Let’s start with a huge shout out to the Nursing Department for all your donations for our RRC Student Association Christmas hamper!  It was a huge success and brought great cheer to a family in need this Christmas.

THANK YOU!!

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!  Hope the new year will be good to all and bring happiness to everyone.

Please celebrate safe, and share love and happiness with everyone you encounter!

See you in the New Year and enjoy your holidays; everyone deserves it!!

Written by Jennifer Johnson – Nursing Lab Manager

The festive holiday season was kicked off on December 7th with the annual come and go tea hosted by the Health Sciences and Community Services departments.

Staff were greeted with good wishes from the holiday elves who had some delicious baking and decadent hot chocolate.

This event provided an opportunity for different departments to come together, catch up on how the year has been going, and celebrate successes.

We look forward to more events in the near future!

Written by Monica Nash – Nursing Instructor

UPDATE: Please note that since the original posting, the dates have been revised to January 25 and February 15 instead of December 18 and January 15.

Are You?

• An entrepreneur or a small organization with a great idea and need assistance and
resources to turn your idea into reality?
• Looking for talent with ICT and workplace-ready skills?

Learn about the ACE Project Space and the ITAC Career Ready Program

The ACE Project Space helps entrepreneurs at the early stages of their business development and community partners reach their goals and have long-term success by working together, sharing experiences, and experimenting with new ideas. Community partners and entrepreneurs can also get advice on business decisions and discuss success strategies. The ACE Project Space is a safe environment for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, community organizations, and students to work together and have a chance to make a difference in their community. Read More →

The student team behind a battery-powered car named SpaRRCky successfully tested their car on Tuesday, November 28. The team designed and built the car for the Shell Eco-Marathon, which they are vying to compete in.

Watch the car in action here.

As part of the Radon Action Campaign, the month of November was Radon Action Month across Canada. Led by Health Canada, the New Brunswick Lung Association, the Ontario Lung Association, and Summerhill Impact, the Radon Action Campaign aims to raise awareness about radon and encourages Canadians to take action by testing their homes for radon in order to reduce exposure.

Radon is a radioactive gas and a known carcinogen. It results from the breakdown of uranium in the ground and can enter your home undetected. You can’t see it or taste it. All homes, in all parts of Canada, have some level of radon. The only way to know what the levels are like is to have your home tested.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. It is linked to causing the deaths of 3,200 Canadians every year. Long–term exposure to elevated levels of radon in the home increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Smokers exposed to high levels of radon have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer.

In order to better equip you to answer questions about radon and the need for at-home testing, McMaster University, together with Health Canada, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and the Clean Air Partnership, have designed a free, certified program to provide reliable, evidence-based information on radon. It only takes one hour to complete – which can be done in one sitting, or multiple sessions. The course is certified by the McMaster University Continuing Health Sciences Program for 1 Mainpro+ credit. It is also an Accredited Group Learning Activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Additionally, it is approved by the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists for 1.0 CSRT CE/CPD credit.

For more information about radon, or to access the course, visit radon.machealth.ca.

Post submitted by Jennifer Morin – Nursing Instructor
Post prepared by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor

The project term is nearing it’s final weeks and our students have been working hard on a number of projects. Stay tuned in the new year to find out more about these projects:

• Roof Bundle
• Eclectic Software Travel App
• e-Care Smart
• PostEd
• Democracy App
• Building Information Modelling

Move over, Princess Peach – there’s a new racer in town. Twenty-three-year-old Automotive Technician student Daren Nuevo will soon be getting behind the wheel of SpaRRCky, Red River College’s battery-electric racecar. Read More →

Mock interviews are like study sessions that build on student ability to perform well and boost student confidence during an interview. Preparing for job interviews can be nerve wracking and stress inducing. Mock interviews provided students with an opportunity to engage and network with individuals who would potentially interview them for future employment opportunities and become their future employer. This strategy has been effective in solidifying student knowledge of the interview process and reducing student anxiety.

The strength of RRC Nursing Department’s relationship with areas of nursing practice was evident in the number of unit managers who agreed to participate in the evening of mock interviews with RRC student nurses. Unit managers from all the hospitals in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and various health care facilities in Regional Health Authorities servicing various areas in rural Manitoba were present. The organizers received agreement and additional requests of patient care managers/unit managers to participate in the event that exceeded what the organizers could accommodate. Unfortunately, this resulted in the organizers having to deny some requests to participate in the event.

Lessons learned during and following the Evening of Mock Interviews and Networking between student nurses and unit managers included both benefits of participation and recommendations for future events. Both students and unit managers identified strengths of the event.

Benefits of Participation

Students identified the ability to meet with unit managers for areas of interest in a nonthreatening environment as a benefit. In addition, receiving immediate feedback from managers after students answered each interview question was beneficial. Some found the preparation information sufficient. Being in small groups was very beneficial and effective in building student confidence. Students identified that scenario questions were helpful. Based on a follow up survey, it was unanimous that student anxieties decreased when answering questions during their interviews for employment as grad nurses. One hundred percent of respondents identified that this event should continue for RRC BN students in the future.

Managers identified having the opportunity to collaborate and meet with potential future employees/nurses was invigorating and inspirational. Managers also identified experiencing professional and self-growth through their participation in the event. Speaking with students also provided them with an opportunity to hear student concerns and questions regarding the interview process, promote nursing and encourage new nurses, and reflect on their interview style and skills. They also stated that they were proud to participate in the student excitement and growth and discover how prepared and ready for the workforce RRC students were. As stated, “no questions stumped the students, they are ready to meet us in real life; well-done RRC.”

Recommendations

Given this was first time this type of event was hosted for RRC BN students, the planning committee was looking for recommendations from both students and facility managers. Students suggested the event occur earlier in their final term of the BN program. It was felt this would have increased student participation. Students also suggested additional preparatory materials such as an employment sheet from RRC Student Employment Services, increased information on the repository with reminders of date, time, and location of the event, along with an agenda for the evening. Managers also suggested increased preparatory materials including map of the campus parking area and room location. Managers recommended increased signage regarding parking and room location, as well as providing them with an agenda and suggesting that they bring business cards to distribute. They also suggested that seating arrangements replicate a panel interview situation, as well as lengthened duration of interviews. Students in their final year of their Bachelor of Nursing degree who participated were thankful for the opportunity to participate and freely shared the benefits they experienced from participating in the Evening of Mock Interviews. The evening concluded with comments from each of the unit managers. Each patient care manager commented on how well-prepared the students were and their desire to participate in similar events in the coming years.

The planning committee of Cindy Boughen, Krystal Boyce Gaudreau, Tracey Fallak, and Patrick Griffith are evaluating and utilizing the feedback provided by students and managers to improve the event in the coming year. Thank you to all those who participated.

Written by:

Evelyn Lundeen – Nursing Instructor

Did you know …

The ACE Project Space not only helps to develop solutions for Entrepreneurs in Residence, there are also a number of resources available in our front office at 321 McDermot Avenue, 5th floor:

• NSERC: Available Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
• NRC IRAP: Available half-days on Wednesdays, call for available hours.
• CRA SR&ED: Available every second Thursday (Nov 16, 23 and Dec 7, 14) call for available hours.

What exactly are these organizations able to provide? Read More →

A big thank you goes out to everyone who came out to support our first year nursing students with their Blood Pressure Clinic.  It is greatly appreciated from all staff and students!

It’s a great opportunity for students to practice their skills, not only performing the skill of blood pressures, but interacting with patients too.

Watch for our posters and the Staff News for future dates!

Written and photos taken by Jennifer Johnson; Nursing Lab Manager