E68: WIL-Power – Connecting classroom theory with hands-on, Work-Integrated Learning

WEBVTT
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Well, I think there's kind of a common theme already starting to develop between
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all of us that like the theory, the classroom, it's kind of,
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it's important, but it's somewhat abstract.
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And having the Work-Integrated Learning experience is where you make the connections.
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Music.
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This is Learning Innovation, the Teaching and Learning podcast,
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also known as LITL-Pod.
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We are created by Lethbridge Polytechnic's Centre for Teaching,
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Learning and Innovation, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada,
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on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
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In the spirit of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Niitsitapi’ksimpstaan,
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(Real Thinking), we play host to a spectrum of guests from the teaching and learning community.
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As we highlight and explore innovation in education, we hope to kindle warm
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conversations, expand perspectives, and foster lasting partnerships today, tomorrow, and beyond.
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The future of learning starts now. Oki and welcome.
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I am your host, Donna McLaughlin, and I am a Learning Experience Designer at
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Lethbridge Polytechnic.
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It's National Work-Integrated Learning Day, and we've got a packed podcast studio.
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Four students are here to chat about their WIL experiences at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
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Their diverse stories will shed light on why WIL is such a relevant,
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impactful experience for students, employers, and instructors.
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Our guests include Cory, who is working on his Bachelor of Ecosystem Management,
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Adam, who is working on his Bachelor of Nursing, Lenae, who is in the Criminal
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Justice Program, and Maddie, who is in the Child and Youth Care Program.
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Welcome, everyone. Thank you very much for having us.
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Absolutely. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm excited to be here. Wonderful!
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So I'm really excited to hear about each of your WIL experiences.
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So, Cory, perhaps if we'd like to start with you, can you talk a little bit
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about what you did, who you worked with, and what that looked like? Yeah, absolutely.
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So I work at the Wildlife Analytics Lab. The lab uses a process called cementum
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analysis to age samples of wildlife that we get sent in.
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And that sounds really fancy but really what that means is we cut open teeth
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and cut the rings. And Everett and Kelsey and Marcela go into more detail on
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that in their podcast. Shameless plug for that.
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Yeah, so what my day-to-day looks like is essentially it can range from anything
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from intaking the samples,
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preparing them for analysis or even stuff like social media, which as an elderly
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student is probably the most challenging part but it's good.
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Well, thanks, Cory. Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that podcast because I actually
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know a bit about what you're talking about from that podcast.
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What an exciting opportunity as a student to have that. Yeah,
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it's amazing. I can't believe it.
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It's really exciting stuff. It's really a unique thing. Oh, cool.
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I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. Okay. Adam, would you like to go next? Yeah, totally.
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So my WIL experience, it's kind of all over the place because in nursing,
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we have different rotations, so different units, different floors,
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and we'll do a rural rotation as well.
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So in my experience, I was out in Claresholm for my rural med surge rotation.
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We work with the nurses there that are on the floor and we have instructors.
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And then we kind of combine that with our theory throughout the week.
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So we'll do theory classes and then do two days of clinical per week as well,
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where we get to just practice the skills that we learn in lab and kind of
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integrate those principles that we learn in theory and put those into practice.
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And it's a really good experience.
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Yeah, that sounds like it. Yeah, I'm looking forward to hearing more about that
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as well. Okay. And Maddie, how about for you? For sure.
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So far, I've been to two places, one including the Galbraith Elementary School,
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and I also went to Family Ties, and now I'm actually here at the college in the Wellness Services.
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Oh, that's a really broad range of experience for you. That must be quite interesting.
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Yeah, definitely. It's been awesome so far.
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Okay. And certainly last but not least, Lenae, what about your experience?
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So my practicum experience was at the Lethbridge Dispatch Centre,
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which was working with and observing call takers, police dispatch, and fire dispatch.
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They used to have ambulance dispatch there too, but they got that rid of.
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So, yeah, it was really cool just sitting and listening to the calls and seeing how it works.
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Yeah, I would think that would be quite sort of exciting, but also...
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It's a lot of information at once, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I bet. Oh,
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interesting to hear that.
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Okay, and so I'm curious to know what you enjoyed most about your WIL experience.
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You've all had experiences in really quite different places,
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so I'm quite curious to hear, you know, some of the things you enjoyed most
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and maybe some of the key takeaways as well.
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Shall we go back to you, Cory, and start with you? Sure. Yeah.
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So as I've said lots of times, the Wildlife Analytics Lab is one of the only –
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it's not one of – it's the only lab of its kind in Canada.
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So that's an insanely unique opportunity to be able to do it like here, at the polytechnic.
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And yeah, it's just, yeah, you're not getting that experience anywhere else.
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And also, Everett and Kelsey are great about,
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opening opportunities beyond the day-to-day operations which it can range from
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I helped at the Wildlife Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society uh we ran the
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workshop which is my second year running that so that's helping out kind of
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extending our work to wildlife professionals,
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then showing them kind of what we do there and then also yeah being on podcasts
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which – that part wasn't in the job description, but that's been,
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I think, one of an often overlooked part of science is the actual communication aspect of it.
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And that's something that you're not getting, like, that's impossible to teach.
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You got to learn by doing.
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So the opportunity that this place, that the Wildlife Lab has afforded me has
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been just indescribable.
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It's been such a unique place. Had you ever done anything like that before,
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either in a lab or, you know, with teeth from animals?
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So that's where it's funny because Everett is not only the scientific lead,
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but he's also an instructor there.
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So in his, I think the first class I took of his, he introduces the idea of cementum analysis.
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And what that was, was just, we get the slide and you get to try and age...
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It's mostly deer, but also black bears or anything. So
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we got the slides we get to count them you get to age them and that
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was something that really interests me and so he actually took me in the back
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room where the old old way that we used to do it and he showed me that and kind
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of process for that so that was really cool and it stuck with me and then the
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next year I saw the job posting for student lab tech out for cementum analysis,
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And I was like...I think I know what's going on here. And then yeah so that so it's kind
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of it's interesting going from this is the application to wildlife conservation
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and management – informing management
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decisions, and then working the way back to kind of this is how the...
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I don't want to say 'the sausage is made', but that seems really weird when talking about teeth!
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But just seeing the start to finish and how that can work in a wildlife conservation aspect.
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Yeah, so you can see the whole, the bigger picture, I guess.
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Yeah, you zoom out the whole way. It's great.
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Oh, that's really exciting and wonderful.
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Okay. And Adam, what about for you? What has been the most enjoyable part of
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your experience? And what are some key kind of insights that you've taken from it?
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The most enjoyable, I would say getting to work with people,
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you know, getting hands-on experience with real people.
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Like I can't state enough just how important that is for my learning,
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especially like you go to a three-hour class and you sit there and they just
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say a bunch of words to you and you go home and you try to study,
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but then you get to go to your WIL experience, you get to go to your clinical
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placement and see how it actually works in the real world.
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Like that's critical for me, my learning. It's been a great experience to get
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to know people on a personal level.
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And that's just kind of my personality. I've always enjoyed people.
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So having the opportunity to go talk to all types of different people has been really amazing.
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And it's quite special what nurses, you know, that communication.
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Because I know the times that I've, you know, my parents are aging and been
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to the hospital with them.
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And I'm always just amazed at how nurses are able to kind of put people at ease
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and make them comfortable.
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And so was that something that you've kind of learned as part of your experience?
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I would say it helps. I think the way I was raised helps too.
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Like some people have just have the skill, like they just have it and they're really good at it.
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And it's hard in other situations that are more, I don't know, sensitive.
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Not everyone can put someone at ease who had just received like a,
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I guess received some bad news, but yeah, getting, getting to work with patients
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helps develop that, but it's something that you can learn, but also something
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that you kind of just come in, come in with, you have prior experience or, or whatever that is.
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Yeah. Yeah. So it, a bit of both. And I guess, you know,
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you're, you're kind of meant for that job too if if that's you
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know, if you enjoy communicating and helping people. Totally, totally.
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And my father's an RN as well and my younger
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brother's actually ahead of me at the program and we've all
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just we grew up in a small town you know it's... you
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know everyone, you get to talk to everyone, you start
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to learn to love to talk to everyone. Yeah. Oh that's
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interesting – so it's kind of in the family. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Wonderful, okay
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Maddie, what about for you? What have you enjoyed the most? And you've had
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three different experiences, so you feel free to talk to each of those...
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And some of the takeaways that you've had from that.
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So I kind of like I agree with what you mentioned, just like being a people-person.
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I think my favourite part has just been getting to work like face-to-face with people.
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You go through the program and you learn how to be trauma-informed and that sort of thing.
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But it's completely different when you're in front of a family in need... and you
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can kind of bring your authentic self and your lived experiences to it.
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So, yeah, for my first practicum, I was at Galbraith and I mainly worked,
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obviously, with elementary kids.
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So it was a lot different than Family Ties where I'm working with adults or families.
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But, yeah, I think my favourite part of working at Galbraith was probably just
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getting the endless compliments and endless stories from the little kids and
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just like all their jokes and everything like that.
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It really made it exciting to go every day. At Family Ties,
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my favourite part was probably getting to put to test what I've learned,
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in addition to getting to shadow really experienced people who have been in
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the field for a lot of years, like a number of years.
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But yeah, just getting to see how important the work that we do is and seeing
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it firsthand was a lot different than kind of what I saw at the elementary school where, you know,
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we're doing like games or crafts.
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Whereas at Family Ties, it was more of like,
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like counseling or helping people through a really hard time just by encouraging
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them or reminding them of the resources they have. So yeah.
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I heard you say that you're sort of using some of the things that you've learned.
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And I want you to hang on to that thought because I'm going to come back to that.
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All right. Okay. And what about for you, Lenae? What has been the most enjoyable
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part for you with your WIL experience? And what have you really taken away from that?
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So it was a lot of just like observing and asking questions to the dispatch workers.
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But you got to see like the police would get dispatched. They
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would go to the call go there figure it out but
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then also dispatch has to check on the police every
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10 minutes or so to make sure that they're like doing okay
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and all that. So like you get to hear from the police as well
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and then also the radios you get to hear so
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you get to hear it all laid out that was probably the coolest part for me – is
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just observing like the whole situation play out over with different calls or
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different things. And then also the fire dispatch was an interesting component
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because I never thought of that in the same building or same like... environment.
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So seeing them like work together so well and like it gets really loud in there
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because they're all like yelling at each other and like, yeah, but it was really cool.
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That must be quite interesting too, because you sort of see that kind of thing
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on TV shows, but was it what you expected or different than what you expected?
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The layout was actually kind of what
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I expected because there's like seven screens in front of each person.
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They have like two phones.
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Yeah. So like the layout was pretty what I would see on TV, but like the actual
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environment itself, I would say it's actually a slower paced environment than
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it's portrayed on TV shows.
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And there's a lot of downtime and like, yeah, not taking calls or nothing going
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on, especially in a smaller city like Lethbridge compared to like Calgary.
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I can assume it would be busier. Well, that's really interesting.
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So I want to ask each of you now, sort of...
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What connections have you seen between what you've been learning in your classes
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and your experience, your WIL experience, as you touched on Maddie?
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So, again, I think maybe I'll just come back to you, Cory, and I'm curious
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to hear sort of those connections that you have seen.
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Yeah, absolutely. So like I said before, going from the high level in a classroom,
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kind of the educational aspect of this... a technique.
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And then all of a sudden we're going in and getting samples from wildlife managers
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and we're informing goals that are conservation goals moving forward.
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And being... being a
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part of that is incredible. It's an incredibly
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rewarding opportunity and it's
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also what I wasn't expecting because
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when I especially I think like uh Work-Integrated Learning is kind of like the
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ultimate polytech experience where... yeah I came here to get hands-on experience
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I like... classrooms are well and good, but yeah I learned by doing and so being able to,
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have actionable goals to achieve and also getting paid which is chef's kiss,
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it's fantastic – jealous – Yeah it's... yeah I think that's probably the biggest takeaway from all that is...
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Also the fact yeah I didn't expect to ever have a lab coat as a uniform which is,
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not somewhere I thought my life was going so that's that's it,
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It's a unique road! What are your goals or what were your goals when you're finished
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the program? Where do you see yourself?
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Yeah. So I like to say I'm kind of bird-brained. So I like avian ecology and all that stuff.
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But you don't get into wildlife work without just having a passion and a love
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for wildlife in general.
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So anything, wildlife biologists, anything like that is kind of the end goal.
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And being and yeah a critical part of that is creating robust data sets and
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just kind of yeah the more we know the better we can work to help wildlife which needs a lot of help.
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So yeah it's that's where the end game
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is going and this has prepared me for it a thousand
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fold. Yeah it must make it more more meaningful. Absolutely – and also it's networking
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opportunities within like going to the wildlife conference and talking with
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biologists working in the field and saying and discussing an analysis method is invaluable.
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Well, that's wonderful. Fantastic. Okay. And Adam, what about for you?
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How have your experiences in the classroom, you know, how is that connected
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with your WIL experience?
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Well, I think there's kind of a common theme already starting to develop between
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all of us the theory, the classroom, it's important, but it's somewhat abstract.
00:17:57.272 --> 00:18:02.192
And having the Work-Integrated Learning experience is where you make the connections.
00:18:02.512 --> 00:18:07.392
So there's plenty of connections to be made between classroom work and clinical
00:18:07.392 --> 00:18:10.992
or practicum or whatever you guys call yours. Practicum. Yeah.
00:18:11.772 --> 00:18:15.772
The procedure for inserting a catheter, for example.
00:18:15.952 --> 00:18:21.492
So you can read the procedure on the AHS policy and it says.
00:18:22.726 --> 00:18:29.986
"Open the dressing tray. Put this tarp here. Put this pad here. Lube up the catheter."
00:18:30.126 --> 00:18:31.666
Like it'll tell you step by step
00:18:31.666 --> 00:18:35.646
what to do, but it's really difficult to actually then just go do that.
00:18:35.986 --> 00:18:40.306
But when you're in clinical and you see another nurse do it one or two times,
00:18:40.406 --> 00:18:41.586
you're like, oh, that's how that works.
00:18:41.866 --> 00:18:45.926
Easy. So then you go back into open lab and you try it and you get your first
00:18:45.926 --> 00:18:50.126
try, you know, so seeing, seeing it actually play out in front of you is amazing
00:18:50.126 --> 00:18:55.126
for, for kind of putting those more abstract thoughts and theories into practice.
00:18:55.426 --> 00:18:59.186
I really like the way you've described that about sort of the abstract that
00:18:59.186 --> 00:19:05.486
can exist in the classroom and the real that can exist in the practical situation.
00:19:06.326 --> 00:19:09.106
Okay, coming over to you, Maddie, what about for you?
00:19:09.706 --> 00:19:14.786
So the Child and Youth Care program, I feel like they really well-prepare you
00:19:14.786 --> 00:19:18.566
for what you're going to see and what you're going to do in the field.
00:19:18.566 --> 00:19:21.986
So we have theories like trauma, being
00:19:21.986 --> 00:19:25.146
trauma-informed and also building rapport
00:19:25.146 --> 00:19:28.486
and how important that is to helping people
00:19:28.486 --> 00:19:31.966
and building a working relationship. So yeah
00:19:31.966 --> 00:19:34.866
it was like I felt prepared and I
00:19:34.866 --> 00:19:43.106
felt confident when I went into the different practicums. And so at Family Ties
00:19:43.106 --> 00:19:52.186
There were multiple families where I was kind of able to see how being trauma-informed would help me.
00:19:52.406 --> 00:19:57.666
So, for example, if someone has gone through something traumatic,
00:19:57.866 --> 00:19:59.106
which a lot of the families did,
00:19:59.366 --> 00:20:07.786
it would impact their ability to advocate for their needs and tell us where they were at that day.
00:20:08.466 --> 00:20:14.126
It would also impact their ability to like participate in the services.
00:20:14.726 --> 00:20:19.746
So just being aware of that helped me not really take it personally and kind
00:20:19.746 --> 00:20:22.746
of feel like I possibly failed at helping them.
00:20:23.798 --> 00:20:28.698
And I feel like a lot of the theories that we learn about in Child and Youth
00:20:28.698 --> 00:20:34.958
Care are placed there to prepare us kind of for the emotional part of being in the field.
00:20:35.578 --> 00:20:41.038
In general, I think Child and Youth Care has just like really prepared me to
00:20:41.038 --> 00:20:46.398
be not only myself in the field, but be someone who can actually make a difference in people's lives.
00:20:46.958 --> 00:20:53.198
Because I have the learning behind me, in addition to so many different places
00:20:53.198 --> 00:20:56.978
that I got to kind of try out and see for myself.
00:20:56.978 --> 00:21:02.198
Well, and I can imagine in that kind of a role, yeah, you could come across
00:21:02.198 --> 00:21:05.658
some challenging situations and people that are struggling.
00:21:06.078 --> 00:21:11.138
And so that's great that what you've learned in class has been able to support
00:21:11.138 --> 00:21:13.438
you in supporting others.
00:21:14.298 --> 00:21:16.618
Okay. And Lenae, how about for you?
00:21:17.598 --> 00:21:23.058
So my practicum was more set up like I was an observer and then I would ask questions.
00:21:23.318 --> 00:21:27.938
So it was actually very similar to in-class, which is where you're observing
00:21:27.938 --> 00:21:29.098
and you're asking questions.
00:21:30.538 --> 00:21:36.118
So it was interesting to like watch it come to life.
00:21:36.298 --> 00:21:42.118
Like what we learned in class, it came to life in like hearing and listening
00:21:42.118 --> 00:21:45.678
to the police radios and watching them on the map.
00:21:45.678 --> 00:21:50.518
Like, so it was very, like, observationally seeing it come to life,
00:21:50.678 --> 00:21:56.078
not necessarily me actually taking it into my own hands and doing the actions.
00:21:57.478 --> 00:22:02.838
But, yeah. And were there some ties with what you observed to,
00:22:03.218 --> 00:22:06.898
did it make you sort of think about some of the things that you've been taught in some of your classes?
00:22:07.638 --> 00:22:13.518
Yeah, for sure. The, like, we learn how to handle different situations,
00:22:13.738 --> 00:22:17.098
different calls, different... pulling people over for different things.
00:22:17.478 --> 00:22:22.578
So it was listening to the police talk to the people or...
00:22:24.032 --> 00:22:27.152
Like give a summary of what they did like to
00:22:27.152 --> 00:22:29.992
the radio so those are some of the things you you've learned
00:22:29.992 --> 00:22:33.352
about in class but you could actually see them playing out
00:22:33.352 --> 00:22:36.272
yeah so there's like steps that you can go through
00:22:36.272 --> 00:22:39.012
to like address certain situations that we learn
00:22:39.012 --> 00:22:41.932
about in class so it's like it's very similar to what he was, Adam was
00:22:41.932 --> 00:22:45.312
talking about, the steps for the catheter
00:22:45.312 --> 00:22:48.232
it's like there's steps that you can walk through
00:22:48.232 --> 00:22:51.112
but then actually portraying it as like a different
00:22:51.112 --> 00:22:54.352
totally different thing. Yeah. Yeah so
00:22:54.352 --> 00:22:57.532
even though you were in a situation of observing you're getting
00:22:57.532 --> 00:23:00.572
a chance to observe kind of what is happening in
00:23:00.572 --> 00:23:03.812
in real-time. Yeah. And in a real situation. So it's like way faster pace
00:23:03.812 --> 00:23:07.032
and like yeah... it's just like seeing it all happen.
00:23:07.032 --> 00:23:12.292
It honestly is a little overwhelming for to think about my future doing that
00:23:12.292 --> 00:23:16.932
type of thing, so. I'm curious with each of you was there anything that really
00:23:16.932 --> 00:23:22.332
surprised you? I do know some nurses so I know there's no possible way I can
00:23:22.332 --> 00:23:24.652
top the gory details of that job.
00:23:24.852 --> 00:23:28.232
But yeah, we do get hunting samples sent in the mail.
00:23:28.352 --> 00:23:33.952
So that's always been, depending on when we get how long it's taken to get those,
00:23:34.052 --> 00:23:38.252
it's always a horrible Easter egg, opening that up and seeing what's inside.
00:23:39.092 --> 00:23:44.812
So that's, yeah, that's been a challenge.
00:23:45.292 --> 00:23:48.592
Just something I didn't anticipate, but something you get. I feel like there
00:23:48.592 --> 00:23:52.712
could be a smell associated with that. A little bit, just a little bit of it. Yeah.
00:23:52.952 --> 00:23:55.732
And it gets sent by Canada Post. So it's always good.
00:23:56.552 --> 00:24:01.752
But yeah, but that's all. Again, that's something you do have to get used to.
00:24:01.872 --> 00:24:09.252
I'm not a hunter, so I haven't really dealt with extracting teeth from samples before.
00:24:09.432 --> 00:24:14.372
So that's, and that's also a very important aspect of, like,
00:24:14.532 --> 00:24:17.552
teeth tell you a lot of stuff, even if you're not processing them.
00:24:17.652 --> 00:24:20.372
So that's an important thing. And it's just
00:24:20.372 --> 00:24:23.812
all throughout this my time at the school, dissections
00:24:23.812 --> 00:24:27.452
or something, you gotta get used to and it's no
00:24:27.452 --> 00:24:30.252
better way to do it but hands-on. Yeah I guess so
00:24:30.252 --> 00:24:36.532
hey? Yeah you just gotta just dive into. Put some vapo rub under your nose.
00:24:36.532 --> 00:24:42.212
Oh yeah! Some peppermint oil. So it's just minty and... Did you do the traditional frog
00:24:42.212 --> 00:24:48.052
for school at all? Yeah! We've done a frog, done a pig, done... a whole bunch of birds.
00:24:48.252 --> 00:24:52.592
Yeah. Yeah. It's all, it's good! And it's interesting, but it's a hurdle.
00:24:52.812 --> 00:24:56.012
I respect it. I don't think I could. I didn't think so either!
00:24:56.692 --> 00:24:58.492
But once it's there.
00:24:59.632 --> 00:25:04.952
Something that surprised me is just how little control you have over like,
00:25:05.712 --> 00:25:09.452
not your, you have control over your own life, but in a scenario where everyone
00:25:09.452 --> 00:25:13.472
has autonomy and they can do what you want, patients, you think that – you just
00:25:13.472 --> 00:25:15.612
tell them what to do. They cooperate.
00:25:16.948 --> 00:25:19.848
You go in for four o'clock and you go in for eight o'clock and you do your assessments
00:25:19.848 --> 00:25:23.108
and that's that and it's like... or you give your medications at this time but
00:25:23.108 --> 00:25:27.808
at the end of the day the patients have the right to refuse. The right to request
00:25:27.808 --> 00:25:33.288
someone else. So that was something that I faced on my maternity rotation because
00:25:33.288 --> 00:25:36.228
some of the mothers were not comfortable having a male
00:25:36.768 --> 00:25:39.648
kind of assess them. So yeah there's some there's
00:25:39.648 --> 00:25:42.308
some uncomfortable feelings you have to contend with, a lot
00:25:42.308 --> 00:25:45.308
of critical reflection I'd say to kind
00:25:45.308 --> 00:25:48.048
of get over those things. But yeah, it's like
00:25:48.048 --> 00:25:51.288
it's the slap in the face of reality where you go oh
00:25:51.288 --> 00:25:54.208
like school's nice it's all structured
00:25:54.208 --> 00:25:57.228
and it's and it's good and you can you go eight o'clock, two o'clock,
00:25:57.228 --> 00:26:00.348
and you go home you study you take your tests you're done but you go into
00:26:00.348 --> 00:26:03.188
the real world and like holy cow there's a lot for me to learn there's a
00:26:03.188 --> 00:26:06.908
lot to learn so that was a big surprise it's just how how
00:26:06.908 --> 00:26:09.668
much I have yet to learn. Yeah so
00:26:09.668 --> 00:26:13.268
you kind of made you aware of that and I guess unpredictability of...
00:26:13.268 --> 00:26:17.068
Totally yeah very unpredictable but
00:26:17.068 --> 00:26:21.488
you learn I guess that's what the education is for and the theory you know connecting
00:26:21.488 --> 00:26:28.268
it to the to the clinical as you learn these strategies to deal with the scenarios
00:26:28.268 --> 00:26:32.648
that you might face in the real world. Yeah, it can provide that support and I guess
00:26:32.648 --> 00:26:34.848
yeah Maddie you sort of alluded to that as well,
00:26:35.148 --> 00:26:39.888
you know, that the theory has really helped prepare you for what you've encountered. Yeah.
00:26:40.288 --> 00:26:47.128
Yeah. Okay. And actually, Maddie, for you, what... is there a particular situation
00:26:47.128 --> 00:26:50.868
that stands out in your mind that's memorable or a challenge that you found?
00:26:51.308 --> 00:26:58.488
I think for me, the biggest challenge that I remember is probably just my imposter
00:26:58.488 --> 00:27:01.128
syndrome. And in general, I would
00:27:01.128 --> 00:27:05.748
say, like, I'm not a very anxious person unless I'm in a podcast room.
00:27:06.828 --> 00:27:08.968
But when it comes to people, I'm
00:27:08.968 --> 00:27:13.448
like, I'm normally pretty confident in like who I am and what I can do.
00:27:13.768 --> 00:27:16.628
So I guess the biggest challenge was just realizing like, oh,
00:27:16.728 --> 00:27:19.088
man, I have imposter syndrome like to the fullest.
00:27:19.088 --> 00:27:22.088
So when I was at Family Ties
00:27:22.088 --> 00:27:25.608
or just in general like shadowing any supervisor
00:27:25.608 --> 00:27:28.808
it I kind of feel like a little duckling following them
00:27:28.808 --> 00:27:34.328
and it's like oh wait okay I need to like involve myself and like express my
00:27:34.328 --> 00:27:40.568
ideas and everything like that because I do know some stuff and like I've lived
00:27:40.568 --> 00:27:45.788
a life so yeah it was just kind of that was the biggest challenge and having to,
00:27:46.368 --> 00:27:49.128
figure out how to stop having imposter syndrome.
00:27:49.908 --> 00:27:52.908
So was that just kind of self-talk and some self-reflection?
00:27:53.128 --> 00:27:55.508
Yes, critical self-reflection, indeed.
00:27:56.008 --> 00:28:02.348
But yeah, just kind of being like strength-based is something that we say a lot in my program.
00:28:02.888 --> 00:28:07.488
So although I have imposter syndrome, it's because I'm really passionate about
00:28:07.488 --> 00:28:09.888
it and I want to make a difference.
00:28:10.538 --> 00:28:15.578
And you're aware of it, too, which really can help with overcoming that.
00:28:15.938 --> 00:28:21.578
Yeah, big time. Because, yeah, in the moment, if I feel like I'm not speaking
00:28:21.578 --> 00:28:25.898
up or voicing my opinion, even though I'm like, this might help,
00:28:26.078 --> 00:28:33.138
I just kind of have to push myself and remember that I can't be quiet if I want to make a difference.
00:28:34.038 --> 00:28:37.718
Maddie, can I ask you a question? Mm-hmm. Do you think that kind of has to do
00:28:37.718 --> 00:28:39.238
with working with people in general?
00:28:39.238 --> 00:28:42.178
Like something about working with another
00:28:42.178 --> 00:28:45.378
human being just feels so... like you
00:28:45.378 --> 00:28:48.378
have such great responsibility like if you're caring for someone
00:28:48.378 --> 00:28:51.138
or trying to help them make the right decisions to make
00:28:51.138 --> 00:28:54.098
them better... it's like you're I get
00:28:54.098 --> 00:28:57.058
to make decisions? Like you're gonna let me inject you with
00:28:57.058 --> 00:29:00.438
this this needle and this medication? Me? The
00:29:00.438 --> 00:29:03.278
second-year student? Like it's so it's really weird.
00:29:03.278 --> 00:29:05.998
So I second that kind of getting over that
00:29:05.998 --> 00:29:08.758
imposter syndrome that's something I didn't think about till you mentioned but I've
00:29:08.758 --> 00:29:11.618
definitely experienced that. Definitely I do
00:29:11.618 --> 00:29:14.858
think it has to do with people because yeah
00:29:14.858 --> 00:29:19.598
one-on-one even if it's just like something is because I don't do those type
00:29:19.598 --> 00:29:25.238
of procedures but it's like if I'm gonna recommend like maybe we do this craft
00:29:25.238 --> 00:29:30.798
so that we can teach this kid this skill – but then it's like, should I teach them
00:29:30.798 --> 00:29:32.198
that skill? Do they need that skill?
00:29:33.218 --> 00:29:38.638
So it's a lot of second guessing. And I think kind of to go off of that as well,
00:29:38.798 --> 00:29:42.998
working with people, they have their own perceptions and their own kind of they'll
00:29:42.998 --> 00:29:45.358
scope me out and they're going to have an opinion of me.
00:29:45.518 --> 00:29:50.138
So that also kind of brings it into where it's like, OK, do I really know enough
00:29:50.138 --> 00:29:52.718
to help you and be the one that gives you advice?
00:29:52.958 --> 00:29:59.718
And yeah. Yeah, I can see how that, you know, you might feel that way initially,
00:29:59.718 --> 00:30:03.898
but it sounds like you've really been able to find a lot of strength with the
00:30:03.898 --> 00:30:07.918
experiences, the WIL experiences that you've had. For sure, yeah.
00:30:08.810 --> 00:30:12.530
Okay. And Lenae, I know in your situation you mentioned you've been observing,
00:30:12.790 --> 00:30:19.830
but did you observe any maybe things that you think could be challenging or
00:30:19.830 --> 00:30:21.330
if you go into that sort of role?
00:30:21.610 --> 00:30:27.590
What were some of the kind of a thing that maybe is a most memorable situation
00:30:27.590 --> 00:30:30.990
or that you maybe foresee as a challenge? Yeah.
00:30:31.550 --> 00:30:37.790
Okay. So like understanding the language is a big one because there's like 10 codes.
00:30:38.110 --> 00:30:42.650
And then there's also like Beats, which is different locations in Lethbridge.
00:30:43.610 --> 00:30:49.730
And then also you mentioned something that like surprised or would be like some
00:30:49.730 --> 00:30:53.930
of the calls that they took, which were like some people would just call in
00:30:53.930 --> 00:30:57.410
to have someone to talk to, which I just never thought would happen.
00:30:57.410 --> 00:31:05.630
And then also like some of the types of calls that were like reoccurrant which were like domestics or,
00:31:06.250 --> 00:31:12.390
there was a lot more fires than I thought like small fires but yeah just a lot
00:31:12.390 --> 00:31:16.970
more than you think of the smaller things that people just don't think about
00:31:16.970 --> 00:31:21.330
people usually tend to focus in on the murders,
00:31:21.790 --> 00:31:25.610
extreme assaults, things like that in the media.
00:31:25.610 --> 00:31:30.070
So then, like, you don't really hear about the little domestic assault that
00:31:30.070 --> 00:31:35.690
happened outside the Safeway or, you know, someone getting hit by a car in a
00:31:35.690 --> 00:31:38.910
parking lot because they were just not paying attention.
00:31:39.050 --> 00:31:44.370
Like that type of thing that didn't result in a big scandal-type thing worth.
00:31:44.370 --> 00:31:48.590
Yeah, no, so that sounds like those were some really surprising things then
00:31:48.590 --> 00:31:52.390
that we don't realize that all these things are going on.
00:31:52.850 --> 00:31:58.430
Yeah, so, and you mentioned that one of the challenges is sort of the codes
00:31:58.430 --> 00:32:00.330
and codes and the Beats? Yeah.
00:32:01.834 --> 00:32:07.434
Honestly, just understanding the whole screens and then like listening to them
00:32:07.434 --> 00:32:11.054
and then trying to interpret what they're saying and what they mean.
00:32:11.714 --> 00:32:16.554
And then there is actually like a script for them to follow on the computers
00:32:16.554 --> 00:32:22.154
to questions that they have to ask each caller about the situation or their
00:32:22.154 --> 00:32:26.134
involvement in the situation or as much information as possible, who,
00:32:26.534 --> 00:32:29.834
like their outfit, like, you know, like descriptions.
00:32:31.774 --> 00:32:36.894
So yeah just like following was definitely a challenge for me just coming into
00:32:36.894 --> 00:32:40.754
it. I'm sure that that wouldn't be like a big challenge once you're actually
00:32:40.754 --> 00:32:44.554
like in there doing the job but yeah.
00:32:44.914 --> 00:32:49.454
And do you foresee like is that the direction that you think you might go is
00:32:49.454 --> 00:32:52.614
to be in that dispatch centre or you got a chance to see a little bit like you
00:32:52.614 --> 00:32:56.694
got a chance to hear kind of what the police do and and the other first responders
00:32:56.694 --> 00:32:59.574
so do you kind of see where you're planning to go?
00:32:59.774 --> 00:33:04.074
My role that where I want to go is actually like not seen at all in my practicum.
00:33:04.194 --> 00:33:07.194
I want to be like a probation officer or correction officer.
00:33:07.714 --> 00:33:12.334
But yeah, actually in our school classes, we do a lot of role-play situations,
00:33:12.594 --> 00:33:17.534
which I feel are very kind of similar to this in the sense that you actually get to.
00:33:18.452 --> 00:33:26.132
Play role and like ask the questions and put it into action kind of instead.
00:33:26.372 --> 00:33:28.612
And that's like just in classes. That's not part of the.
00:33:29.092 --> 00:33:34.692
Not part of the WIL, but it is gives you a feeling of kind of what the job might be like. Yeah.
00:33:35.092 --> 00:33:37.792
And I also, the imposter syndrome that they were talking about,
00:33:37.972 --> 00:33:41.832
I feel like also is in this because it's people, right? You're dealing with people.
00:33:41.952 --> 00:33:44.992
And then I feel like definitely once you put the uniform on it.
00:33:45.072 --> 00:33:46.872
You're going to feel a lot less like it.
00:33:46.872 --> 00:33:49.732
But just like yeah talking to
00:33:49.732 --> 00:33:52.552
people like – are you sure you want to trust me with helping you make this
00:33:52.552 --> 00:33:56.472
huge decision? Like yeah so. Well
00:33:56.472 --> 00:34:00.132
that's very interesting it's it's very interesting to see or
00:34:00.132 --> 00:34:03.272
hear the connections across your experiences as well
00:34:03.272 --> 00:34:06.312
particularly you know sort of with imposter syndrome and
00:34:06.312 --> 00:34:09.592
how you've overcome it because you're all in quite different areas
00:34:09.592 --> 00:34:12.452
I kind of wish I had a suit or something I could
00:34:12.452 --> 00:34:15.712
wear like a lab
00:34:15.712 --> 00:34:18.632
coat even! It feels big it
00:34:18.632 --> 00:34:21.572
feels like i'm wearing my dad's lab coat (he doesn't even have a lab coat)
00:34:21.572 --> 00:34:24.492
but it doesn't feel right so I'm still
00:34:24.492 --> 00:34:27.232
there I'm not dealing with people but dealing with imposter syndrome for
00:34:27.232 --> 00:34:30.452
sure. For sure. Now Adam you must wear scrubs so
00:34:30.452 --> 00:34:33.652
I was gonna say for us student nurses it's like the opposite we
00:34:33.652 --> 00:34:36.752
have a specific colour it used to be called 'Storm Blue'
00:34:36.752 --> 00:34:40.052
scrub tops that we wear, but now it's called 'Postman
00:34:40.052 --> 00:34:42.892
Blue'. I don't think you can get Storm Blue anymore. But
00:34:42.892 --> 00:34:46.032
it's like same colour. But everyone it's
00:34:46.032 --> 00:34:49.152
very easy to identify the student so it's like, "Oh there goes the
00:34:49.152 --> 00:34:52.372
student in their Storm Blues." It's like oh this uniform's
00:34:52.372 --> 00:34:55.072
not helping me out. Like yeah. Just try to
00:34:55.072 --> 00:34:59.972
walk around with your head up and shoulders back try to be confident and and
00:34:59.972 --> 00:35:02.912
you're there for a reason you know? You made it through year one. You're on to
00:35:02.912 --> 00:35:07.952
year two. You're passing your classes. You can be confident knowing that you're
00:35:07.952 --> 00:35:11.272
probably not going to kill someone and if you're close to it, there's enough
00:35:11.272 --> 00:35:13.432
people there that will help you and make sure that doesn't happen.
00:35:13.712 --> 00:35:17.712
It's a really nice controlled environment, although it can be quite hectic at times.
00:35:19.082 --> 00:35:24.322
Yeah. Having that confidence goes a really long way in trying to stave off that imposter syndrome.
00:35:24.682 --> 00:35:28.662
But the uniform doesn't necessarily help with it. Yeah, I guess in your case,
00:35:28.802 --> 00:35:30.742
maybe because it's a special colour. Yeah.
00:35:31.562 --> 00:35:34.762
It's like highlighting it only. Yeah, exactly. You gotta carry a
00:35:34.762 --> 00:35:37.142
clipboard. It's like a shield. Yeah.
00:35:38.622 --> 00:35:42.422
I just wear a lot of cardigans now. That's like my go-to.
00:35:43.562 --> 00:35:48.102
Yeah, every field kind of has, even if it's not an official uniform,
00:35:48.482 --> 00:35:49.582
maybe an unofficial one.
00:35:49.702 --> 00:35:52.242
For sure. Shout out to Michelle for the cardigan one!
00:35:54.322 --> 00:35:59.042
So, yeah, in those moments where you have maybe encountered a challenge in your
00:35:59.042 --> 00:36:03.342
WIL experience or you're feeling that imposter syndrome, are there some strategies
00:36:03.342 --> 00:36:07.082
that have helped you work past that? Uh, yeah.
00:36:07.282 --> 00:36:12.502
So that's, that's where it's been great having such a direct line of communication
00:36:12.502 --> 00:36:15.622
with the scientific leads like Everett and Kelsey.
00:36:16.002 --> 00:36:20.702
And if it's an area, like if it's something that just even I'm feeling a little
00:36:20.702 --> 00:36:24.662
bit unsure about just where I'm standing in terms of skill level,
00:36:24.862 --> 00:36:30.302
which you can only really screw up shaving teeth so much, but even just,
00:36:30.422 --> 00:36:33.942
just organizationally and just everything, it, it all gets chaotic and being
00:36:33.942 --> 00:36:36.262
able to have a direct line with them
00:36:36.282 --> 00:36:39.162
and then we've had organized sit down like
00:36:39.162 --> 00:36:42.162
evaluations, job evaluations, and so
00:36:42.162 --> 00:36:45.242
just getting that feedback has been a great way
00:36:45.242 --> 00:36:48.242
to just kind of be like, "No, you're you're right
00:36:48.242 --> 00:36:51.122
on, you're doing okay." Thank you! Yeah so
00:36:51.122 --> 00:36:54.182
getting that that reinforcement that you're on the right track. Yeah,
00:36:54.182 --> 00:36:58.022
exactly, and just yeah constant communication. Yeah
00:36:58.022 --> 00:37:00.942
I think that's huge is open and honest communication with
00:37:00.942 --> 00:37:03.622
your instructors or supervisors whatever it is
00:37:03.622 --> 00:37:06.402
feedback is nice we get a midterm and
00:37:06.402 --> 00:37:10.042
a final evaluation so I wish we had more because sometimes
00:37:10.042 --> 00:37:13.502
you go a couple couple weeks without knowing exactly
00:37:13.502 --> 00:37:16.162
where you're at. But in terms of strategies to kind
00:37:16.162 --> 00:37:20.882
of cope with the difficult things you might face in your in your practicum or
00:37:20.882 --> 00:37:26.062
clinical placement in my personal experience there's no like real-time strategies
00:37:26.062 --> 00:37:30.662
that I have because I think the beauty of this is that it's real and it's like
00:37:30.662 --> 00:37:35.842
these situations are forcing you to react how, like in the moment.
00:37:36.302 --> 00:37:40.502
So you don't always have time to think about how you're gonna deal with what's
00:37:40.502 --> 00:37:43.242
happening or the feelings that you're feeling.
00:37:44.002 --> 00:37:48.322
That's where that critical reflection comes in huge, is after a scenario,
00:37:48.622 --> 00:37:53.042
something, maybe someone codes on your floor and you were there to witness it.
00:37:53.142 --> 00:37:55.962
I haven't, I'm lucky enough to not have that happen yet.
00:37:57.369 --> 00:38:00.289
Thinking about it afterwards is is really important –
00:38:00.289 --> 00:38:03.429
having a debrief, they I know they do that a lot in practice
00:38:03.429 --> 00:38:06.169
if there's a certain traumatic event that happens they'll
00:38:06.169 --> 00:38:08.889
have the whole team come in, debrief, talk about what
00:38:08.889 --> 00:38:14.009
went well, what could have gone better yeah so not not much really in the moment
00:38:14.009 --> 00:38:18.929
that I can think of that I do I... if I really need to, like if I'm sitting in a
00:38:18.929 --> 00:38:23.229
stressful test I'll just breathe. Like in and out. In four seconds, out four seconds.
00:38:23.229 --> 00:38:26.869
Usually do that every like five minutes because it never seems to work for too
00:38:26.869 --> 00:38:28.789
long, but it works for the moment.
00:38:29.809 --> 00:38:33.249
Yeah. Yeah. Actually, I know what you mean about the breathing.
00:38:33.389 --> 00:38:36.169
I've tried that myself and yeah, I can keep it up for only so long.
00:38:36.589 --> 00:38:41.469
Yeah. And Maddie? For some strategies, I think I would agree.
00:38:41.609 --> 00:38:46.269
I talk to my supervisors quite a bit and I'm very honest.
00:38:46.329 --> 00:38:49.249
So if I'm really struggling
00:38:49.249 --> 00:38:52.129
with something or I'm just like having a bad day
00:38:52.129 --> 00:38:56.369
and I'm not really at my best I'll
00:38:56.369 --> 00:38:59.469
just tell them and normally just a conversation
00:38:59.469 --> 00:39:04.049
will help me and kind of like identifying what I need in that moment it's like
00:39:04.049 --> 00:39:10.249
do I need to go outside? Do I need to go to bed? Do I need like a glass of water?
00:39:10.249 --> 00:39:17.029
So that sort of thing just helps. So yeah honesty and conversations. Yeah it sounds
00:39:17.029 --> 00:39:19.209
like that self -awareness is really, really helpful.
00:39:19.569 --> 00:39:22.169
Yeah, definitely. Sometimes I think I'm too self-aware.
00:39:22.889 --> 00:39:28.209
I'm like, yeah, sometimes it's too much, but it definitely helps when you need
00:39:28.209 --> 00:39:31.189
to figure out what you need in the moment to get through the day.
00:39:31.649 --> 00:39:34.109
Oh, that's great. Okay. And Lenae?
00:39:34.789 --> 00:39:38.709
So something that I did was just, I wrote, like, because I was sitting there,
00:39:39.029 --> 00:39:40.769
right, with the headset on, right?
00:39:40.989 --> 00:39:43.869
So I was just writing notes pretty much the whole time I was there.
00:39:43.869 --> 00:39:48.149
And then I would just ask questions when there wasn't any calls or we weren't doing anything.
00:39:48.349 --> 00:39:53.309
I would ask a lot of questions for clarification on terms on what happened in that call.
00:39:53.429 --> 00:39:56.689
Why did they do this? Why did they do that? Why didn't they do that?
00:39:57.169 --> 00:40:02.189
Like, so that was my thing. And then also we had an assignment in that practicum,
00:40:02.289 --> 00:40:05.949
which was to write after every time.
00:40:05.949 --> 00:40:13.509
So I went there six to eight times and I had to write like a journal entry after each time.
00:40:13.609 --> 00:40:16.449
So I did that immediately after and I would write down everything that I could remember.
00:40:16.629 --> 00:40:19.209
I would go back into my notes and pull everything out.
00:40:19.469 --> 00:40:22.889
And that was definitely really helped me to grasp ideas.
00:40:23.269 --> 00:40:27.629
And yeah, so that was helped me. And then also breathing is another thing that
00:40:27.629 --> 00:40:32.409
like if I was feeling overwhelmed, but I didn't really feel that overwhelmed in that environment.
00:40:33.169 --> 00:40:36.669
Okay. Okay. So you went there quite a few times then, too – six to eight times.
00:40:36.889 --> 00:40:41.389
So you probably saw in heard quite a bit then. Yeah, I went at different times, too.
00:40:41.569 --> 00:40:44.569
So like I would do the night shift or I would do the day shift different times,
00:40:44.809 --> 00:40:48.249
which was just meant a different variety of calls pretty much.
00:40:50.564 --> 00:40:54.904
Neat. A common theme that I feel like I'm hearing with all of you is not just
00:40:54.904 --> 00:40:57.064
the strategies that you used in the moment,
00:40:57.064 --> 00:41:03.224
but the feedback that you got either from like instructors or folks that were
00:41:03.224 --> 00:41:06.204
in your practicum or WIL experience, mentors maybe.
00:41:06.464 --> 00:41:10.744
So I'd be curious to know what sort of supports or who supported you?
00:41:10.844 --> 00:41:15.284
And you don't have to say any particular person, but you know, were there instructors,
00:41:15.644 --> 00:41:18.784
like were your instructors particularly supportive with this or were
00:41:18.784 --> 00:41:24.284
there mentors within your experiences that you found so what what and and I
00:41:24.284 --> 00:41:27.704
think Cory I'll let you start and I know you have had you mentioned some of
00:41:27.704 --> 00:41:32.584
your supports as well but yeah I'm curious to know about that. Yeah I think that's
00:41:32.584 --> 00:41:35.964
yeah I've said their names enough times but um yeah like.
00:41:36.524 --> 00:41:40.144
Kelsey and Everett have been fantastic and
00:41:40.144 --> 00:41:43.204
I've been... like Everett has
00:41:43.204 --> 00:41:46.784
been one like a mentor for me to just entirely
00:41:46.784 --> 00:41:49.544
throughout my career or academic career and then
00:41:49.544 --> 00:41:53.384
he's also given me the opportunity to work in the lab so yeah
00:41:53.384 --> 00:41:56.164
those two are really helpful and it
00:41:56.164 --> 00:42:00.904
is it it kind of sounds like my position
00:42:00.904 --> 00:42:03.864
is a little bit unique as it is like it's ongoing it
00:42:03.864 --> 00:42:09.104
is like it's a job so it is so it's I'm just consistently working with that
00:42:09.104 --> 00:42:15.664
core group yeah throughout the the year so it's yeah it's a it's a supervisor
00:42:15.664 --> 00:42:21.004
and me the underling um kind of role so yeah.
00:42:22.549 --> 00:42:25.269
So you've had some good support there. Absolutely, yeah.
00:42:26.489 --> 00:42:30.609
Yeah, instructors played a huge role for me, for sure. But number one,
00:42:30.709 --> 00:42:32.069
probably just my mom, honestly.
00:42:32.709 --> 00:42:36.489
Like, I'm definitely a mama's boy. I love my mama. I love my dad too.
00:42:37.069 --> 00:42:39.149
Shout out to mom! Shout out to mom.
00:42:40.229 --> 00:42:42.789
Always an open ear. If I have any problems, I go to her.
00:42:44.129 --> 00:42:47.969
And she's willing to listen to me rant or rave or cry or whatever
00:42:48.069 --> 00:42:49.869
(I don't cry too often, though. I'm just saying).
00:42:51.049 --> 00:42:56.509
But occasionally I do. Other than my mom, instructors being on the floor with you is huge.
00:42:56.609 --> 00:42:59.769
Like if something happens on the floor where they can kind of pull you aside,
00:43:00.409 --> 00:43:01.969
talk you through it, they've been through it.
00:43:02.309 --> 00:43:06.669
You know, they've, a lot of them have had many years in as, as a nurse.
00:43:06.989 --> 00:43:10.949
So they know what it's like. And that's really nice to have people who have
00:43:10.949 --> 00:43:12.109
had that experience and know what
00:43:12.109 --> 00:43:16.049
you're going through, counseling you and trying to help you through it.
00:43:16.809 --> 00:43:23.069
Yeah. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. Yeah, because the mom is always a good ear to
00:43:23.069 --> 00:43:26.569
lean on, and then the people that have the experience in that.
00:43:27.149 --> 00:43:29.109
Listen, I'm just going to be in trouble for not saying my mom!
00:43:29.429 --> 00:43:33.649
You better go call your mom after this, Cory. I'm going to restart this part.
00:43:36.609 --> 00:43:41.809
Mine is similar – my family. My siblings and I have always been really close,
00:43:41.829 --> 00:43:44.209
and they've kind of been my rock through it all.
00:43:44.949 --> 00:43:49.929
But in addition to that, like my instructors, they're all extremely, extremely supportive.
00:43:50.389 --> 00:43:56.089
Michelle, Alan and Kathleen and Tracy, Jill, like we've had a few for like just
00:43:56.089 --> 00:44:00.689
one class that have made the world of a difference in how we carry ourselves
00:44:00.689 --> 00:44:03.869
and how much we believe in ourselves. So, yeah.
00:44:04.389 --> 00:44:07.429
So they've really, really made that difference. Yeah, definitely.
00:44:08.409 --> 00:44:13.489
That's wonderful. Okay. And Lenae? So my parents are definitely a big support.
00:44:13.749 --> 00:44:18.169
And then also my roommate, because I would come home after shift and I would
00:44:18.169 --> 00:44:19.409
just tell her everything.
00:44:19.729 --> 00:44:21.709
I would just like unload it all on her.
00:44:22.229 --> 00:44:25.849
And so that was really nice. And then my instructors are amazing.
00:44:26.809 --> 00:44:29.689
If I went – I didn't really need to go
00:44:29.689 --> 00:44:32.809
to them really except for my one my instructor
00:44:32.809 --> 00:44:38.309
of this practicum, but they would have helped me with anything in a second.
00:44:38.309 --> 00:44:45.689
And then honestly the people there like asking the questions and then like just
00:44:45.689 --> 00:44:49.569
like the feedback that they were giving me like – the explaining they
00:44:49.569 --> 00:44:51.709
were amazing too like the workers there like they,
00:44:52.369 --> 00:44:56.289
They would describe so much to me, and then, like, they never had a student
00:44:56.289 --> 00:44:59.949
practicum actually up there before, so it was a new experience for them,
00:45:00.029 --> 00:45:02.209
too, which I think that they really enjoyed, so.
00:45:02.609 --> 00:45:06.629
Yeah, they like being able to share what they're doing and why they're doing it.
00:45:06.809 --> 00:45:10.669
Yeah, and explain, like, every detail about the screens, everything that they're saying.
00:45:10.789 --> 00:45:16.309
Like, they enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it, too, but that was my support.
00:45:16.806 --> 00:45:22.106
Just reassurance on what's happening, when, and why is this happening – and just like, yeah.
00:45:22.806 --> 00:45:26.546
Oh, that's great. That's wonderful to hear. So we've talked about a lot of different
00:45:26.546 --> 00:45:29.906
things with your experiences, and it's just been absolutely amazing to hear that.
00:45:30.106 --> 00:45:33.726
If you could sum up your experience,
00:45:33.726 --> 00:45:40.926
what do you think is the most valuable part of the WIL experience versus not
00:45:40.926 --> 00:45:46.466
having that experience versus someone who maybe has only been inside a classroom?
00:45:47.426 --> 00:45:50.646
I think, yeah, again, time and time again, everyone said it.
00:45:50.766 --> 00:45:57.146
It's been a hands-on experience, going that extra step further to kind of solidify
00:45:57.146 --> 00:46:03.266
coursework into a professional and I'm sorry, also getting paid.
00:46:04.066 --> 00:46:13.126
Once again, jealous. Yes, but that's been very helpful as a student with my
00:46:13.126 --> 00:46:17.986
commute to my job being 50 seconds from classroom to lab.
00:46:18.786 --> 00:46:28.766
So just that, yeah, having a job that is showing me a future career path is invaluable.
00:46:29.626 --> 00:46:33.006
Great. Thank you, Cory. Kind of to speak to that future career path,
00:46:33.326 --> 00:46:39.826
one thing that the NESA program has offered me is the opportunity to go to a nursing conference.
00:46:40.905 --> 00:46:45.065
Where I met a lot of different nurses, well, student nurses from all over the country.
00:46:46.125 --> 00:46:50.105
And a way in which our program here differs is that we get a lot more clinical
00:46:50.105 --> 00:46:53.885
experience. Many of the programs only offer one day a week.
00:46:54.505 --> 00:46:59.465
And us getting two, I noticed that I had a lot more experience than they did,
00:47:00.005 --> 00:47:03.845
which is great for my future self because I will be, I think,
00:47:04.225 --> 00:47:08.425
kind of more confident maybe coming out of my education and not feel like I'm
00:47:08.425 --> 00:47:13.165
drowning when I graduate, where I had a friend in Calgary in the MRU program
00:47:13.165 --> 00:47:16.685
and she didn't have any clinical experience until her third year.
00:47:17.065 --> 00:47:21.265
And I know it can be difficult if you don't feel like you get that hands-on
00:47:21.265 --> 00:47:23.145
and you're all of a sudden just thrown in the deep end.
00:47:23.285 --> 00:47:28.165
So something that's super valuable with the WIL experience is it benefits your
00:47:28.165 --> 00:47:32.245
future self by giving you opportunities early on in your education.
00:47:32.705 --> 00:47:37.465
Yeah. What a great experience to be able to go to a conference as a student
00:47:37.465 --> 00:47:42.025
and to meet other students in your same field.
00:47:42.245 --> 00:47:45.205
It was so fun. And I was actually going to say with, with the networking you
00:47:45.205 --> 00:47:50.185
brought up earlier, I, I got there and this guy told me I should run for the
00:47:50.185 --> 00:47:55.525
board and was not planning on it whatsoever, but I decided I would.
00:47:55.645 --> 00:47:58.725
I wrote a little two minute speech and I ran and I won and now I'm on the board
00:47:58.725 --> 00:48:03.305
and I'm like, what a great opportunity it was to just go and just think I'm going to have fun.
00:48:03.385 --> 00:48:07.585
And now I've made connections that will last hopefully for a long time and maybe
00:48:07.585 --> 00:48:10.005
open some doors that might not otherwise have been opened.
00:48:10.365 --> 00:48:14.245
Oh, that's fantastic, Adam. Congratulations. And yeah, you never know where
00:48:14.245 --> 00:48:17.045
those connections are going to lead in life. Yeah, thank you.
00:48:17.825 --> 00:48:22.165
Okay. Yeah. And Maddie, how would you kind of sum up your experience?
00:48:22.605 --> 00:48:25.325
I was going to go the same route, unfortunately.
00:48:26.065 --> 00:48:32.565
That's okay. I was just going to say that the connections and the resources
00:48:32.565 --> 00:48:38.485
that I've found throughout the practicums have been and will be a crazy help
00:48:38.485 --> 00:48:41.825
to not only my life, but the people that I've worked with.
00:48:42.445 --> 00:48:47.585
Throughout my practicums, I was able to work with different agencies and different
00:48:47.585 --> 00:48:48.825
people and connect with them.
00:48:49.225 --> 00:48:53.445
And in the future, that will help me because I've already built that relationship
00:48:53.445 --> 00:48:57.265
and they can kind of see me go from a student to a professional one day.
00:48:57.905 --> 00:49:02.445
So I think it will, yeah, the connections were awesome.
00:49:02.745 --> 00:49:07.545
Yeah. And you've been at three, right? Three different practicums?
00:49:07.765 --> 00:49:10.365
So yeah, so you would have formed a lot of connections. Absolutely.
00:49:10.785 --> 00:49:14.045
Yeah. So yeah, that was like the best part was just getting to meet everyone
00:49:14.045 --> 00:49:17.465
and yeah, see where it all goes.
00:49:17.845 --> 00:49:20.445
Oh, very exciting. Okay. And Lenae?
00:49:21.265 --> 00:49:25.205
So to sum it up, it was an amazing experience.
00:49:25.365 --> 00:49:29.545
And I I'm actually considering doing another practicum because I'm doing the
00:49:29.545 --> 00:49:30.905
degree, so I'm here for another two years.
00:49:32.488 --> 00:49:38.188
And, yeah, just even talking with other classmates that haven't done this practicum or any,
00:49:38.408 --> 00:49:42.548
just, like, the views that I have gained from it or just, like,
00:49:42.688 --> 00:49:47.028
the knowledge of how things work and run, like I've said, it's just,
00:49:47.168 --> 00:49:49.248
like, it's, yeah, it's invaluable.
00:49:49.508 --> 00:49:54.348
Like, it's just, like, it's really, it's just in my brain now.
00:49:54.648 --> 00:49:56.768
I don't know how else to describe it.
00:49:57.848 --> 00:50:01.168
Yeah, it was a great experience and definitely worth it. Yeah,
00:50:01.308 --> 00:50:04.728
so you can see a difference, say, with classmates that haven't had that opportunity yet.
00:50:04.948 --> 00:50:08.748
Yeah, just like when I'm trying to describe things to them from what I've seen
00:50:08.748 --> 00:50:12.988
or heard, like, they're kind of lost sometimes, which is, like,
00:50:13.468 --> 00:50:15.428
understandable, right? But, yeah.
00:50:16.108 --> 00:50:21.988
Oh, wonderful. Fantastic. Well, thank you so much, all four of you, for joining me today.
00:50:22.008 --> 00:50:26.548
And I've just loved hearing about all the different experiences that you've had.
00:50:26.548 --> 00:50:31.808
And I think you've got very bright futures ahead of you. So congratulations
00:50:31.808 --> 00:50:37.348
and best wishes on your future studies and completing your programs and heading
00:50:37.348 --> 00:50:39.748
out into the career field!
00:50:39.928 --> 00:50:44.668
Yeah, you've got a great start and really exciting to hear about your WIL experiences.
00:50:45.248 --> 00:50:50.428
Thank you very much. Thank you for having us. This episode featured Donna McLaughlin
00:50:50.428 --> 00:50:54.788
as host and Cory, Adam, Lenae, and Maddie as guests.
00:50:55.308 --> 00:51:00.508
Jordana Gagnon was our producer. Ryan Robinson was our sound technician and editor.
00:51:01.528 --> 00:51:05.148
Our podcast is funded by Lethbridge Polytechnic's Centre for Teaching,
00:51:05.408 --> 00:51:10.268
Learning and Innovation and recorded on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
00:51:11.068 --> 00:51:14.948
For more episodes, head to our website, learninginnovation.ca.
00:51:15.288 --> 00:51:17.208
Thanks for listening and take care.