Bachelor degree in nursing

Norway House Cree Nation Bachelor of Nursing Degree Program

August 1999 marks the third year that the Bachelor of Nursing(BN)Degree Program has been at Norway House Cree Nation. Eleven of the fourteen students registered in the four and one half year program are members of Norway House Cree Nation. Three are from the communities of Cross Lake, Mathias Colomb and Wasagamack.

Norway House Cree Nation is the site of the first community-based baccalaureate nursing education program in Canada. The first three years of the Program are offered in Norway House Cree Nation where the focus of studies is twofold: Aboriginal health issues and northern nursing issues. Norway House Cree Nation presents excellent resources for students to learn nUrsing within the context of promoting health in a northern community setting. Students relocate to Thompson to complete their final year of studies. This is to take advantage of the excellent clinical experiences acute and chronic, palliative and mental health care which are available in a larger northern city.

The Community Liaison Committee(CLC)is an important part of this community-based program. It came into existence to help communication between the community and the nursing faculty. People from Norway House Cree Nation, a nursing student and the nursing faculty make up the Community Liaison Committee. The members of the CLC are: Florence Duncan, Andrea Folster, Director of Pinoaw Wachi Personal Care Home; Ella Fourre, Nursing Head Public Health Unit; Kathleen Leary, Education, Training and Culture Division Manager. Charlene McKay, BN student; Mary Courtenay, Lecturer and Fjola Hart-- Wasekeesikaw, Program Coordinator are also on the CLC. The CLC discuss how best use the resources in the community for student learning. For example, the community members suggested that a representative form the FAS/FAC committee be invited to make a presentation to the students taking a health promotion of families course.

The students and faculty in the BN Degree Program develop connections and work within the community of NHCN on an ongoing basis. The nurses of Norway House are and important link with the community. They provide essential health care services and in recognition of their leadership knowledge and skill in working in various health care settings in Norway House nurses were invited to have coffee with the students and faculty February 10, 1999. Each of the following nurses have been invited to share their personal and professional experiences with small groups of nursing students. Debbie Hart-Swanson, RN, Pinaow Wachi Personal Care Home and Nellie Erickson, RN, Director of Patient Care Services, Norway House Indian Hospital.

The Faculty of Nursing held a nursing education promotion on February 19, 1999. The BN students worked with public health nurses Ella Fouree, RN, Erica Scribe, RN and Pat Genaille RN, nurses at the Norway House Indian Hospital. In addition to providing information and conducting health assessments to promote healthy children, the nursing students hosted a blood pressure clinic for the adults. The public health nurses provided information about child health safety.

Students also presented information about the BN Degree program and provided applications for completion at the local Mail on February 15, 1999. The Faculty of Nursing is accepting applications for September 1999. All who are interested in obtaining their nursing degree are invited to submit their names and educational qualifications.

At the end of January, community members , nurses and students had their photos taken to show how nurses provide care to their patients. The photographs will be used by the Faculty of Nursing to promote the BN Program in Norway House. Nurses and students also attended the Aboriginal Nurses of Canada 23 d Annual General and Education Conference in Calgary, Alberta. At this event, Sheena Sampson was one of two recipients from across Canada to receive the Jean Goodwill-- Baxter Scholarship.

In the middle of March, Fjola Hart-Wasekeesikaw went to the Island Lakes area to attend the Wellness Conference and to promote the BN Program in Norway House.

For more information about the baccalaureate nursing program at the Norway House Cree Nation site and other nursing sites in Manitoba call 1-800-- 432-1960 extension 7452, or WEB SITE: www.unianitoba.ca/nursin or Email: nursing_info@umanitoba.ca

Submitted by: Russell Medvedev, Communications Officer, Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba and Fjola Hart-Wasekeesikaw, Faculty member, University of Manitoba Faculty of Nursing, Norway House Cree Nation site.