and impact, she takes a humble stance, crediting patients for being an essential determinant of their success. “Here, patients are not passive recipients of care and services, but are essential collaborators in their care plan, health journey and chance at returning home,” she says. “I hold a lot of responsibility but it’s one I take pride in for the patients; it’s the role I always wanted.”
Another important part of Alison’s daily impact is the one she has on her team, working alongside a care team comprised of Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Continuing Care Assistants (who are called Transitional Care Assistants or TCAs), Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and other allied health professionals.
“The team is great here,” she says. “It’s research and evidence-based, and leadership encourages innovation and a focus on problem-solving while giving us the autonomy to try new things.” Alison suggests this level of responsibility and autonomy can be as sobering as it is fulfilling, knowing patient lives long after their stay will be impacted the team’s actions. “
A Day in the Life
Similar to an acute environment, patients who are admitted to West Bedford Transitional Health can expect a short-term stay—typically 4-12 weeks in length. With an evolving patient population, every new admission presents unique and sometimes complex care plan requirements while ensuring consistent touchpoints with the patients who are working toward being discharged.
“Each day involves rounds, connecting with patients to get a pulse on how they’re doing,” she says. “You deal with primary care, acute care and transitional health needs—it’s a very balanced learning environment with variety and an opportunity to think outside the box.”
Alison notes one of her biggest questions when considering the role at West Bedford Transitional Health was understanding the difference between working in transitional health versus a hospital. “The best way I can describe it is that it’s a hybrid environment; we do everything from admitting and discharges to in-patient, primary healthcare, care plan development, collaborating with specialists in other NSH facilities and more,” she says. “Last week I collaborated with cardiology, nephrology and urology for three different patients—consulting on patient outcomes is a rewarding part of the role, and we’re working with the acute system even though we’re at arms length.”
Reflections on Year One
When asked about what advice she’d offer to another NP considering a career in transitional health, Alison encourages clinical and allied health professionals to consider the long term impact of this model of care, and the collective impact they can have on improving patient flow and the system at large: “We have an opportunity to work together and respond to the changing demands of our system, serving different populations while maturing as a model of care,” she says. “I can’t wait to see how this evolves over the next five to 10 years.”
Alongside a team of Great People at West Bedford Transitional Health, Alison is leading the way to better living. If you’re interested in learning more about joining our growing team of Nurse Practitioners at West Bedford Transitional Health, contact NP@shannex.com, visit shannex.com/transitionalhealth or apply online today.
