The second graduating class of the Red River College Baccalaureate Nursing (BN) Program were presented with their Nursing Pins at the Caboto Centre on August 22nd, 2014. The pins marked transition from education and preparation into the profession of Nursing.

Convocation ceremonies for the BN Program will be held with the RRC Winter Convocation ceremony, Feb 10th, 2015 at the Centennial Concert Hall.

The Department of Nursing held it’s annual “Facilitating Teaching Excellence, Research and Scholarship Event, Friday, June 20th, 2014.

A special Thank you to our guest Dr. Pat Fahey Bacon from Minnesota who spoke about  “Incivility in Nursing Education: Breaking the cycle that threatens the profession of Nursing”. This was followed by group activities that were also facilitated by Dr. Bacon.

She stated that as Health Care Providers we have a contract with society to care and help, and as instructors, be role models to our students.  Her words emphasized “a need to take a step back sometimes; mean what you say, say what you mean; don’t sugar coat constructive feedback; provide students with the purpose for everything and to have students confront their conflict”.

After lunch, a panel presentation on Ethical Consideration in Nursing Education Research was held by Kim Mitchell, Deb Gural, Tom Harrigan, Cathy Baxter, Tracey Fallak, and Moderator Winn Briscoe, followed by a presentation by George Allan from the Research Ethics Board at RRC.

Later, in the afternoon, members of the Nursing Department learned about Ecoliteracy and it’s relevance to undergraduate nursing education from faculty member Jennifer Otto. Next, results of the Incivility Survey Pilot Project by the Nursing Dept’s Research and Scholarship Committee (Winn Briscoe, Kim Mitchell and Tom Harrigan) were shared. This survey was given to students in the classroom, labs, clinical areas and to faculty.  The students scored higher marks for incivility in the classroom vs clinical/skills lab, which, when analyzed, could have several factors. Higher incivility was reported from students involved with Medical units than students in more acute areas. Rural students scored the lowest of all with minimal reported incidences of incivility. This could also have several influences.

Cathy Baxter closed the day with the following message:

“Focus on the positive not the negative; change our perspective of the glass being half full not half empty”

 Curriculum Day 2014

June 5^th saw the nursing faculty gather together for the Curriculum and Quality Assurance Committee’s annual Curriculum Day.  This event provides an opportunity for clinical and theory instructors to come together to examine the BN curriculum from a big picture perspective.   Brainstorming breakout sessions were designed to discuss curriculum themes and the goodness of fit between courses, across terms and throughout the years. This opportunity to share thoughts and ideas allows faculty to look for overlaps, possible gaps and ways to enhance student learning and flow of the overall curriculum.   Faculty also used their pizza lunch as a fund raising opportunity for the Nursing Legacy Fund, which supports Nursing students research and scholarship endeavors.    Dianne Brown, Chair of the Curriculum Committee presents Lois Tessier, Awards Committee Chair with a cheque for $222.00.

Thank you to the Nursing faculty for sharing your curriculum ideas, your enthusiasm was phenomenal.

Opening speech by Mae Louise, Elder-in residence, RRC

Curriculum Coordinator Dianne Brown is shown here, giving a contribution to the Lois Tessier, member of the Awards committee, for the Nursing Legacy fund, on behalf of the Department of Nursing at RRC. The Department of Nursing had their annual Curiculum Day event, and the proceeds from their lunch go towards this student’s bursary opportunity

It was another year of fun, excitement, laughs and a few victories for nursing team CODE BLUE at the annual RRC slow-pitch tournament.  We had a good turnout and everyone put their best foot forward.  Our team ranged in experience, but that didn’t stop our determination to get as many runs in as we could.  We couldn’t have done it without the support from our cheerleaders as they encouraged us every step (or should I say, run) of the way.  There were no injuries sustained, which make us even stronger for next year as we start to practice as soon as summer break starts…anyone?  It was a great day of food,drinks and friends.  Thank you to all of you who came out to partake in the excitement.

A great morning was spent with the various Health Science departments of the Red River College, hearing what an amazing difference they are making to our community with their Innovative Research Projects.

The presentations included:

• The College Wide Learning Outcomes evaluation tool that is being developed.
• How Child and Youth Care pracitioners are helping youth’s voices to be heard.
• How the Pharmaceutical manufacturing program’s purification of Canine Serum Albumin project provides students with essential workplace experience and assists the canine population.
• How through the partnerships of Healthy Child Manitoba, and RRC’s Early Childhood Educations Dept, differences are being made with children and families here in Winnipeg through language development in early years.
• An exploration of key ingredients essential for bridging education.
• How opportunities are expanding for international students and Bridging Programs with Shanghai, China.

It is great to see so many showing their compassion through their research and findings!

Keep Up The Great Work!!

Third year students from the BN program displayed their hard work and great effort in putting on a health fair on Epidemiology in the main corridor at Red River College on May 14th during Nursing Week. Great job everyone!

Third Year Nursing Students Participated in a Health Fair where they shared knowledge and awareness of topic such as Diabetes Prevention, Tick borne illness, sun safety, and measles.

Nursing Week was celebrated at Red River College on May 12-16th. Nursing students and instructors collaborated to put on a number of informative displays related to the field of nursing in the main hallway outside the library. A pizza lunch was also held with funds raised going back to the student in the form of a scholarship fund. There was an overwhelming turnout and a big thank you to all who participated to make this annual event a huge success.

RRC Nursing Faculty Members Kim Fraser and Nancy Ball demonstrate the Virtual Nursing community Project to RRC President Stephanie Forsyth during the Nursing Week events, May 16th, 2014.
Journey North is an interactive tour of a Health Canada nursing station located on Bloodvein First Nation in northern Manitoba. Click here for more info: http://blogs.rrc.ca/etv/wp-content/uploads/jnpreview/home.html

Nursing Faculty, Bonnie Peers, and Tara Roberts display their poster presentation highlighting features of the Rural BN program at the Red River College

Jennifer Johnson, Nursing Lab Manager. Display some of the equipment used in the Nursing techniques lab.

Nursing Students put on a Pizza Fundraiser on May 16th, in the library Hallway. Proceeds will go towards a Student Council Scholarship fund

Nursing Students speak out for Social justice. Photo Essay assignment.

Nursing Students put on a Pizza Fundraiser on May 16th, in the library Hallway. Proceeds will go towards a Student Council Scholarship fund

Today! Feed your body and mind!

Come by the Library hallway from 12:00 to 1:00 TODAY (Monday May 12th and Friday May 16th) for a pizza lunch and poster display as we celebrate National Nursing Week.

See what it is nursing faculty and students do in the preparation of knowledgeable, competent and caring health professionals!

Come check out the booths, information, and displays reflecting the positive impacts nurses make on the lives and well-being of Canadians.

Scholarly writing is a crucial component in the advancement of scholarship in the nursing profession. The grading process for scholarly papers can be one of the most time consuming roles of nursing instruction, creating a wide range of frustrations and rewards. In assigning scholarly papers, students are asked to juggle multiple domains of learning at various levels of thinking: research skills, interpretation and understanding of facts and knowledge, analysis and synthesis, writing competence, creativity, acknowledgement of sources, and correct application of a style guide such as APA format. The role of grader demands an instructor then places a value on the students’ implementation of these multifaceted skills in the form of a percentage and/or letter grade, and provide narrative feedback to promote further development of the student’s writing skills. Receiving this feedback can be an emotional experience for the student.

This presentation was shared among Nursing educators from all over Western Canada at the WNRCASN conference, held at the Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg MB on Feb 19-21st, 2014. It was hosted by Red River College, Nursing Department.

The demonstration utilized examples from student work to illustrate the quickest method of evaluating student writing and providing meaningful, concise feedback.

A Presentation from WNRCASN

By Kim Mitchell RN MN

Nursing Instructor

Welcome to Journey North

In collaboration with eTV and Health Canada, members of River College Faculty of Nursing produced Journey North: A Virtual Nursing Experience. Journey North is an interactive tour of a Health Canada nursing station located on Bloodvein First Nation in northern Manitoba. The project, initially supported by a Program Innovation Fund (PIF) authored by Nancy Ball and Kim Fraser, was developed “to create a virtual community that will invite the millennial nursing student to explore, discover and understand the role of a Community Health Nurse in a remote/rural health care setting that is not geographically available to students in the RRC Nursing program” (PIF application, 2012/2013).

The Faculty of Nursing, eTV and Health Canada are all excited for the potential of this project as well as future endeavors and partnerships in interactive learning environments. Please click on the image below to view the project.