SPRINGSPRING 20122012 Communityy REPORT Navigating the Perfect Storm NorQuest College’s crucial role in the future of Alberta health care Good Sports Two Edmontonians judge the world’s best Honourable Mention Meet the man who made the grade Get an education that gets you a career At NorQuest, our programs and courses will help you: GET STARTED ʯ˷ '#˷*!,#(! ʯ˷ (!&#-"˷ (!/!˷,#(#(! ʯ˷ /&.˷ #.,3 GET GOING Diplomas and certificates in: ʯ˷ &." ʯ˷ /-#(-- ʯ˷ )''/(#.3˷./#- GET WORKING Join the 95% of NorQuest grads who find employment or continue their education. APPLY NOW 780.644.6000 norquest.ca Practical Nurse program student Tiffany Brochu Message from the President “ Our integral role in the community is reflected by the success of our graduates who work in health care, business and almost everywhere – 95 per cent of our graduates find employment or continue their education.” - Dr. Jodi L. Abbott President and CEO of NorQuest College Bigger and bolder, this edition of NorQuest College’s Complementing our commitment to student success is Community Report is our best yet. Since many of you our commitment to partnering with business, industry may be reading our Community Report for the first and government to address Alberta’s workforce time, it’s also a rather robust “greeting” card – a means challenges. NorQuest’s Centres for Excellence support of introducing ourselves, showcasing our educational this by conducting research and integrating education leadership and strengthening partnerships with the towards offering practical solutions for the workplace. communities we serve. This edition focuses on NorQuest’s People are at the heart of everything we do. In the health studies programs and our essential role in Alberta’s stories that follow, you will find information about health-care system. some of our graduates, faculty, people and initiatives NorQuest is your community college, and Alberta’s largest. that provide invaluable support to our community. Our integral role in the community is reflected by the We hope you find Community Report to be a source success of our graduates who work in health care, business of inspiration about the opportunities a NorQuest and almost everywhere – 95 per cent of our graduates find College education offers. employment or continue their education. To maintain the ongoing workforce relevance and quality of our programs, NorQuest is committed to ensuring all of our programs are 100 per cent viable; establishing 30 new programs; and achieving at least a 90 per cent student satisfaction rate by 2016-2017. Dr. Jodi L. Abbott President and CEO of NorQuest College NORQUEST COLLEGE COMMUNITY REPORT | www.norquest.ca 1 Contents 9 10 12 3 Navigating the Perfect Storm 10 Honouring his Honour: 16 Donor list Judge Bhatia 6 Janet Colter: 19 One Thousand Women: A NorQuest success story 11 Awards and rewards: A Million Possibilities Shannon Boyer and Gerard Amani 8 Providing learning 22 Operational overview opportunities for all 12 News and notes 24 Financial statement 9 Another close shave for Stan 14 Dynamic duo: Harriet Younie and Reza Nasseri 25 Close calls: Dr. Jodi L. Abbott and David Gantar On the Cover Justin A. Gajes and Bailey-Jane Elgert from NorQuest Health Studies programs benefit from hands-on experience working in the College’s simulation labs. Community Report was produced by NorQuest College’s Communications and Marketing Departments. Publisher: Dallas Stoesz CONTACT US: Editor: Michael Edge Tel: 780-644-6000 Mailing Address: Associate Editor: Yuri Wuensch Fax: 780-644-6013 NorQuest College, Main Building Designers: Helen Ma, Andrew Oviatt, Toll free: 1-866-534-7218 10215 - 108 Street NW Karen Campos, Debra Bachman Smith Email: [email protected] Edmonton, AB T5J1L6 Contributor: Nida Farooqui Photography: Jason Ness Photography 2 NORQUEST COLLEGE COMMUNITY REPORT | www.norquest.ca ↑ Practical Nurse diploma program student Chelsea Visser (left) and instructor Aneetpal Hayel work Navigating together on a tracheostomy exercise. the Perfect Storm NorQuest College health studies programs vital to future of continuing care THERE ARE STORM FRONTS on Alberta’s horizon that have nothing to do with the weather. In some health-care circles, their coming together is referred to as the Perfect Storm: increasingly large numbers of baby boomers are starting to retire; likewise, large numbers of frontline health-care workers are retiring. The convergence of these storm fronts begs the question: with so many people retiring, will we have enough frontline continuing-care workers to meet Alberta’s needs? NORQUEST COLLEGE COMMUNITY REPORT | www.norquest.ca 3 The numbers speak for themselves Direct patient care refers to the provision of basic assistance to In 2007, 75 per cent of elder care was provided by people between 45 and 64 everyday needs. This includes bathing, years of age, according to Statistics Canada. This means many of those providing dressing, grooming, assistance in care to seniors are approaching retirement themselves. Projections also show medication delivery, feeding care for that by 2056, the proportion of Canadians 65 years and older will more than the infirm, routine range of motion double to over one in four. exercises, lifts and transfers for Currently, more than 110,000 Albertans receive continuing care and the numbers disabled clients, and bed making. are growing. With our society rapidly aging, we will experience a significant increase “Many of these activities are in the burden of chronic disease throughout the age spectrum. This puts pressure things a lot of us often take for on both the continuing-care system and the health-care system as a whole, granted. With our loss of capacity, especially when considering the demographics of frontline health-care workers. a new reality sets in that leaves us Although continuing-care worker shortages are likely to grow, there are feeling vulnerable, both physically opportunities for solutions. and emotionally,” says Jeanne Weis, a practical nurse instructor “Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and health care aides (HCAs) provide a at NorQuest. significant portion of continuing care, so NorQuest’s Practical Nurse (PN) diploma and HCA certificate programs are vitally important in helping survive But most of us are safe because the Perfect Storm,” says Kim Campbell, dean, Faculty of Health Studies at continuing care doesn’t affect all of NorQuest College. us, right? Wrong. For example, with more than 90 per cent of seniors requiring continuing-care Chances are we all know, will know services and their needs becoming all the more complex, the role of LPNs is and will become someone who becoming increasingly versatile. They are managing conditions like kidney failure requires continuing-care services. and diabetes which are more common today than just a decade ago. Added to It’s a reality that some people find the mix, about 80 per cent of clients in nursing homes suffer from dementia. difficult to accept. HCAs also play a significant role in continuing care, providing about 70 per cent “Many seniors find the transition of direct patient care, according to the Alberta Continuing Care Association. into continuing care to be quite hard Their stats also show that Alberta currently has between 25,000 and 30,000 because their sense of independence employees in continuing care, and 80 per cent are HCAs. is diminished,” Weis says. “Beyond clinical skills, one of the biggest What is continuing care? skills LPNs and HCAs must develop Continuing care refers to the range of services that people with health is being a good listener. Through conditions or disabilities require to experience independence and quality living. understanding and empathy, it goes These services are usually provided to seniors, either in their homes, assisted a long way towards helping ease the living or in long-term care centres. transition for people entering the continuing-care environment.” “ NorQuest College is helping ensure Alberta is prepared to weather the storm and deliver quality continuing-care services with the support of our nationally recognized health-care career programs.” - Kim Campbell 4 NORQUEST COLLEGE COMMUNITY REPORT | www.norquest.ca The future of continuing care in Alberta “NorQuest College is helping ensure Alberta is prepared to weather the storm by delivering quality continuing- care services with the support of our nationally recognized health-care career programs,” says Campbell. “Our PN diploma program is among the largest of its kind in Canada and the HCA Certificate program is Canada’s largest. With the current and future demand for continuing-care services being visibly high in Alberta, career opportunities in the continuing-care environment are excellent. This is great news for both graduates of NorQuest’s PN and HCA programs, and those considering enrolment. And, as an added bonus, NorQuest graduates enjoy a 95 per cent success rate in either finding employment or continuing their education. “If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, there are plenty of opportunities in the continuing-care field,” adds Campbell. One person who is making a difference is Janet Colter. Read about Colter’s inspiring journey on the road to “If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, there becoming a LPN on page 6. ■ are plenty of opportunities in the continuing-care field.” - Kim Campbell, dean, Faculty of Health Studies Centre for Excellence in Continuing Care NorQuest is taking a leadership role in addressing CECC, NorQuest’s Centre for Excellence in Intercultural