{"id":327515,"date":"2025-12-05T18:09:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327515\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T18:09:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:09:19","slug":"nwt-nursing-students-think-these-topics-need-more-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327515\/","title":{"rendered":"NWT nursing students think these topics need more attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dozens of nursing students gathered at downtown Yellowknife\u2019s Chateau Nova on Wednesday morning for Northern Health Research Day.<\/p>\n

Twenty-eight nursing students from Aurora College presented their research on a range of topics related to healthcare in the North.<\/p>\n

Among them was Tori Blake, originally from Hay River, who examined the role of community health nurses in rural areas and highlighted gaps in the system \u2013 including the lack of ambulance access<\/a> in many communities.<\/p>\n

Blake said her interest in the subject grew after spending a month in Fort Providence for clinical work.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly six of 33 communities in the North have an ambulance and as per policy, community health nurses are not allowed to provide care outside of the health centre, nor are they allowed to transport patients to the health centre,\u201d she told Cabin Radio.<\/p>\n

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Blake said that while she understands the policy is in place to protect the nurses \u2013 who she said shouldn\u2019t be expected to fulfill the role of first responders \u2013 there\u2019s \u201cno filler in this gap of service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Tori Blake. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

\"\"Roughly 150 people attended Wednesday\u2019s event. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

In her research, she explored alternative transportation methods to support rural emergency needs, as well as a pre-planning phase to identify challenges unique to each community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think we need to develop new service models, which would include Indigenous knowledge holders in the design and delivery of healthcare services,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Another presentation, by Princess Ndlovu, focused on access to dermatology care in the North and its impact on the mental health of people with alopecia.<\/p>\n

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Ndlovu noted that alopecia is particularly common among Black women, who face difficulties finding dermatologists in rural areas. While the shortage of specialists exists nationwide, it is more pronounced in isolated communities.<\/p>\n

Her research found that the absence of accessible dermatology services can negatively affect both self-esteem and cultural identity.<\/p>\n

\"\"Princess Ndlovu. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

\"\"Ainsley Mercado. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

Ndlovu said she couldn\u2019t find research specific to Black women in the NWT. With her project, she wanted to encourage Black women \u201cto be more comfortable in going out and seeking the help that they need when they do have these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow would you feel if you started to notice your hair falling out and then you can\u2019t really do anything about it? It comes with a lot of embarrassment, shame, and you feel scared half of the time, right?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp to 75 percent of people with hair loss say that it affects their confidence, their daily routines as well as their social lives. So for Black women, this impact is even greater because hair is so deeply connected to our culture, who we are, our femininity as well as how we express ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doing something different<\/p>\n

Ainsley Mercado\u2019s project examined the role of comprehensive re-entry programs in supporting inmates after they leave a correctional facility.<\/p>\n

Mercado spent time at a correctional facility speaking with nurses to better understand why many former inmates do not receive adequate support and, in some cases, end up reoffending.<\/p>\n

She said choosing a topic was the most challenging part of the process, given the many issues that could be addressed. Limited research specific to the NWT was an additional obstacle.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis was an eye-opener for me,\u201d Mercado said. \u201cPart of nursing is beyond the clinical setting, where we also have to advocate for the underrepresented and the issues that tend to be overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridget McLeod examined whether children\u2019s participation in nature prescription programs could improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing. She found significant improvements not only in physical and mental health but also in community engagement and environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bridget McLeod. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

\"\"A submitted photo of Janine Martin.<\/p>\n

McLeod, who is also a teacher in Yellowknife, said those programs are largely underexplored. At the same time, she added it\u2019s important to consider the colonial history of the North, which restricted people\u2019s connection to the outdoors.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren ages five to 12 are spending more time indoors compared to previous generations. They\u2019re spending more time in structured activities, academics, indoor recreational activities and not playing outside as much,\u201d she said, adding that access to green space is also an obstacle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I can sort-of combine my love of education and my love of nursing to advocate for schools to allow their students to be outside more, which they\u2019re doing a great job of already.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fort Smith\u2019s Janine Martin said her research explores the role of an Indigenous nurse in a holistic healing camp. She explained that as she approached graduation, she wanted to understand \u201chow can I provide care in-community as a registered nurse?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her initial idea was to open a healing camp, but she decided to begin by examining what that role could look like. Martin said there is very little academic work on the subject, so she reviewed existing literature and pulled out key themes to shape her project.<\/p>\n

Martin said one of the main themes in her research was two-eyed seeing, which blends western medical practice with traditional healing knowledge in a camp setting.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI had to get creative and try to just find ways. I think I just came from a perspective of: as a nurse, what is going to be my role in the healing camp for clients?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a need to help clients in the community, especially the Indigenous populations. And then my past experience also motivated me to do something different and create something different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Instructors Karen Brown, left, and Kathie Pender. Aastha Sethi\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

Dr Kathie Pender, an instructor for the college\u2019s bachelor of science degree in nursing, has lived in Yellowknife for almost 20 years. Pender described the program as an \u201camazing\u201d opportunity for those interested in pursing it.<\/p>\n

For the presentations, Pender said students came up with their own topics and worked on what they were truly interested in exploring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really embrace the students and we really let them be individual \u2026 It\u2019s the best job in the world, and I get to do some fabulous things with some fabulous students so I am very, very lucky,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever the student is interested in is what they can do. I really encourage them to harness what they\u2019re interested in. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re including their culture, their background \u2013 we have students from all over the place and so, if they want to do that, they can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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