253207
252590
Selkirk Campus Life  

Selkirk College practical nursing program graduates first cohort

1st nursing graduates

Bob Hall - | Story: 526899

Filling an essential gap in the region’s frontline health care needs, the first cohort of graduates from Selkirk College’s Practical Nursing Program are now out in communities making a difference.

Spurred by staff shortages across the sector, the Provincial Government provided funding for new seats at post-secondary institutions across British Columbia in late-2022. Students in the Selkirk College Practical Nursing Program began the two-year diploma program in January 2023 at the Trail Campus with eight students from the program graduating this past November.

Essential to the continuity of care, licenced practical nurse’s (LPN) scope of practice is geared towards stable patients and predictable outcomes. Generally working in a team that includes registered nurses and doctors, LPNs work in a variety of settings that includes hospitals, long-term care homes, doctor’s offices, clinics, extended care facilities, acute care centres, community hospices and private homes.

“The graduates of the first Practical Nursing Program cohort are a group of compassionate, dedicated and fierce individuals who worked hard alongside their instructors to develop and refine their skills and professionalism as nurses,” says program coordinator Sarah Lechthaler. “They conquered challenges with humility and grace. I am incredibly proud of every single one of them.”

Nursing shortages in rural regions of the province have weighed down the health care system. The goal of the program was to help train and retain nurses, improving access to health care that is relevant to rural communities. With graduates having a clear pathway to employment in a high-demand field, the program supported their career growth and is ultimately contributing to the local economy.

Lechthaler has worked in health care sector and education field since 2005. Herself an LPN, Lechthaler says those looking for this particular health care career were forced to relocate for their education prior to 2023. Even though many of these locals intended to come back, they were drawn away from the West Kootenay and Boundary region after being offered positions in the communities where the program was offered.

“Supporting residents of the region to further their education to support their families and contribute to the strengthening of their local communities by providing safe and appropriate care is a real important step,” says Lechthaler, who began teaching in the Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program at Selkirk College in 2014 before moving into a leadership role.

“More local graduates contribute to an overall improvement of the sustainability of local health care systems.”

The right choice for a new mom

Drawn by the outdoor winter recreation opportunities in the West Kootenay, program graduate Syndel Rogowski moved west from Manitoba in 2018. Her first step into the health care field came in 2019 when she graduated from Selkirk College’s HCA Program in 2019 and went to work for Castlegar Home Support.

Employed on the frontlines through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened Rogowski’s desire to further explore options. She applied for the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program, but changed course after becoming pregnant. In the early stages of her maternity leave, she found out about the new Practical Nursing Program being offered at Selkirk College.

Though her son was only seven months old when Rogowski started the program in 2023, support from her partner and mother-in-law made it possible to take the bold step as a full-time student. Once in the program, the small class size and supportive learning environment helped Rogowski grit her way through the rigors of school work and practicums.

“I really do love it, I have a big passion for this career,” Rogowski says. “Having the health care assistant background was super helpful because I knew how to communicate in that setting and knew what to expect. Now, I have the nursing knowledge to better advocate so we ensure the best outcomes for the patients that I work with.”

An excellent student, Rogowski was quickly hired by Interior Health to work at Talarico Place in Castlegar where she is now part of the team at the long-term care facility.

“This cohort will shine a bright light in our region, setting an example to show other local residents that they can do anything they put their mind to,” says Lechthaler. “All of the students had full and busy lives outside of school, they had to adjust their routines and their focus of attention. Their families, friends, coworkers and peers in the program were all on their support teams.

"These people are leaders, they took a risk to change their lives to support themselves, their families, our communities and our regional health care system in a different way. I know they have inspired many others already.”

The program’s second cohort began the two-year program in January 2025 and the start-date for the next intake will soon be announced. Individuals interested in this career can also explore first steps in the Health Care Assistant Certificate Program that is accepting students for February 2025 and September 2025.

A 30-week program that includes blended on-line and in-person instruction, learners spend 10 weeks on theory, 10 weeks in lab/theory and then complete a 10-week clinical practice. There is also the Pathways to High-Demand Careers route which helps those looking for academic upgrading opportunities get the proper pre-requisites for a number of different programs at Selkirk College.

Find out more information about how to enter this rewarding program at: selkirk.ca/practical-nursing.

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums


Study abroad opens new horizons and deepens knowledge

Study abroad opportunities

Bob Hall - Nov 26, 2024 / 7:00 pm | Story: 519669

Attending post-secondary in Canada opens up a new world of learning that builds knowledge and develops career-ready skills.

For those students wanting to take a bold step into international education while attending college, it literally opens up the world for new learning opportunities.

Study abroad options are a staple of post-secondary education across Canada. Through partnerships that dot every corner of the world, students are able to build perspectives while awakening their travel bugs. At Selkirk College, direct partnerships include institutions in France, Korea, Japan, Scotland and Ireland, with broader Canadian options also available to domestic students across all programs.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to learn another language and culture,” said Selkirk College’s English language program coordinator Paul Spence, who has spent a career traveling the globe to teach and helps local students find their passion for international education.

“The experience opens up so many doors. Studying abroad leads to personal growth and self-confidence, as well as a better understanding of one’s own culture. In addition, the experience of living and studying abroad fosters the development of interpersonal and intercultural skills, soft skills that are important to today’s employers.”

Last year, 14 Selkirk College students traveled abroad and this year there are plans for 12 learners to take part in international study this semester and next. Through tuition sharing agreements and a number of scholarships available, study abroad provides for such an experience.

From the Kootenays to Korea

E.K. Murray is a second-year Selkirk College student in the peace and conflict studies program based out of the Castlegar campus.

Raised in the West Kootenay and a graduate of Nelson’s LV Rogers secondary, Murray is currently spending a semester at the Busan University of foreign studies in Busan, South Korea.

“It’s an affordable way to see the world without the limits of being a tourist,” she said. “In an educational international program, you get hands-on experience navigating different cultures: from activities like trying new foods or traditional clothing, to developing language and communication skills and even forming new ways of thinking. It teaches you about your own culture too, and provides great opportunities for self-reflection that you don’t often get when you stay in your comfort zone. Plus, it’s an awesome way to make friends from around the world.”

Murray arrived in Korea in August and began her one semester of study in the university’s Korean language and culture skills program where she is taking courses in Korean language, history, culture and intercultural communications.

Though she is a long way from home, there has not been a dull moment with little time to think about being away from family and friends.

“The classroom interactions and sizes at BUFS are similar to how they are at Selkirk College, so it’s been easy to adjust to,” she says. “I’m always busy discovering new things and visiting new places, so I haven’t had time to feel homesick. Nor have I gotten bored. There is always something to do, every day of the week and at all times of day or night.”

Though she has only been in Korea for a couple of months, Murray has already had chance to gain deeper understanding of both herself and her home country.

“Canadians are unusual in that we come from a very multicultural society when compared to many other countries and we can bring ideas to the table which many people from other countries haven’t even considered,” she said. “Your perspectives will be challenged when you go abroad, but you will also be able to challenge other people’s perspectives.”

Though she wholeheartedly encourages peers to explore options, Murray added that it’s not something to be done on a whim.

“Many people go to different countries with high and hard-set expectations of how life will be there,” Murray said. “Particularly in Korea, lots of foreigners arrive thinking that the entire country is a theme park for K-pop or some type of technological utopia, and then they’re hit by the culture shock and begin to resent the country for not meeting their own personal expectations.

“I’ve seen this happen in Korea with students from other countries more than once, so I definitely recommend doing research beforehand. You’ve got to walk a fine line between anticipation and expectation, but it’s easy if you keep an open mind and open heart.”

In the early stages of her post-secondary pathway, Murray will return to Selkirk College in January to continue building an educational foundation in the study areas of history and political science. With the ultimate goal of helping figure out how to build a safer and more peaceful world, she knows that a focus on international relationships will also be an important part of her desired outcome.

“There are a lot of ways in which this experience will benefit my long-term educational goals,” said Murray. “Living abroad is a valuable type of education which simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. It has taught me things about life which I simply cannot explain on paper.”

Back to Homepage

TyposNews TipsForums


More Selkirk Campus Life articles



252445
252962


The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet presents its columns "as is" and does not warrant the contents.


Previous Stories