Academic News

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

Congratulations to all of our Skilled Trades and Technology Awards recipients!

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

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

Read More →

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

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

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.