University of Victoria School of Nursing at College of the Rockies held its seventh annual Student Nurse Leadership Conference on November 28, 2024, with the theme of Shaping the Future of Healthcare through Collaboration, Education, and Advocacy.
Fourth year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, (l-r) Krystal Childs, Jordan Welder, and Loveleen Hayer, will attend the National CNSA Conference in Halifax at the end of January.
"This theme points us toward the future and highlights the importance of collaboration, education, and advocacy, lifelong endeavours of all nurses," said Norma Sherret, Dean, Health and Human Services. "I am deeply grateful to our practice partners and field guides who have supported our students and thank our students for stepping forward to take up these important roles as emerging nursing leaders."
In all, eight leadership projects were presented by the student teams:
- Prioritize and Lead: Elevating Clinical Judgment through Advanced Simulation Training for Nursing Students
- Promoting Safety and Awareness: Harm Reduction Initiatives in Student Housing
- Eco-Scalpel: Cutting Waste in Perioperative Units
- Optimizing Student Nurse Integration: Skills Mapping and Self-Assessment Framework for BC's Future Healthcare Workforce
- Improving Health Outcomes in Healthcare: Bridging Care Through Communication
- Supporting Patients, Families, and Caregivers Transitioning Out of Critical Care Units
- Bridging the Gap: Promoting Patient-Oriented Research in Nursing Education
- East Kootenay Clinical Research: Developing a Clinical Research Advisory Committee Within the Rural Context
Under the direction of their Leadership instructors Jen Siemens and Patti Thygesen, students applied noted author, nurse educator, and community activist Peggy Chinn's 2023 Peace and Power Framework, a manner of collaboration which provides essential hands-on guidelines for developing cooperative group processes and overcoming interactions that can lead to the breakdown of the group. Her work focuses especially on those dynamics that give privilege and power to a few, while disadvantaging many in the group based on class, skin color, or disability.
A host of Field Guides supported the future nurses as they navigated their leadership projects, including AJ Brekke, Manager, Clinical Operations Perioperative Services, EKRH; Patrick Jobe, Senior Manager at Nursing Policy Secretariat - Ministry of Health; Christie Diamond and Sarah Titcomb from the Provincial Health Services Authority, Lindsay Dionne, Regional Critical Care Educator; and more.
Prior to the Conference students Avneet Gill, Noah Schuh, and Fabbi Syed were nominated by the Nursing Policy Secretariat (NPH) as nurses of the week for the NPH newsletter.
Attendance at the Conference was free, but participants were encouraged to donate to two very worthy causes: The Cranbrook Food Bank Society and Operation Street Angel.
In January, three of the BSN students, will attend the the National CNSA Conference in Halifax as representatives of Canadian Nursing Students' Association (CNSA) at College of the Rockies. Official Delegate Jordan Welder, Associate Delegate Krystal Childs, and People of Colour Chair Caucus Holder Lovleen Hayer are looking forward to the opportunity to network and share ideas.
"The conference, Together for Tomorrow: Driving Change for More Inclusive Healthcare, is a critical opportunity to engage with nursing leaders across Canada and to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system." Welder said. "This event demonstrates our ongoing commitment to leadership, diversity, and meaningful change within the nursing profession."
Learn more about Bachelor of Science in Nursing at College of the Rockies at: cotr.ca/health
