Dean's Message

Resilience and gratitude in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of our campus near the end of the Winter term, faculty and staff demonstrated an amazing capacity to respond quickly and definitively to promote course completion and address students’ needs. The resilience of our faculty and staff, while adjusting to working from home, resulted in the expeditious conversion of courses to online delivery; the creation of alternate clinical practice placements; the design of virtual simulations; and the transformation of skills demonstrations using innovative technological strategies. With the support of our faculty and staff, students adjusted to studying from home and writing online exams. Graduate students defended their theses using virtual formats. With their resilience, our researchers conducted research remotely to the extent possible.

As we plan for the Fall term, the persistence and resilience of faculty, staff and students is continuing to inspire dedication and innovation in nursing education and research. I extend my gratitude for your exceptional work in the face of the pandemic.

Nursing students provide ‘vital work’, join Health Links in fight against COVID-19

Over 100 fourth-year College of Nursing students were unexpectedly pulled from their three-week community health clinical placements in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Manitoba, but they soon found themselves working directly in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus as screeners for Health Links – Info Santé.

Read more on UM Today.

Midwifery degree program due for delivery in 2021

The College of Nursing will introduce a bachelor’s degree program in midwifery in September 2021. The degree program will consist of three years of midwifery studies.

Read more on UM Today.

Midwifery program offers support in Nunavut during pandemic

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 to Nunavut, three faculty members from the new bachelor of midwifery program have been working to support maternal and child health with a full-scope midwifery practice that includes antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care.

Read more on UM Today.

National Nursing Week celebrates care and compassion

Despite not being able to hold a public gathering this year, nursing faculty and learners at the University of Manitoba acknowledged National Nursing Week, May 11 – 17, as a time to congratulate and thank Manitoba’s nurses for “going above and beyond” during the COVID-19 pandemic. May 13 was also celebrated as Indigenous Nurses Day.

Read more on UM Today.

Virtual PhD defenses an unexpected format

Students having to defend their PhD theses this spring were faced with an unusual scenario due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading them to present their work in an online format, instead of the traditional open defenses they were expecting. Deanne O’Rourke of the College of Nursing defended hers on May 11, focusing on the use of video feedback as a teaching approach to improve the person-centred communication skills of health-care aides working with residents with dementia in long-term care homes.

Read more on UM Today. 

Resilient researchers continue important work from home during COVID-19 crisis

Dr. Christina West, associate professor in the College of Nursing, was recently profiled in a UM Today article on the “resilient researchers” of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and how their work has been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more on UM Today.

Focus on mental health and advocacy at graduate nursing event

Over 50 nursing students, educators and professionals recently attended the 10th annual Advanced Practice Nursing Conference in Marshall McLuhan Hall at Fort Garry campus to examine the role advanced practice nurses play in mental health advocacy and care.

Read more on UM Today.

Indigenous Awards of Excellence

Congratulations to Debra Beach Ducharme, director of Indigenous health integration for Ongomiizwin – Education, and fourth-year College of Nursing student River Steele for being recognized at this year’s Indigenous Awards of Excellence.

Read more on UM Today.

Manitoba Training Program for Health Services Research Fellowship

Jocelyn Elias, MN student, was awarded a fellowship in the Manitoba Training Program for Health Services Research starting in Fall 2020.

“I am excited for the learning and opportunity this program is sure to bring,” she said.

Congratulations, Jocelyn!

MN theses defended

Congratulations to the following Masters of Nursing students who successfully defended their theses this year.

Liying Qiao (Asuka), “Factors that Impact Chinese Canadian Family Carers’ Intention to Use Long-Term Care Facilities and Home Support Services”
Dr. Michelle Lobchuk, Advisor; Dr. Wanda Chernomas, Internal member; Dr. Hai Luo, External member.

Sufia Turner, “Undergraduate nursing students’ and facilitators’ perspectives about psychological safety in simulation: An interpretive description”
Dr. Nicole Harder, Advisor; Dr. Donna Martin, Internal member; Dr. Lawrence Gillman, External member.

Katrina Martin, “Filipino-Canadian Youth’s Experiences and Perspectives of Sexuality: A Forced Ethnography”
 Dr. Roberta Woodgate, Advisor; Dr. Donna Martin, Internal member; and Dr. Reece Malone, External member.

ICN Nursing Student Steering Group

Congratulations to Amie Zaborniak, PhD student, who was selected to participate on the new International Council of Nurses (ICN) Nursing Student Steering Group.

Cheryl Dika

Congratulations to Cheryl Dika on her recent promotion to the rank of Senior Instructor.

Donna Martin

Congratulations to Dr. Donna Martin on her recent promotion to the rank of Professor.

Marck Salamatin

Congratulations to Marck Salamatin on his recent promotion to the rank of Instructor II.

Sufia Turner

Congratulations to Sufia Turner on her recent promotion to the rank of Instructor II. 

Christina West

Congratulations to Dr. Christina West on receiving tenure and on her recent promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

Roberta Woodgate

Congratulations to Dr. Roberta Woodgate, who has been appointed to a second term on the CIHR Institute Advisory Board of the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH).

Danielle Yaffe

Congratulations to Danielle Yaffe on her recent promotion to the rank of Instructor II.

Congratulations to the College of Nursing’s Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research (MCNHR) members on their research and scholarly accomplishments that have been reported to us for February - May 2020.

Click to read more. 

Spring Convocation and Pinning Celebration

Since an in-person convocation is not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Manitoba is pleased to convene online for a Virtual Convocation ceremony on Monday, June 29, where each graduand’s name will be read and recognized.

The College of Nursing is excited to host a Virtual Pinning Celebration on Wednesday, June 24th at 10:30 a.m. to congratulate our 104 graduands and welcome them to the wonderful profession of nursing. The newly designed nursing pin will also be unveiled.

2021 WNRCASN Conference

Save the date: The College of Nursing was scheduled to co-host the 2021 Western North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (WNRCASN) Conference. The conference has been postponed to:

February 23 - 25, 2022
Fort Garry Hotel

Stay tuned for details.