My name is Jingjing Wang and I worked as a Plant Pathology and Cereal Breeding Assistant at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Brandon Research center for my summer Co-op term. I was assigned to a project looking for barley strains with resistant genes using RT-PCR data. During my work term, I received training in WHMIS, DNA extraction, operating RT-PCR instrumentation and lab sterilization practices.

My daily work was to perform DNA extractions of various barleys and to screen the resulting genetic material by running it through the RT-PCR. Subsequently, I organized the results and made a conclusion for each run.

Jingjing at work.

In addition to working in the lab, I also did field work. This meant that I had a really good combination of theoretical and practical experience, which gave me a better understanding of my work in the molecular lab. At the research center, I not only picked up technical skills, but also professional skills. I learned how to work with my group efficiently and how to map out tasks.

All in all, the Brandon Research Station is a really nice place to work. I am thankful to all the Chemical and Biosciences Technology instructors at Red River College for helping me learn the skills I needed to get this position.

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”

The nitrous oxide molecule.

Anyone perusing our Chemical of the Week molecules may notice that many pharmacologically active molecules are very large and complex. However, this is not always the case. An interesting exception is nitrous oxide, also known as dinitrogen monoxide. The nitrous oxide molecule is made of only two nitrogen (N) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom and so is very simple.

Nitrous oxide works as a general painkiller and anaesthetic and was first used in dentistry in the 17th and 18th centuries. Interestingly, it is still used today in modern dentistry and some medical procedures. This chemical has a side effect of inducing a supposedly pleasant feeling of euphoria and hence is frequently known by its slang name of “laughing gas.”

Although it is a simple molecule, nitrous oxide appears to produce its effects on the body through a complex series of processes, involving the inhibition of ion transport and other mechanisms. Not that many medical procedures that were popular two hundred years ago are still around, so nitrous oxide deserves some admiration, if only for its longevity!

 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.

With the (relatively) warm weather here, it’s a good time to look at sunscreen chemicals! Avobenzene (IUPAC name 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)propane-1,3-dione) is a popular ingredient of sunscreens. It is part of the “Helioplex” sunscreen system marketed by Neutrogena. Like almost all sunscreen compounds, it contains benzene rings, since these are good at absorbing UV light. In the case of avobenzene, it absorbs a wider range of UV light than many other similar chemicals and so is well-suited for its purpose of shielding us from the sun. One deficit of avobenzene is that it tends to break down rather rapidly under UV light, so it is normally packaged together with another chemical to help it stay stable. In the case of Helioplex, the compound oxybenzone is used. 

The avobenzene molecule.

Each year the Chemical and Biosciences Technology second year students perform an independent research project. A fascinating array of different projects are presented, and this year was no exception. The topics ranged from the environmentally-friendly extraction of pharmaceuticals from water solutions to a search for antibiotic-resistance bacteria. The most fragrant project, though, was performed by Kaarina, Hazel and Amanuel (shown here in the lab.)

Our popcorn team!

This project was looking at an ingredient in microwave popcorn. Specifically, they were searching for diacetyl, a chemical ingredient that occurs in butter and other foods and is sometimes added to give popcorn an artificial “buttery” smell and taste. Unfortunately, there have been concerns that inhaling diacetyl vapours during heating of microwave popcorn can be hazardous to your health. The RRC team wanted to see if buttery popcorn still contained this chemical. A number of sophisticated analytical methods were applied to look for diacetyl, including mass spectrometry but, perhaps fortunately, none was found in any of the store-bought popcorn samples. The clean bill of health was a welcome result, since the team had a number of left over bags of popcorn which are still being enjoyed in the department!

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