Nursing students from books to bedside

Retrieving a lost teddy bear. Explaining a blood test or a complex procedure. Easing a child's fears. They don't teach this in nursing school.

Fortunately, for the 200 or so student nurses enrolled each year in The Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) of the MUHC internship program, there's ample opportunity for hands-on learning about expert care and compassion. The Montreal Children's accepts qualified nursing students from Montreal area CEGEPS and universities for six weeks of training in pediatrics, says Sandy Bradford, MCH nursing coordinator of Medical Services. The rotation is a requisite for obtaining a nursing degree in Quebec. "They come with different backgrounds and need different levels of support," Bradford explains. For example, CEGEP students usually have experience in a clinical setting, whereas university programs tend to focus on theory. "Our goal is to coordinate their needs and to facilitate training."

It's a heady time for the students, one that's filled with eye-opening experiences.

Serena Slater, a former Master's of Nursing student at McGill University remembers her first stage in the maternity ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital. "One of the things I liked was being placed in the clinical setting right away," she says. "You don't have time to get nervous; you just dive in and learn on the spot." Slater adds that theory covered in the classroom and the practical experience is a good balance. "I like the atmosphere at The Children's," she says. "The staff is willing to go that extra mile. The young patients are so strong and upbeat despite their medical circumstances. It gives you a perspective on life."

Initial excitement, then the feeling of pressure to do well - that's how Vincent Ballenas recalls feeling when he began work this summer as a new nurse in pediatric medicine at The Children's. "I didn't have much bedside experience. But I did have a lot of academic background," says the graduate of McGill's Nursing Master's program. While admitting he's still got much to learn about the job and working with children, he says: "I feel more confident now. The senior nurses have been good role models and everyone - from the doctors to my colleagues to the administration - has created a very supportive environment."

"The children have such bright futures," he adds. "They want to cooperate and get better and get out and play with their friends. That motivates me."

"Some students are born to do this job," says Sandy Bradford. "They love to be around children and demonstrate competency during their internship. They're the stars who we try to encourage to work at The Children's."