Did you know that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease?

Well on May 15, 2019 our 1st year RRC nursing students sure knew this and wanted to help out their fellow community members here at RRC by hosting a walk-in blood pressure (BP) and pulse (P) checks service. The nursing students did an excellent job, under the supervision of an R.N., of obtaining blood pressure results.

It was wonderful to see that so many people here at RRC took the opportunity and came out to find out what their BP & P readings were. High blood pressure is another name for Hypertension. People often refer to it as the silent killer as someone can have high blood pressure and be asymptomatic.

According to the heart and stroke foundation of Canada (2018):

• High blood pressure is when the blood pressure in your arteries is elevated and your heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood through the blood vessels.

• Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels (known as arteries). Your blood pressure reading is based on two measures called systolic and diastolic. The systolic (top) number is the measure of the pressure force when your heart contracts and pushes out the blood. The diastolic (bottom) number is the measure of when your heart relaxes between beats.

The table below defines varying blood pressure categories: low risk, medium risk, high risk. See your doctor, healthcare provider, or the 1st year RRC nursing students to get a proper blood pressure measurement.

BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES

Category: Systolic/Diastolic (top number/bottom number)
Low risk: 120 / 80
Medium risk: 121-139 / 80 – 89
High risk: 140+ / 90

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Blog written by Stacy Kutcher with information taken from the Heart and Stroke foundation of Canada (2018) website.

Pictures taken by Stacy Kutcher.

I have to say, unlike many graduates, I had a great job before becoming a nurse. I was a mailman. BEST. JOB. EVER. But I wasn’t exactly challenged (dogs notwithstanding) and winters are long. So at 38 I went part time at the post office and started at RRC full time. I graduated in three years after doing my practicum in the ER at St. Boniface. Very cool, very intense. Not for me. I took every instructors’ advice ever and took a position in medicine as a float. I was told I would “build up a good base” and I was told true. In acute medicine you learn ALL the things, I kid you not. But I missed being a mailman and the heart wants what it wants. So when I learned about a nursing job where I get to go outside and wear a bag on my shoulder I jumped to it.

Homecare nurse for the WRHA. Your patients aren’t acutely ill enough for hospital care but need a nurse nonetheless. I got a position in the downtown core and was told/warned that there is “no life like it” (or maybe that was when I joined the army?) and that was accurate. Meeting patients and really getting to know them over the year and a half I worked in the core was memorable to say the least. Most often you do wound care or chronic illness management, but it’s a real mixed bag.

When I started, my new boss said “It’s less technical than the hospital but I swear it’s one of the only nursing jobs you work to the full scope of your practice.” He did not exaggerate. Psych, social, physical, spiritual and on and on. You can’t just poke your head out into the hall and ask “Doc, wanna take a look at this?” You’re the guy (or gal) getting stuff done all by your lonesome and the patient sometimes only has the homecare nurse to rely on. No family, no GP, no nothing.

I most recently switched to the community IV program. It’s part of the same WRHA program but specializes in people who need IV care/medications and wound care. I spend some shifts in the clinic and some in the community, nice balance and I can stay indoors when it’s -30.

What I’d like to say to students that might be helpful is that waaay to often you will see nurses who stay in a job long after they have decided they hate it. Bad for mental health, bad for patients. Find a better fit! Start today! Some nurses LOVE jobs that won’t be for you and you may love a job that other nurses think you’re crazy to love. One of the best things about your new career is that you can do anything you want in virtually any place on Earth, why settle?!

Post written by Derek – CIVP RN – RRC Graduate 2016

Thank you for coming out and learning from our 3rd year nursing students at their annual Health Fair: playing games, learning lots, and taking away treats!

This year’s topics included Lyme Disease, Prostate Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Heart Attack, West Nile Virus, Drowning, and Hepatitis B………Great Job Everyone!

Imagine finding out you must leave home for weeks or even months to receive essential medical treatment. What do you do? Every year, hundreds of rural and northern Manitobans and Northwest Ontarians learn that their necessary medical treatment for cancer or other life altering conditions are only available in Winnipeg – perhaps hundreds or thousands of kilometres from home.

A Port in the Storm was co-founded by RRC nursing instructor Joanne Loughery and was created so that people needing treatment in Winnipeg do not have to worry about managing an extended stay in costly impersonal accommodations. Rates on furnished suites are kept very low, so guests and family can afford to stay together in a comfortable environment. Home-like affordable settings and a supportive community atmosphere are core values of the organization. Therefore, to provide a restful home for someone pulled away from theirs by illness is an essential activity of the organization.

Joanne Loughery and Anne-Marie Kowatsch

RRC instructor Anne-Marie Kowatsch has recognized the importance of the core values of this organization. Anne-Marie is a member of the River Crazy Quilters. As 2018 approached, this group was looking for a 25th anniversary project, and once a bit of background was presented, A Port in the Storm was chosen unanimously. Some members already had quilts in varying stages of completion; others set to work to complete one or more quilts. The goal was to have a quilt for every suite. One of the Riverview members suggested that the Crescent Fort Rouge church quilting group would be willing to contribute quilts. Carellan Sewing Centre graciously donated their time to machine quilt several of the blankets. A true community spirit for an incredible cause.

This donation illustrates a labour of love and compassion for those who need additional support and the added comforts of home at times of need. A Port in the Storm would like to extend their extreme gratitude for this very special and thoughtful gift.

For additional information on the organization, please visit www.aportinthestorm.ca

Post written by Joanne Loughery and Anne-Marie Kowatsch – Nursing Instructors

Photos by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor

On February 19th 2019, Red River College hosted its annual Open House event. The Nursing Department was able to participate in this event by welcoming future students as they came to visit the Nursing lab. Nursing instructors were on hand to greet visitors and answer questions about our nursing and health care aide programs. Students were able to walk through the lab space and view the various skills equipment on hand.

The Nursing Department was also present at the Rotary Career Symposium that took place from March 11th – March 13th at the RBC Convention Centre. The booth was visited by many students, parents, and educators. Staff were able to discuss career opportunities for those interested in working as nurses or health care aides. Programs that the Nursing Department at Red River College has to offer, along with the admission requirements for those programs, were provided to visitors stopping by the booth.

A big thank-you to all of the Nursing instructors who participated in helping out with these two events!

Post and photos by Jennifer Fontaine – Nursing Student Advisor & RPL Advisor for HCA Equivalency

During the month of February, our third year nursing students from Epidemiology and Illness Prevention held their Health Promotion Poster Fair! The Poster Fair educates the college community on preventable public health issues.

From learning about the importance of driving safely, taking care and caution in the sun, and the importance of body mechanics, faculty and students are now one step closer to taking care of themselves. Education on breast health, prevention of STDs such as Chlamydia, and vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles provided an excellent source of information to those who stopped by and visited the booths. Games, riddles, and questions helped engage interest of those walking by.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to support our students’ learning as they support all of us through their health promotion efforts.

Post and photos by Stacy Kutcher – Nursing Instructor (Adapted from post by Ana Stipanovic and Meagen Chorney)

Thank you to everyone who participated and made Research and Innovation Day such a success this year!

Thank you to all our sponsors for your support!

A shout out to our top 5 presenters, and thank you to everyone who presented. This day wouldn’t be possible without you!!

1st Place Presentation

Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Dignity Therapy as an Intervention

Michelle Queau

2nd Place Presentation

Student Nurse Bullying

Elyse Griffith and Danielle Lewicki

3rd Place Presentation

Welcome to Aarhus Denmark: VIA Summer School Experience

Caitlyn Edwards and Alycia Dettman

4th Place Presentation

Experiences of Depressive Symptoms in Patients After Stroke

Samantha Eveleigh

5th Place Presentation

Photo Essay: Teenage Pregnancy Among Indigenous Communities in Manitoba

Alisha Rana and Pardeep Aulak

WRITTEN BY:

JENNIFER JOHNSON

NURSING LAB MANAGER

The Nursing Department is hosting the fourth annual Research and Innovation Day on Friday February 8th! This event is an opportunity for students and faculty in the School of Health Sciences and Community Services to disseminate their research and engage in scholarly discussions. We’re looking forward to an amazing day full of fascinating student presentations and faculty presentations, an engaging keynote address from Dr. Lynda Balneaves, who will be sharing her research on Cannabis and Nursing, as well as exhibitors, door prizes, refreshments, and a pizza fundraiser hosted by the Nursing Students’ Association.

Check out our page for more details about Research and Innovation Day.

This event is open to current students and faculty from the School of Health Sciences and Community Services.

To register, please fill out our registration form. Registration closes on February 1st 2019.

Post by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor / Co-Chair: Research and Innovation Day

Following the legalization of cannabis by the Canadian federal government on October 17 of last year, Red River College tendered its inaugural offering of a course on cannabis called Cannabis 101. It was offered via the College’s Continuing Education Department under the auspices of the School of Indigenous Education. Starting on November 6, the course wrapped up December 13. There were 53 students in the class including three from the nursing faculty, Karen Burns, Kate Tate, and myself.

The two course leaders, Dr. Shelley Turner and Dr. Faith Dieleman, are both physicians and strong advocates for the medicinal use of cannabis. Dr. Turner is a family doctor practising in Ontario and Manitoba, who specializes in medical cannabis, addictions, and Indigenous health. Dr. Dieleman works closely with Dr. Turner as a research assistant. She is passionate about her work with addictions and has interests in medical education and ensuring accessible healthcare for all.

Appealing to a broad audience of individuals interested in varied aspects of information regarding cannabis, the course started with details on the legal regulations and restrictions on cannabis use both federally and provincially. Present day policies as well as those of the past were discussed by an inspector from Manitoba’s Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority.

The next few classes focused on cannabis plant botany – looking at the difference between cannabis and hemp, then discussion on the major well-known chemical constituents of the cannabis plant as well as information on less well-known chemicals that hold promise as new pharmaceuticals.

Plant genetics were covered in another lecture along with an overview of the current research and development in the medicinal cannabis industry. The students seemed to particularly enjoy the class on growing cannabis. The speaker for the evening brought several cannabis plants with him and was an affable and knowledgeable lecturer. After demonstrating the procedure for best getting cannabis seeds to grow, he invited the class to check in on Instagram as the plants sprouted and started to grow. He also brought along a number of boxes of cannabis ready for use, and the students enjoyed having a “sniff” of some of the interesting scents that can be created by different strains of the plant.

The focus of class switched to the commercial aspects of the new legal cannabis industry and the rules and regulations for those interested in becoming a commercial cannabis vendor, supplier, or grower.

The final lectures focused on the medicinal uses for cannabis and its potential in treating addictions, cancer, chronic pain, and relief of symptoms in some of the long term neuromuscular diseases like multiple sclerosis. Also included in this topic was emphasis on safety, social responsibility, and harm reduction strategies as they relate to cannabis use.

Dr. Turner is presently in communication with the College about subsequent educational courses related to cannabis.

Register for Cannabis 101

Post written by Evelyn Lundeen – Nursing Instructor

The Nursing Department ended 2018 with some holiday cheer! From holiday celebrations to giving back through our Christmas Hamper for the RRC Students’ Association, the department came together in the spirit of the season.

We wish everyone a fantastic 2019!

Post written by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor

Photos by Meagen Chorney, Jennifer Johnson, Tracey Fallak, and Bernie Mandrick