Posts made in September 2024

Helping Nursing Students in Yarmouth

Dr. Shelley Cobbett in one of several clinical learning and simulation center labs at the Dalhousie School of Nursing (Yarmouth Campus).

Dr. Shelley Cobbett in one of several clinical learning and simulation center labs at the Dalhousie School of Nursing (Yarmouth Campus).

If you want to learn about the changes seen in nursing education throughout the past 35 years, Dr. Shelley Cobbett is one of the best people to speak to. A faculty member of the Dalhousie School of Nursing (Yarmouth Campus) since its inception in 1995, as well as during its previous iteration as the Yarmouth Regional Hospital School of Nursing since 1988, she has been the site administrator since 2019. She has had a true firsthand view of this ever-evolving field.

“I graduated from the Yarmouth School of Nursing in ’84, at a time when there were no nursing positions to be seen east of Ontario. Right now, we’re in a shortage,” Shelley explains. But more has changed than just availability of positions. “It’s rare that a student can go to university and not have to work. It’s not like it was 15-20 years ago when they were being told “Thou shalt not work while going to school for nursing”. That’s not the reality anymore.”

With times such as they are, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation recognizes that scholarships are more important than ever. We are proud to offer nine scholarships to first-year students accepted and enrolled full-time in the Dalhousie University Bachelor of Science Nursing program (Yarmouth Campus). “We always work very closely with the foundation. The scholarships are amazing,” says Shelley. “We see the difference in some of our students’ lives, especially those students who are really struggling financially.”

If you are a first-year student attending the Dalhousie School of Nursing, learn more today! We’re here to help foster the next generation of healthcare professionals. The deadline for this years’ applications is September 30, 2024.

YHF Nursing Scholarships

Hospitals are bustling, complex systems full of skilled and educated individuals, any of whom the healthcare system would not be able to function without. But ask anyone and they will tell you – the beating heart of any hospital is its nurses.

Deborah Janke, YHF nursing scholarship recipient

One of these nurses is Perioperative Team Lead Deborah Janke. Having been an LPN in the operating room for 10 years, she decided to further her training and become an RN. “An RN is often in charge of a care plan or in charge of more acute patients, but they also do more management and take on more of an educator role,” Deborah explains. But beginning any such journey can be daunting, with financial concerns substantial consideration. As Deborah remembers, “I still had a mortgage, still had car payments, still had all those things in life that I had to pay for.” Luckily, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation was here to help.

With a number of nursing scholarships specifically available for students attending the Dalhousie University Bachelor of Science Nursing program (Yarmouth Campus), we at the foundation are proud to support the next generation of nurses. “Many others in my class received them,” says Deborah “and everybody who had them was grateful for the help! The school was really helpful in letting us know about the scholarships and showing us how to apply, etc. I was very happy about it.”

If you’re taking the next big step in your education at Dalhousie School of Nursing (Yarmouth Campus), check out our scholarships today!

Unsung Heroes of the Hospital

The folks on the Environmental Services team at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital are used to being called “housekeepers” – but there’s far more to what they do than simple cleaning work.

“Anything that needs cleaning top to bottom – offices, delivery rooms, operating rooms, patient areas, lobby, all the bathrooms, entrances – you name it, they take care of it all,” says Robbie LeBlanc, Assistant Manager of Facilities Support Services. “But really, we’re here to keep the hospital safe. Infection control is a big thing!  We keep germs from spreading from room to room, from patient to patient, and from staff to staff. It’s not only about the patients. We’re keeping everyone who walks through our doors safe.”

An Environmental Services worker standing by her cart.

Environmental Services team member Felicia Hirschfeld is ready to get to work! With six weeks’ experience on the job, she is one of the newer members of the team.

The training that goes with the position is extensive, and proper use of personal protective equipment is vital, given the staff’s proximity to illness and infectious disease. In fact, due to the level of care and attention given to the cleanliness and safety of our hospital, some Environmental Services workers can use up to 50 pairs of disposable gloves per day.

The job can be quite physically demanding as well, but there’s a large team to handle it all. “We have about 45 or 50 people who work here during the day and night. We’re at it 24 hours a day!” explains LeBlanc.

Here at the foundation, we’re sure you’ll agree that this is an invaluable team. So this Environmental Services Week, let’s give our thanks to the professionals who work so hard to keep us, our hospital, and our loved ones safe!