July 30, 2015 The Huddle Langara Nursing Newsletter LATER THIS YEAR Term 2 students: Ann, Heather, Yeseul, Julie, Agnes Know Your Faculty! September 2015: Nursing School 101 October 23 25, 2015: Western/Prairie Regional Conference hosted by North Island College in Comox, BC November 2015: National Nursing Students Week January 27-30, 2016: National Conference hosted by Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Doug Yochim Nurse Educator Over the past 46 years as a health care provider, 27 yrs. as a Nurse Educator, I have experienced many changes in the profession of nursing. Working with students, patients and pursuing my own lifelong learning have been most rewarding opportunities. I have learned through working with students, at various levels of their education, that sharing of knowledge and experience needs to be individualized to each instructor s and student s own personal style, knowledge base and experiences. It has become evident to me over the years that an effective educator must display compassion, dedication, empathy, and malleability. A firm but fair approach, while maintaining standards, is a valuable combination to create a respectful, stress reduced environment in which to learn and to teach. Educators, like their students, are not perfect; both must learn from mistakes, be accountable and continue with lifelong learning and hopefully achieve self-actualization. Because knowledge and learning environments are in a constant state of change, it is imperative that educators keep current with their own knowledge and experiential capabilities. Educators must be aware of changes in the learning styles of the students as a result of the impact of informatics in today s world. The days are gone where the student must adapt to the teaching style of the educator. Today it is the obligation of the educator to adapt to the learning styles of the students. Respectful communication is the essential ingredient in the formula for a valuable experience. Students perceive the educator to have the power to make change. This perceived power has significant impacts on the student s professional and personal life. When the power is misdirected it is detrimental to student s learning as well as their personal and professional life. When used wisely it is a benefit that sends the student confidently into their chosen career. The ability to become an effective health care professional who can care compassionately for patients and mentor others is greatly enhanced. In this post-secondary environment where students choose to enrol in our program, educators and students must communicate amicably and honestly without fear of repercussion. From my perspective, nursing is a rewarding profession. It is imperative that the health care professionals, such as the educators and the learners work together with mutual respect and consideration to make the present and future a healthier environment.
Student Reps PAYING IT FORWARD On Thursday May 14th, 2015, the Langara CRNBC Student Reps hosted Nursing Night: Nurses With You Every Step Of the Way. To follow the nursing week theme, speakers were primarily newly graduated nurses from Langara College who talked about their experience after the completion of their undergraduate degree. They shared their stories about their work and also gave some tips and truths on working as new grads. Overall, it was very informative and engaging! For those who attended the event, CRNBC Student Rep Program is looking for feedback for future events, to help them out, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sy75byh The Langara nursing community grew stronger when selfless acts of kindness by two Langara BSN 2015 graduates took place. Edythe Bee led the charge when she posted in the Facebook group: Langara Nursing Textbook & Things, that she was going to donate all of her nursing textbooks to a current student in the program. She said she is doing this because she knows of the financial burden of textbooks on students. This inspired Kefa White to do the same. They both asked that the lucky recipients donate the text books to future students in need. Hopefully this will the start of an amazing tradition, showcasing the caring and generous spirit of Langara nursing students! Student Spotlight Name: Nicole Term: 6 I couldn't tell exactly what I was getting into when I made the choice to pursue a career in nursing. I did not realize what varied opportunities lay before me. Not only do I have the chance to wear my heart and brain on my sleeve, the opportunity to meld my passion for biology with my desire to help individuals in my community serves as a substantial motivating factor. So is my goal to focus on promoting evidenced-based best practice whilst being supportive and resourceful for patients, families, and fellow colleagues. There are many roles that one can do in the field of nursing (which really excites me): you can veer towards research, swerve into community health, hand a left into at-risk group public health education, switch to business or policy making you can go anywhere! Furthermore, nursing as a profession enables the values I want to bring to the table: connecting and empowering through compassion, integrity, emerging research, and advocacy-especially for the disadvantaged in our communities who need change, transparency, equality, access, and support beyond the bedside.
Langara School of Nursing Administrative Committee Greetings from the Langara School of Nursing Administrative Committee (SNAC). The committee consists of the Chair of the School of Nursing, Janine Lennox, and Assistant Chairs who take on responsibilities for operations within the School. Kelly Negrin is responsible for Curriculum, Yujin Lim for the Nursing Simulation Centre and Students in terms 1-3, Kelly Hughes for Placements and Students in terms 4-10, Lysbeth Cunada for Faculty and Pat Woods for International programs and projects. we have been awarded the full seven years accreditation The SNAC team led the recent accreditation with the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). Many of our faculty and students participated in this accreditation and the college is proud that we have been awarded the full seven years accreditation on this first time that we have applied. The focus of our efforts now will be to support our faculty and students to participate further in the development of specific areas of nursing scholarship and dissemination of that scholarship through presentations and publication. We look forward to developing strategies with our student body. Programs for Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) at Langara Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) have to navigate a lengthy process to become eligible for registration as a nurse in Canada. They must undergo credential assessment, clinical competency assessment, meet English language fluency requirements, complete further education and pass the nurse licensing exam. Langara has been involved in educational programs for IEN since 2004, when we offered RN Qualifying courses through Continuing Studies. Currently we have two programs for International Educated Nurses (IEN). The one year program Post Degree Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Management (PDC NLM) program consists of the same courses as Year 1 of the two year Post Degree Diploma in Nursing Practice in Canada (PDD NPC) program. At present, we have 80 IEN students, the first cohort of PDD NPC students will graduate in April 2016. Post Degree Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Management - 1 academic year This program is designed to assist Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) to prepare for eligibility and application for nurse licensure in Canada, and for Canadian nursing practice. The program focuses on critical thinking, clinical judgement and decision making, verbal and written communication, and cultural safety as applied within the health care setting. The program includes active learning and a variety of evaluation methodologies with an emphasis on entry-to-practice competencies and standards of practice. The program is offered over one academic year, which is 8 months of full-time study. The Post Degree Diploma in Nursing Practice in Canada (PDD NPC) program - 2 academic years This program is designed as an IEN Bridging Program to address educational gaps or differences in knowledge, skills and competencies so that an Internationally Educated Nurse may seek eligibility through existing regulatory processes to write the national nurse licensure exam, become registered to practice in Canada, and successfully integrate into the Canadian healthcare system. Langara s Post Degree Diploma in Nursing Practice in Canada (PDD NPC) program is recognized as an RN Re-Entry program for IEN by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC).
CANADIAN NURSING STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Langara CNSA Nursing Specialty Panel Night On July 23, Langara hosted a Nursing Specialty Seminar designed to mimic the style of CNSA conferences, which are held biannually in October (regional) and January (national). This seminar featured knowledgeable and highly inspirational speakers from nursing fields such as emergency, travel nursing, homecare, street nursing, nurse practitioner, BCIT Specialty Nursing, and more. The event had over 200 attendees from nine B.C. nursing school from Vancouver Island all the way to Kamloops. In the spirit of a true CNSA conference, attendees went home with some great giveaways, new friends, full stomachs, and plenty of new nursing knowledge! Many thanks to the sponsors of this event: Langara College, Langara Student Union, Chartwells, CNSA Langara, ARNBC, CRNBC, BCNU, Perinatal Services BC, the Vancouver Aquarium, the PNE, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Bestbuy, and Whitespot. If you are interested in developing leadership skills with CNSA or would like updates about future CNSA events, follow us on FACEBOOK: CNSA Langara Nursing or EMAIL us at langara@cnsa.ca. For more information about CNSA visit: www.cnsa.ca
Regional Conference 2015 CANADIAN NURSING STUDENTS ASSOCIATION: 2015 Regional Conference North Island College Presents: INSIPIRE ADVOCATE UNLEASH 2015 CNSA Western/Prairie Regional Conference. October 23-25, 2015 This year s Regional Conference will be held at the Crown Isle Resort in beautiful Courtenay, BC by North Island College. Regional Conference Director, Alex Seeley, and her team have been hard at work to create an unforgettable event for our members. The theme is, Inspire! Advocate! Unleash! which describes how we as nursing students and future nurses can inspire each other to advocate for individuals in need, and unleash our power to work within the political process to bring change. Registration is now open, don t miss out! Registration: http://www.cnsaregional2015.com/ Attending the conference was one of the best things I've done since I started the nursing program. There were a lot of different schools from across Canada, so I was able to meet people who I probably would not meet otherwise. People shared their experiences with regards to nursing school and clinical. It was interesting to learn that all of us go through pretty much the same things, for instance, we are all terrified at clinical at one point or another. As for the guest speakers, I felt like I learned something new about nursing with each of them. After a long day of serious business, we all went out and had fun. I felt like it didn't matter which school one was from, nursing was the common denominator and that created a bond. It is a learning experience that I wish everyone could experience. When asked what I did and saw, I felt like I could not come up with an accurate description of my experience because it is like nothing I have experienced before. One thing is certain though, it is one of the most exciting and memorable experience for me! -Elsa Nguyen, Term 5 Have a safe and relaxing summer!