NICE: Nurses International College Experience

NICE is a new Aurora College-led initiative aimed at creating a standing forum for nursing students from throughout the circumpolar world. In conjunction with Finnmark University, NICE’s first project includes a nursing student and faculty exchange for Spring and Fall 2010.

From the Northwest Territories, nursing students plan to travel to Hammerfest, Norway and complete their Consolidated Practice Experience Course (CPE3) at the local hospital from May 11 to June 4th. Along with gaining credit in CPE 3, the purpose of the exchange is to facilitate an exchange of information about professional nursing practice, education and research in the circumpolar regions; to enhance the quality of care provided in the countries of the participants by learning about cultural diversity; to experience each other’s culture through nursing practice experience and local socio-cultural events in each country; and, to broaden personal development, perspectives on nursing practice and critical appraisal of health care systems.

The Canadian and Norwegian faculties have been planning the details of each visit since September 2009. Ruth Yttervik and Grete Mehus visited Yellowknife Campus, Aurora College in October and emails between the Finnmark University faculty and Aurora College faculty have been steady since the visit.

On the Aurora College side, six students — four designates and two alternates — have been selected from a competitive process looking at academic standing, clinical proficiency and written interest in circumpolar health. The four designates are Soura Rosen-Munroe, Candice Manuel, Gwen Hysert, and Leanne Niziol. The two alternates are Stephanie Gilbert Rose and Karianne Smith.

The exchange between the two countries requires additional financing for students and faculty so a fund-raising meeting was initiated and ideas brainstormed.

For further information about the exchange please contact: Pertice Moffitt (pmoffitt@auroracollege.nt.ca) and Ruth Yttervik (Ruth.Yttervik@hifm.no).

ICHR is assisting NICE by hosting this web page, arranging travel fellowships, and enabling international networking.

About the Organizers

Dr. Pertice Moffitt is a nurse educator at Aurora College, Yellowknife Campus, Yellowknife, NT. In her position as Senior Nursing Instructor, she coordinates the BSN program. Her teaching portfolio includes community health, women’s health, nursing ethics and nursing research. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Masters of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner Stream offered at Aurora College in affiliation with Dalhousie University. In this program she teaches philosophy and theory in nursing. Her research interest are with Circumpolar Health, Cultural Diversity and Women’s Health utilising qualitative methods of ethnography, photovoice and fourth generation evaluation. In May 2010, she will accompany and supervise third year nursing students in thier practice experience in Norway.

About the Nursing Students

Gwen Hysert is an honour roll student in her 3rd year of Nursing at Aurora College in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Her interest in nursing started many years ago. Gwen has been actively involved in the community since she moved to Yellowknife in 1989. Over the past 18 years, Gwen has taught numerous courses, such as aquatics, leadership, aerobics, and first aid. She is known to many to be an outgoing and hardworking person who works well independently and in a team. Outside of school, Gwen enjoys participating in many outdoor activities with her husband and two boys. Gwen plans to remain in the north to work once she has completed her baccalaureate degree.

Candice Manuel is a third year nursing student at Aurora College in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She lived in Newfoundland her entire life until 2003, when she moved to the North after being accepted into the Licensed Practical Nurse program. She graduated from the program in 2004 and began working on a Long-term care unit in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She found the Licensed Practical Nurse program enlightening and since then, has had the opportunity to work with a diversity of people as well as experience different cultures and their traditions. Candice is passionate about nursing, fulfilling a life-long dream to help people by using the practical knowledge, skills and experience she learned through her education. She hopes to continue practicing in the north once she graduate.

Soura Munroe-Rosen is currently a 3rd year student in the Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. She grew up in the small community of Fort Smith where she worked and interacted with people from various cultures, diverse experiences, and backgrounds. She was a classroom assistant at young offender’s facility, an administrative assistant and radio operator at Wood Buffalo National Park, a student counsellor at the University of Calgary, an ambulance attendant, and for many summers a lifeguard for the Town of Fort Smith. Soura has been involved in work placements and study programs abroad, taking her to Israel, France, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Leanne Niziol, is a 3rd year nursing student at the Aurora College Campus in Yellowknife, N.W.T. She is Aboriginal and was born and raised in the N.W.T. Leanne has aspired to be a nurse from a young age, her dedication and passion for nursing placed her on the academic honour roll. Leanne’s appreciation for culture and diversity, as well as her desired to broaden her professional nursing practice experience prompted her interest in the nursing international circumpolar exchange. Upon completion of her BscN, Leanne plans to live and practice in the N.W.T, then continue her education and obtain a Masters of Nursing in Advanced Practice.