Amber Moffat shares her experience and insight since graduating from the Red River College/University of Manitoba Joint Baccalaureate Nursing (JBN) Program in 2008:

Where are you now?

I am currently working in Whitehorse General Hospital as a float nurse, clinical nurse leader, and acting clinical care manager. I did my final practicum at WGH back in 2008 and have worked throughout the Yukon since then!

How easy was it to find a job after graduation?

Finding a med/surg job after graduation was quite easy; I found it harder to find the right work life balance. Part-time, full- time, and overtime were all options so I worked hard to find what worked best for me.

How did you manage the responsibility of going from student to nurse?

That was a while ago now…I remember having lots of hot baths with cookies and tea. Actually one of the things I did back then was learn how to knit on night shifts. One of the senior nurses showed me and even to this day, it is one of the ways that I deal with stress.

Thinking back, what were the most important lessons from school that you took into the workforce?

There were a lot of important lessons but one that always stood out to me was a lecture titled “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” and it was a lecture on feeding patients. It’s funny the things you remember.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were a student?

I just recently moved into a different house about a year ago and when I was going through my belongings I found a letter to my future self that I wrote when I was doing a particularly challenging clinical placement. In that letter I wrote to myself asking if I was ever going to belong in a place like this (hospital); if I would always just be focusing on tasks or if I would ever actually be able to help people. I am currently the acting clinical care manager of the med/surg unit at WGH and I sometimes bring this letter out to show new grads who may be going through something similar. Being a student and a novice nurse is only a season and soon you’ll look back and see that it was only a moment!

Thank you Amber for sharing your experience and words of wisdom!

Congratulations to all our graduates from all campuses; Winkler, Portage, and Notre Dame; as well as the LPN-BN Pathway.

If you were like me and everyone else, I was thankful we got to watch the Pinning Ceremony virtually and got to acknowledge all the well deserved graduates for a job well done! Thank you to everyone who took part in putting this Pinning Ceremony together!

This was our first group of graduates from our rural sites, and as they go on to start their careers in Nursing, another group started.

Everyone, students and staff, have worked so hard to accommodate this difficult time, but you did it!

Thank you to the students for being so flexible in a time of need.

I would like to say a special congratulations to this year’s Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba Gold Medal award that went to Emma Marie Collins!

Congratulations to all RRC Polytech Nursing Graduates of 2021! Wish you all the best in your future as nurses!

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of the speakers: “Don’t strive to make your presence noticed; just make your presence felt”

Post created by

Jennifer Johnson

Nursing Lab Manager

RRC Polytech

Experiencing the concept of ‘community as client’ does not always present itself. Our clinical group: Community and Older Adults, NRSG 2811, Oct 6-Nov 4, had such an opportunity.

The group health education topic was Food Security, as identified by the tenants and support staff at our site. As the students contacted agencies and services in the area for resources and information, a timely placed call to Dave Feniuk at Agape Table resulted in substantial food donation to the site. Two students arranged to pick up the items and prepared 30+ individual bags of fresh produce to distribute to those in need. Other items included frozen turkeys and trimmings for their Christmas dinner, as well as other frozen food items that the tenant association will oversee to provide ongoing food to those struggling with food security. They facilitated a partnership between Agape Table and the site for long-term support.

The students experienced, first hand, how partnerships and networking are necessary components of community health, to experience the Community Health Nurse role, realistically consider the social determinants of health as well as inspired volunteerism.

Mutual benefit is part of the ongoing partnership. Agape Table, a not-for-profit charity ‘Nourishing body, mind and spirit’ through daily bagged meals and an emergency food bank, relies on donations, volunteers, and sponsorships. We are happy to be part of the solution working with Agape Table.

Written by Karen Janzen, Clinical Instructor

You are invited to the 2021 Bachelor of Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony!

The 2021 graduates of the Red River College Baccalaureate Nursing Program will be celebrated in a virtual Pinning Ceremony today (December 16th, 2021). A copy of the program can be found here.

Please join us for this meaningful Nursing tradition on The College’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/redrivercollege

The direct link will be open today at 1:00 pm. Watching the ceremony on Facebook will allow everyone to post their congratulations to the graduates.

We look forward to “seeing” you there!

The Pinning Ceremony Committee!

Student Christmas Holiday Hampers

From the Students’ Association:

We need your help!

The Students’ Association wants to help students and their families this Christmas holiday season. The SA is looking to collect non-perishable food items, and toys for their dependents (ages range from 1 to 18 years). A list of food items is available at https://rrcsa.ca/product/holidayhamper 

Please drop off food and unwrapped toys to one of our offices (NDC – CM20 and EDC – P110) during business hours starting November 1st.

The SA is also collecting monetary donations through our website (https://rrcsa.ca/product/holidayhamper) to provide grocery vouchers to our students.

We will be handing out hampers, toys, and vouchers to students in need in December. 

If you have any further questions, please contact Selina Anderson at sanderson3@rrc.ca 

Let’s work together to feed our Red River College Polytechnic Students that are struggling this Holiday Season.

Thank-you,

The Students’ Association

• Post Created by Jennifer Johnson – Nursing Lab Manager

• Content from The Students’ Association promotional material

The Nursing Department would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Troy Gutowski, a year 3 Nursing Student, on being drafted to the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). For those less familiar with the Canadian national summer sport of lacrosse, the NLL is the professional equivalent of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is comprised of 15 teams across Canada and the US.

Troy began playing box lacrosse when he was 9 years of age. He is considered a strong offensive playmaker, leading the Canada West team in overall points in the 2021 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship this summer. Troy was also the overall tournament leader for assists – racking up 10 assists over the course of 3 games. When asked what it is he loves most about the sport, he replied “how fast the game is, the quick decision-making and reaction time it requires. I also love it for the friendships and relationships I’ve made over the years.”

Way to go Troy, and all the best in reaching all of your career goals – within and outside of nursing!

Fun fact: Wayne Gretzky, who also grew up playing lacrosse, is one of the owners of the 15th and newest team (Las Vegas) to be included in the NLL.

Post written by Tammy Neufeld – Nursing Instructor

As we get settled into this new academic year, let’s continue to look back at some amazing student work from last year:

The Health Promotion of Older Adults in Community Clinical has had another rewarding and unique rotation during the pandemic. From March 24 – June 3rd, 2021, through a blended approach, groups connected with community resources in the Silver Heights and Fort Garry neighbourhoods. This experience is empowering to all as the students obtain a glimpse of what it is to be a community nurse and learn from older adults as they strive to promote health and wellness.

Through phone calls and socially distanced visits, these 2 dedicated groups met with community resources teams such as the Healthy Aging Resource team (HART) and the Community Resources Finders to reveal the impact of the pandemic on emotional wellness leading to social isolation. Students were able to recognize the importance of these resources and help facilitate how to navigate our health system. The students discovered how the determinants of health impact the older adult community.

As seen in the photos, student nurse groups collaborated with clients and on-site staff during blood pressure clinics, and prioritized the need for educational sessions. The Fort Garry community area recognized a need for a broader wellness fair, focusing on brain health, nutrition, and exercise. The group split into smaller groups and created poster boards and a drop-in wellness fair, where screening was completed and all COVID protocols were adhered to.

In Silver Heights, students presented on brain and memory wellness to an older adult community group that meets weekly via the building recording studio. This was then broadcasted and recorded for all the residents in the building. The group created a booklet to give to the residents prior to the broadcasting, so they could follow along. This is a fantastic example of RRC students harnessing innovation and technology to facilitate safe connections and learning.

These initiatives resulted in engaged older adults where they shared their own experiences during the blood pressure screening clinics and welcomed the students into their homes. The students were able to recognize the incredible resilience of each older adult as they manage multiple health issues, the effects of social isolation on mental health, and learning new ways to connect within their own community.

Group A

Group B

The students’ hard work was very well received, as evidenced by this Note of Thanks:

We just wanted to touch base and thank you all. We appreciate the faculty, support staff and students for their untold sacrifices and commitment to serving our community, in THE MOST challenging of times.

Warmest Regards,
The Rotary Crew

Blog post written and photos provided by Teri-Lyn Healy – Nursing Instructor

As we embark on a new academic year, let’s look back on some of the amazing student work from last year:

February 2021 was a challenging time in Winnipeg Manitoba for all, with the public health restrictions, so as a part of their Health Promotion of the Older Adult Community Health rotation, the Red River College nursing students set out, in collaboration with the Elmwood, EK Active Living Seniors Centre to do a project that was creative and highlighted the community strengths and resources. They sought to see the beauty in the community and convey it through a brief video compilation posted to the centre’s Elmwood EK Active Living Seniors Centre Facebook page. Its goal was to create motivation and hope through a creative look at a community and promote the positive initiatives that the community is engaged in.

Although they weren’t able to meet in person, students talked with many program coordinators and community leaders to find out priorities for wellness among older adults in the Elmwood, Chalmers, and greater River East area. One consideration noted was that many essential services are changing to virtual, and this makes internet access even more fundamental for social connectedness and for access to health and government services. The student group wrote a letter to the area’s MP advocating for affordable internet access to highlight this need.

Here are a few student excerpts on the unique experience:

“Working on the community photo essay and hearing about the community organizations brought out the personality of the community and showcased what a wholesome, well rounded and quaint area the Elmwood/Chalmers area really is. I wouldn’t hesitate to live there.” – Andrea Jungwirth

“I found making the photo essay useful because it taught us to come out of our comfort zone and communicate as a group in a unique circumstance and adapt to changes.” – Niloufar Bagherzamani

“It was valuable to view a community through a nursing lens and discover its strengths and resources in places I hadn’t seen previously.” – Kezia Balzer

“The photo essay allowed us to use the community assessment tools from the theory course. Using the nursing process helped to evaluate the need for affordable internet services and advocate for those populations by writing a letter to the MP.” – Nicole Martens

Blog post written by Tracey McCulloch – Nursing Instructor

The Nursing Department would like to congratulate clinical instructor Chinyere (Chichi) Asagwara on winning a Nursing Excellence Award! This award is provided by the Nursing Week Awards Committee at Health Sciences Centre.

Chinyere was nominated by her peers Krista Carlson, Kathy Collis and Karen Oke in Adult Emergency and endorsed by her manager Jacqueline Molina.

The Nursing Excellence Awards Committee writes:

You are deserving of this award because you have exhibited traits of a true leader, mentor, and strong patient advocate. You lift the morale and spirits of every staff member in the emergency department. You have contributed to quality improvement by participating in a LEAN project for the new Low Acuity Area and are a member of the Adult Emergency Nursing practice committee and previously the Code Blue committee. You are an instructor in the SIM lab working with residents and staff and use this opportunity to provide education to other staff within the department. You also participate with Canadian Military Search and Rescue teams in coaching and facilitating their learning opportunities at the bedside. In addition, you hold active membership with the National Emergency Nurse Association and were an integral team member in planning of the National conference in 2020.

Your peers’ state, “Through the ups and downs inherent in an emergency department, with staffing shortages, overcrowding, trauma and crisis, Chinyere has proven to be a rock-solid backbone of this department. She is unfaltering in her calm and determined approach during the chaos that can present from the triage desk to resus room.”

Due to COVID-19, Chinyere will be honored at the annual Nursing Excellence Awards Ceremony when it is able to safely resume.

Congratulations Chinyere!

Post written by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor

Adapted and quoted from:
Lamonica, B., & Brennan, B. (2021). Recipient letter. Nursing Excellence Awards Committee.

The Health Promotion of Older Adults in Community Clinical has had another rewarding and unique rotation during the pandemic. Connecting with our community areas, stakeholders, and older adults living in the community has been creative and completely online!

From January 27 – February 25, 2021 both Teri Lyn Healy’s student nurses and my group of student nurses worked in the Transcona area of Kildare Redonda. These 2 dedicated groups of student nurses met with community resources teams and connected one on one with volunteer older adults living in apartment blocks…all via phone and Zoom!

Zoom meetings were empowering for all of us, as Colleen Tackaberry, the Transcona Senior Resource Coordinator, and Lorna Shaw from the Health Aging Resources Team (HART) shared key findings from surveys conducted, revealing the impact of the pandemic on emotional wellness leading to social isolation. This was echoed during the students’ health assessment completed with their individual older adult clients.

Both student nurse groups collaborated and prioritized the need for educational powerpoints over the last 3 clinical weeks via Zoom. First, the Windshield Survey provided key census statistics of the Kildare Redonda area with the focus on the older adult.

Next, my group presented on Brain and Memory Wellness for the community older adults that are a group that meet weekly via Zoom, hosted by Colleen Tackaberry. There was strong community participation with 18 – 25 people total for both meetings.

Teri Lyn’s group of student nurses presented on emotional wellness, again via Zoom for community older adults, hosted by Colleen. Both groups provided access to these powerpoints as well as community resources and strategies handouts to the Transcona Seniors Resources team.

Student Quote:

This clinical rotation allowed me to expand my nursing skills outside of physical care. Although the pandemic COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible to perform physical assessments, it allowed me to enhance my therapeutic communication skills by curating individualized patient care, focusing on clients’ feelings and specific needs. With multiple group projects involved in the course, working alongside my clinical group provided several opportunities to collaborate and learn from one another. Another positive aspect of this clinical rotation was connecting with the older adult population via Zoom, providing an Emotional Health and Wellness presentation. We were able to bond with this population and provide a positive message during this time of uncertainty. – Maricel Damaso, SNRRC

Both groups of older adults were engaged, sharing their own experiences and coping strategies for both in-services and offered many words of praise to the student nurses. These powerpoints provided the student nurses the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, current research, communication skills while empowering the older adults in community! We also recognize the incredible resilience of each of these older adults as they manage multiple health issues, the effects of social isolation on mental health, and learning new ways to connect within their own community. Both groups of student nurses commended the community members and Colleen for advocating to stay connected and positive!

– Diane Ammeter

Client Feedback:

“I thought the phone visits were very enjoyable, they have been great to have someone to talk to and that wants to get to know you. Great idea during COVID, keep it up.”

“Overall, the phone visits went well, It would have been nice to meet in person but these are strange times and better to be safe, it can be lonely so the weekly calls were always something to look forward to, she’s going to make a great nurse.”

Overall the clients of East Park Lodge enjoyed the experience of talking with a student nurse weekly, reviewing their health status as well as social and physical health concerns, and completing educational teaching sessions with the students. After the rotation was completed I followed up with the clients.

– Teri-Lyn Healy

Post written by Diane Ammeter and Teri-Lyn Healy – Nursing Instructors