They used to say I had a lot of potential. I graduated high school at the young age of 16 and went straight into a program at a large university in my hometown of Calgary, AB.
I set my sights on becoming a lawyer with big dreams of helping people and changing the world on a systemic level. However, when the pandemic hit, my eyes were opened to the disparities in the health-care system and the need for health-care professionals. It forced me to re-evaluate the contribution I wanted to make with my life, and I realized I yearned to enact change from beyond the desk and make a tangible impact on the ground. Suddenly switching gears (and to my family’s dismay), I decided to leave political science behind in pursuit of nursing.
Nursing was a role I wasn’t sure I was ready to play. I knew I liked nursing in theory, but I was worried I’d have to invest years before I’d experience what it was like in practice. Fortunately, within my first semester at Lethbridge Polytechnic, the Practical Nurse program exposed me to real client care with clinicals, which gave me a first-hand taste of what nursing was like beyond the classroom and gave me the reassurance that I had indeed chosen the right program.
In my previous post-secondary experience, my classes felt largely impersonal, and I left feeling lost and unsure of how to navigate the workforce and life post-grad. However, the Practical Nurse program at the polytechnic exposed me to something entirely different. Smaller class sizes allowed me to form strong relationships with instructors and the faculty’s warm and welcoming nature truly made me feel like I always had someone in my corner. This supportive environment gave me the courage to try new things, make mistakes, ask questions, and ask for help—things that reinforced my learning and further solidified my confidence and competence as a nurse.
A special feature of the Practical Nurse program is the Simulation Hub. With standardized patient actors, high-fidelity manikins and moulage, the Sim Hub strives to produce simulations that are as realistic as possible — and boy do they deliver. These simulations provide students with a safe space to practise skills, make mistakes and practise giving and receiving constructive criticism. The most valuable part is that once you make mistakes in simulation, you are highly unlikely to make them again in the field. One of the most memorable moments for me was during my community nursing simulation where I made a grave error that, in real life, would have seriously compromised my safety. That crucial lesson could one day save my life.
Beyond my role as a participant, the Sim Hub became my second home. As a volunteer, I got to contribute to various simulations through acting, moulage, coaching and mentoring, while also receiving mentorship myself. As a perfectionist, I often struggled with being fully myself for fear of embarrassment; however, when I was playing a character during simulation, I was able to let loose. After every simulation, I grew my practical nursing, public speaking and problem-solving skills and grew more into myself. Not only did I find community, but I also found my voice. Feeling empowered, I wanted to foster the same feelings in others, and I took on leadership roles as a peer tutor, practical nurse representative, and later, the president of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association Nursing Students Club.
The structure of the program, combined with extensive clinical exposure, true-to-life simulations and rigorous practical exams, enabled us to build confidence and competence in both simulated and real clinical settings. Additionally, the courses at the end of the program provided us with a detailed timeline on what to expect following graduation and prepared us for the job search by teaching us how to produce a cover letter and resume and prepare for interviews. Thus, I felt like the road after graduation was clearly lit. Despite the challenging nature of the course, I always felt like I wasn’t alone and that every instructor was truly rooting for me and my success.
Following the completion of my courses, I precepted at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and, shortly after, secured an acute care LPN role on a renal and diabetic unit at Red Deer Regional Hospital, as well as a casual role in pediatric home care.
Without Sim Hub, the instructors and the opportunities provided to me in the Practical Nurse program, I would not be half as confident and competent as I am today. This program didn’t just make me a nurse—it helped me rediscover my voice and the legacy I want to leave. As I take the next leap and apply to medical school, I know I’m moving forward with a foundation that has made me truly ready for whatever lies ahead.
Photos courtesy of Alessandra Chan
