On the afternoon of April 14th, nine enthusiastic Secondary V students from Collège Sainte-Marcelline had the unique opportunity to visit the ISoN’s Satoko Shibata Clinical Nursing Laboratories and participate in activities using high fidelity mannequins. Faculty Lecturer Anne-Laurie Beaubrun, an alumnus of Collège Sainte-Marcelline, was impressed by the students' curiosity and eagerness to learn as they conducted neurological tests, listened to bowel sounds and practiced giving intramuscular injections. “They had such a deep level of knowledge - they really understood the theory behind the concepts.”
Last fall, when the high school’s alumni were invited to act as mentors, Ms. Beaubrun jumped at the chance to share her passion for nursing. She was put in touch with Han Vu, a former high school classmate who now teaches biology at the school, and before long, they came up with the idea of organizing a visit to the simulation lab. With the full support of Lab Director Hugo Marchand, Ms. Beaubrun and fellow Faculty Lecturer Martyna Rembisz planned a variety of activities that appealed to students’ specific interests. Representing the McGill Chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, BScN students Bryana Jean-Jacques and Ernissa Daniel were on hand to help with the activities and answer questions.
Feedback from the students included comments such as, “I adored this workshop and hope that you will offer it again next year,” and, “Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.” Biology teacher Han Vu noted that the experience proved to be enlightening for the students, who will be studying health sciences in CEGEP. “The workshops were enriching, allowing the students to explore nursing and increase their self-confidence. They left with the reassurance that they have what it takes to succeed.”