��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic to co-host regional nursing schools conference

caroline.zentner — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:06:01 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic are joining forces to host the 2026 Western North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (WNRCASN) conference from April 26 to 28 at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge.

The Bridging Practice and Possibility: Advancing Nursing Education for the Future conference includes oral and poster presentations, networking opportunities and sessions that highlight research, teaching innovations and collaborative approaches to nursing education.

“We are very excited to be co-hosting, alongside the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic, a large regional nurse educator conference,” says Gillian Comchi (BN ’09), co-chair of the conference planning committee and an instructor in the Centre for Health and Wellness at Lethbridge Polytechnic. “Like our bridge, our conference theme, Bridging Practice and Possibility, invites attendees to build meaningful connections with colleagues from across Western Canada, connect with exciting innovations and possibilities of nursing education and connect with the land and culture of beautiful southern Alberta.”

The conference is an opportunity to showcase nursing scholarship and research, provide participants with experience in presenting, networking and professional engagement, strengthen collaboration among Western Canadian nursing programs and highlight Lethbridge as a host community committed to healthcare education and workforce development.

The opening keynote speaker on April 27 is Dr. Heather Bensler, an associate professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary. Her research focuses on white settler identity in nursing education and the use of participatory theatre to build the capacity of nursing students and practicing nurses to recognize and disrupt anti-Indigenous racism in education and practice.

On April 28, co-presenters Dr. Marian Luctkar-Flude and Dr. Jane Tyerman will discuss the role of simulation in health education. Luctkar-Flude is an associate professor at Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ School of Nursing and co-founder/co-president of the Canadian Alliance of Nurse Educators using Simulation (CAN-Sim). Tyerman is an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ottawa and co-president of CAN-Sim. Both are leaders in simulation-based nursing education.

Registration is now open. Nursing and health-care educators, nurses and students are encouraged to attend. Visit the conference website for more information and to register.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge nursing students help establish a new wellness partnership

caroline.zentner — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 21:22:03 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge third-year nursing students helped create a partnership between Medical Mercy Canada and the Blood Tribe Department of Health as part of their community health initiative earlier this spring. Medical Mercy Canada provides medical supply donations, such as wound-care necessities and medical equipment, to various countries worldwide.

During their community health clinical rotation, the students were placed with the Blood Tribe Department of Health at the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter and Stabilization Unit.

Chloe Crosschild (BN ’14, MN ’19), assistant professor of nursing and a member of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe), encouraged her students to first build relationships with the guests at the wellness shelter. The students gradually got to know the guests and clients, asking about their needs and how they could help fill those needs.

ULethbridge nursing students help unload medical supplies donated by Medical Mercy Canada.

Students placed in the wellness shelter’s security section noticed that wound-care supplies were needed so they began searching for ways to procure bandages and gauze. They soon discovered Medical Mercy Canada, a Calgary-based non-religious, non-partisan, registered Canadian charity that provides supplies and services to people and communities in need, and reached out to Dr. Myron Semkuley, founder of Medical Mercy.

“The students quickly realized that their community health clinical placement was an opportunity to build bridges and create sustainable partnerships between the Lethbridge wellness shelter and community stakeholders,” said Crosschild. “This partnership would not have happened had the students not taken the leap to call Medical Mercy. They were able to see the long-term benefits of making those connections.”

The students arranged a partnership between the two organizations that will see monthly deliveries of supplies to the wellness shelter. In addition, Semkuley travelled to Lethbridge to meet with the students and Kash Shade (BN ’12, MHSM ’22), chief operations officer at the Blood Tribe Department of Health, visit the wellness shelter and bring a truckload of supplies like bandages, slippers, hand sanitizer, masks and walkers. The students shared their experiences and how the donations impacted the guests at the wellness shelter.

“I have never met you before, but I am already proud of you,” said Semkuley. “There is nobody better than people who look after people in need.”

Students in the rotation said they gained experience working in community health and learned much from the clients and guests staying at the wellness shelter.

“There is a lot of negative energy towards the wellness shelter, and I think people could have a lot more empathy and compassion if they were to put themselves in the shoes of the guests here,” said nursing student Denby Ettenhofer. “These are not bad people; they are just in bad situations and any one of us could be in the same situation. Knowing people care and are there and want to help makes a huge difference.”

A more detailed story is available at wellness partnership.

UNews - Department of Nursing

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic to co-host regional nursing schools conference

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��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge nursing students help establish a new wellness partnership

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic to co-host regional nursing schools conference

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge nursing students help establish a new wellness partnership