UNews - Marilyn Lamb

New nursing student award designed to attract and retain Indigenous nursing students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:04:02 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Faculty of Health Sciences is helping remove obstacles for Indigenous students aspiring to be nurses through the introduction of a new student award.

The Man U’ Matapu Nursing Student Award is designed for Indigenous nursing students, offering financial support to those entering the Bachelor of Nursing program and up to three further consecutive years for continuing students in academic good standing. In total, each qualified student can receive up to $4,000 over the course of their academic career.

“It’s very clear there is a requirement for more Indigenous health-care professionals to meet the needs of communities, in particular First Nations communities,” says Dr. Shannon Spenceley, assistant dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences and associate professor of nursing.

The Faculty of Health Sciences has long supported Indigenous nursing initiatives. The Support Program for Aboriginal Nursing Students (SPANS) ran under federal funding support from 2007 through 2010 and was designed to build nursing capacity in First Nations communities. It has since expanded to Indigenous Student Supports for all Indigenous students in health sciences and now the Faculty is looking to enhance those support mechanisms.

“We’ve always had the vision about building capacity and enhancing the community and this is another way to achieve that goal,” says Marilyn Lamb, the learning facilitator in Indigenous Student Supports.

She says many Indigenous students face unique obstacles in pursuing and then completing their nursing degrees. Students often come to the program later in life, have transportation issues from rural settings, and family and extended family responsibilities.

As a result, the Man U’ Matapu Nursing Student Award is designed to attract students to the Nursing Education in Southern Alberta (NESA) program and then continue to provide a financial award each year of their studies.

“We wanted it to be an award that wasn’t just about entrance to the program because often times students manage difficulties going through the program as well,” says Spenceley. “They are trying to manage multiple priorities so we decided to make it an award where if the student stayed in the program and was of good standing, they’d receive the award every year.”

Of the approximately 500 total students in the U of L’s nursing program, around five per cent are Indigenous students. Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Chris Hosgood says the Faculty has an opportunity to increase that number through this award, and create real change in Indigenous communities as a result.

“This award represents one part of our commitment to addressing the calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” he says. “We are in the process of Indigenizing nursing education as part of a broader curriculum rebuild, and our goal is also to support Indigenous education more broadly across campus.”

The award’s name, Man U’ Matapu, was gifted by Elder Francis First Charger and means “beginning”.

“It’s wonderful for our program to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and it’s one of the priorities of our new curriculum,” says Spenceley. “Different ways of thinking, different ways of knowing, different ways of approaching health strengthen our program. It’s a tremendous asset to our programming to have more Indigenous students.”

Lamb FNMI project earns major award

trevor.kenney — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:04:02 +0000

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences project is making an impact on First Nations, Métis and Inuit learning, and has been recognized with a major award.

Ashoka Canada, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative and partners announced a number of award-winning ideas and projects that grabbed top honours in the Changemakers Initiative: Inspiring Approaches to FNMI Learning.

Among the winners is a project directed by learning facilitator and current master of arts student Marilyn Lamb (BA/BEd '96).

Learning facilitator and master's student Marilyn Lamb says targeted support can greatly increase graduation rates of FNMI students.

"I am so honoured yet overwhelmed with this recognition and award," says Lamb. "The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is committed to supporting its First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, and I am proud to be part of this circle."

Lamb says that the goal of the program is not only to personally support students so they can successfully complete their degrees, but also to improve cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural education.

"Before the support services were in place, enrolment and retention were low, with only a handful of students spread across the four-year bachelor of nursing and bachelor of health sciences programs."

With targeted support, those student numbers have steadily increased.

"More than 60 students are currently enrolled for the 2011/2012 school year and continued growth is anticipated. Correspondingly, graduation rates of FNMI students have also increased," she says.

Lamb's submission, Support Services for Aboriginal Students in Health Sciences, was selected from more than 250 entries.

The program is intended to provide support to students by: offering assistance in the often-challenging transition from home and family life to university; mentorship programs with elders and aboriginal health care professionals; as well as tutoring and counselling support. In addition, social networking opportunities are provided along with scholarship and bursary application assistance.

This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

FNMI support project earns award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:37:57 +0000

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge master's student has won a major award for the U of L.

Ashoka Canada, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, and partners recently announced award-winning ideas and projects that take the top honours in the Changemakers Initiative: Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning.

Among the winners is a Faculty of Health Sciences project directed by Marilyn Lamb (BA/BEd '96), a learning facilitator and master of arts candidate.

Lamb's submission, "Support Services for Aboriginal Students in Health Sciences" was selected from more than 250 entries.

The program is intended to provide support to students by offering support in the often challenging transition from home and family life to university, mentorship programs with elders and aboriginal health care professionals as well as tutoring and counselling support.

In addition, social networking opportunities are provided as well as assistance with scholarship and bursary applications.

Before the support services were in place, enrolment and retention were low, with only a handful of students spread across the four-year Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Health Sciences programs.

However, with targeted support, these numbers have steadily increased. More than 60 students are currently enrolled for the 2011/2012 school year and continued growth is anticipated. Correspondingly, graduation rates of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students have also increased.

The full submission can be found here: http://www.changemakers.com/fnmi-learning/entries/making-dreams-possible

"I am so honoured yet overwhelmed with this recognition and award," Lamb said. "The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is committed to supporting its First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, and I am proud to be part of this circle. For me, it means I am a constant presence for the students to help them with whatever their needs may be at any particular time. The goal is not only to personally support students so they can successfully complete their degrees, but also to improve cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural education – and it is an honor to do this work on traditional Blackfoot land."

Research and Collaboration

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:01:14 +0000

For Dr. Ruth Grant Kalischuk (BN'85, MEd'92), associate dean of nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences, working with graduate students is more than a natural extension of her collaborative research style, it is also extremely rewarding.

"I absolutely love working with graduate students. They come into the Faculty very passionate about a particular subject area. They want to learn more, go deeper and are so excited to learn how to do research. It is about opening doors and possibilities," says Grant Kalischuk.

Grant Kalischuk's research concentrates on three areas: family and healing research, health and environmental research and nursing education research. With her knowledge and expertise, Grant Kalischuk supervises

(l to r) Marilyn Lamb, Tara Vande Griend, Penni Wilson and Ruth Grant Kalishchuk.

numerous masters in nursing students within the Faculty, including academic assistants Tara Vande Griend and Penni Wilson (BN '03), as well as Support Program for Aboriginal Nursing Students (SPANS) learning facilitator, Marilyn Lamb (BA, BEd '96).

Vande Griend, who began teaching clinical nursing at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 2006, is set to complete her master's this summer.

"Many instructors are entering academia with only a bachelor of nursing. They don't necessarily have training in education and are thrust into teaching roles. My research looks at the lived experience of novice nursing clinical instructors and how they learn about teaching," explains Vande Griend. "With her experience in nursing education, Ruth has been a constant source of support and encouragement."

As a public health nurse and clinical instructor, Wilson is excited to begin researching issues related to water, population health, and public health nursing.

"I have always had a great interest in population health. The environment has a huge impact on whole populations and water is a huge issue right now," says Wilson.

Lamb is pursuing her master's with a focus on art therapy and end of life care.

"I have seen the benefits of art therapy sessions and I believe there is a place for art therapy in end of life care," says Lamb. "Ruth shares that passion and her passion is contagious. Ideas are always percolating and discussions are lively and enlightening."

UNews - Marilyn Lamb

New nursing student award designed to attract and retain Indigenous nursing students

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