February 28, 2024
Good times! Portage College practical nursing students, from left, Sruthi Khanmantha, Haliegh Dach, David Jackson, Daphnie Sortland and, far right, Amber Bykowsky, stand in front of their instructor Jacqueline Lubemsky. Everybody pitched in to help nursing attendant Corinne Pelland, second from right, spread some holiday cheer during their recent clinical placement at Two Hills Health Centre. Photo by Corinne Pelland.
Story by Jonathan Koch & Gayleen Froese | Photo by Corinne Pelland
TWO HILLS — Staff at Two Hills Health Centre enjoyed sharing their knowledge and love of rural practice recently with practical nursing students from Portage College.
Six second-year students from St. Paul campus spent four weeks learning alongside local health professionals here, wrapping up a month-long clinical placement in December.
For student Amber Bykowsky, the placement gave her a golden opportunity to apply the knowledge she’s learned in the classroom.
“You definitely learn more on your feet than in your books,” says Bykowsky. “Learning how to insert an intravenous needle on a fake arm, when compared to real skin, is very different.”
She appreciated the variety of cases and learning opportunities she and her classmates had in Two Hills.
“Every day was different, which is what made it so exciting,” says Bykowski. “The nurses and doctors were very willing to teach us, and on our second day of clinical, we assisted them with a patient who ended up going out by STARS.
“We met the air ambulance nurse and paramedic, who were also teaching us — so that was a really amazing experience.” Portage clinical instructor Jacqueline Lubemsky supervised the students during their time at the health centre.
“The students took over the care and medications for the patients, and they would work alongside the nurse, so if there were any issues, they could communicate with them and solve the problem together,” says Lubemsky.
“The staff were so grateful, nice and accommodating — and it was a great experience, probably one of the best ones I've had in 15 years of nursing.”
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Yoland Bent also worked alongside the students during their clinical.
“I thought they did really, really well; they were confident and took full control of their patient,” says Bent. “Whenever they were nervous, I was able to boost them a little bit and reassure them to put their best foot forward.”
Bent completed her own preceptorship in Two Hills as a student, and believes it’s important to help mentor future nurses.
“I learned that all the nurses were welcoming, and they were each trying to teach me something and that made me a better nurse when I graduated,” adds Bent. “Now I’m giving that back and I'm hoping to help them to be a better nurse when they graduate.”
Nursing Attendant Corinne Pelland liked working with the students, and says patients appreciated the time spent with students during the clinical.
“Oh, they loved it,” says Pelland. “I even asked one of the clients — ‘How did it feel to have your own nurse one-on-one?’ — and he just smiled ear from ear and said, ‘it was great’.”
Dr. Muhammad Qureshi also welcomed students to the team.
“It's always good to have the young people around us who come up with new questions, and sometimes they have good suggestions as well,” says Dr. Qureshi. “I think it would be good to have more students here in future.”
Site Manager Tammy Tarkowski, who worked with Lubemsky to arrange the placement, says she’s hopeful more students will come to the community in future, and hopes some will return to work as LPNs.
“I'm pleased they had a really good experience here — and my long-term goal is that when they are done their training, they’ll see Two Hills as a great place to work.”
