Features

2023


June

Health Advocacy comes naturally to new nursing graduate

Spring graduate Adam Smith traces his interest in helping people back to his earliest school days.

April

An invitation to Wyoming
It was a surprise invitation from the University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.
Earlier this month Dr. Julia Lukewich travelled to Laramie, Wyoming to give a keynote address about registered nurses in primary care during the school's 2023 Research and Scholarship Day.

February

A balloon artist, a ‘death’ marathoner, a wood worker and an all-weather swimmer (with an Olympic-level pedigree!)

What do you like to do when you’re not on the clock?

Many of us in the Memorial community have multiple interests — some amounting to simple hobbies or pastimes to full-on passion projects.

Read on to learn about four of your Memorial colleagues from the Faculty of Business Administration, Information Technology Services, the Office of Development and the Faculty of Nursing and what they get up to in their off hours.

2022


May

Determined to teach!

Rebecca Puddester, Erin Blackwood, Amanda Joy and Savannah Isaacs

When COVID-19 took the world by storm in March 2020, the Faculty of Nursing’s (FON) team of Learning Resource Centre (LRC) instructors went home with more than laptop computers and notebooks.

2021


November

Nursing degree change reflects science and art of practice.

When nursing students graduate in spring 2022, the parchments they receive will have a new degree title: bachelor of science in nursing.

June

Faculty of Nursing position statement envisions community-based approach

“Changes to improve the health of our population can and should begin in our communities,"  says Dr. Alice Gaudine, dean of Memorial University’s Faculty of Nursing, introducing a position statement on community health care developed by the faculty.

 

New Nursing graduates pitch in on pandemic relief

You may have seen the photo on social media last February: two retired nurses, dressed in white jumpsuits, blue gloves, N95 masks and face shields and braving blizzard conditions at a drive-through COVID-19 clinic.

March

Nurse practitioner program receives a gold star approval

Memorial University’s nurse practitioner (NP) program has received a gold-star review and a full seven-year approval from the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (CRNNL).

January

Living with cystic fibrosis has its challenges....and its perks

Sixty-five roses. It’s a nickname for cystic fibrosis (CF) that was first used in 1965 when a young boy overheard his mother talking about his disease, which he was unaware of at the time and mispronounced as “65 roses.”

2020


September

A virtual success for MUNFON's newest PhD graduates

Thirty years after her first convocation as a bachelor of nursing student from Memorial University’s School of Nursing (now the Faculty of Nursing), Dr. Jill Bruneau took part in another celebration this past June, 2020.  Completely different from the first more formal affair, with its academic dress and walk across the stage, it was exciting nonetheless!

 

Dr. Caroline Porr gets personal for Teaching Tuesday

As Dr. Caroline Porr gets ready to teach 80 first-year nursing students this fall, she’s keeping interpersonal skills top of mind.

August

Nursing plans for mostly remote - but engaging - semester

Turns out that a version of Jeopardy, the popular television game and quiz competition, is a great way to review cardiology medications with nursing students.

May

Nursing 'across the pond' offers insight and adventure

When new nursing graduate James Duguid thinks back to his month-long community health clinical placement in England this past January 2020, it’s with many fond memories, and great stories.

New Nursing graduate finds purpose in teaming up to help others

During her second year, Faculty of Nursing spring graduate Julia White and more than 20 of her fellow classmates signed up for CIBC’s Run for the Cure.

January

Off to Ghana - MUNFON faculty member partners on projects that support women and girls

While many of us were resting over the holidays, Dr. Kimberly Jarvis was busy getting ready to spend three months in Ghana, West Africa.

2019


October

New professor emeritus attributes career success to her rural roots and supportive family

Asked about her favourite go-to way to relax, retired Faculty of Nursing professor, Dr. Chris Way, is unabashed in her response.

 “I love berry picking,” said Dr. Way, who was name professor emeritus during the morning session of Convocation last Thursday. “I enjoy getting out there with nature, you have one sole focus and that is to find the berry you are hunting.”

 

 

 

September

You've got options! Faculty of Nursing launches accelerated BN option

How do you make a busy September even more action-packed? If you’re the Faculty of Nursing, you launch a brand new option of the bachelor of nursing (BN) program.

June

Love of good stories helps new graduate connect with patients

When new nursing graduate Shane Gladney heads off to a shift on 6th east at St. Clare’s Hospital in St. John’s, he makes sure to tuck a favourite book or two into his backpack.

May

Partnering to improve psychiatric health

What do a Faculty of Nursing professor, a young psychiatric nurse and a veteran nurse with more than 30 years of experience at the Waterford Hospital have in common?

February

Nursing faculty member leads to inspire and aspires to lead

Lead by inspiring others to lead and be the best they can be. It’s what Prof. Jill Bruneau aspires to do every day as an instructor in the Faculty of Nursing, whether she is teaching undergraduate nursing students or master’s level nurse practitioner students, or working with her own research team as part of her PhD in nursing program.

2018


December

School of Nursing becomes newest Memorial faculty

When nursing students return to classes in early January, they’ll open the doors to Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Faculty of Nursing.

November

Revised Nursing curriculum focus on 'real' and experiential learning

When students take their seats in Dr. Caroline Porr’s therapeutic relationships class later this month, they’ll get to meet a special visitor – Dr. Porr’s elderly mom, Laina.

October

Young couple first to finish BN fast-track option

Can you imagine spending 10 hours a day, five days a week, in a classroom and on the hospital floor with your spouse, and then going home in the evenings to care for your two young children in need of dinner, homework help, playtime, bath and snuggle time?

July

MUNSON Faculty members receive Nursing Awards of Excellence

School of Nursing faculty members Dr. April Manuel and Dr. Donna Moralejo were recognized for their contributions to nursing education and nursing research.

 

June

Nursing student wins national competition with timely topic

School of Nursing student Kandice Power had never considered herself a great essay writer.

New Nursing graduate embraces her disability and finds her voice

Approaching the middle of her second year at Memorial's School of Nursing, new spring graduate Kathleen White was just about fed up.

May

MUNSON peer mentor program comes full circle for two young nurses!

When soon-to-be new grad Erin Bonnell was a first-year nursing student in September of 2014, Nursing Society had started a peer mentoring program.

April earns accolades!

School of Nursing faculty member Dr. April Manuel was formally recognized by the Heart and Stroke Foundation as a member of the Heart & Stroke's Caring Hearts Circle.

 

 

 

2017


September

MUNSON faculty member says it's time to examine mammography screening

Dr. Anne Kearney's Op Ed on re-examining our use of mammography as a breast cancer detection tool appears in the MUN Gazette.

July

First-hand simulation experience leads to learning

First-year nursing students in the fast-track option of the bachelor of nursing program recently spent some quality time with Jason MUNSON.

June

Adventurous spirit and warm winter boots serve him well!

How does a young man from the Central Asian country of Tajikistan end up studying at Memorial's School of Nursing?

April

50th Anniversary booklet highlights MUNSON history through the decades

Our 50th Anniversary booklet highlights School of Nursing history through over the decades since opening in 1966.

January

Honouring unsung heroines

During MUNSON's 50th Anniversary weekend, The Newfoundland Regiment Museum held a reception for Dr. Sandra MacDonald and descendants of 11 Newfoundland nurses who served in the First World War.

2016


October

SON faculty member helps deliver new midwifery regulations

It's the name of a popular BBC dramatic series, and thanks to the persistence of dedicated women such as Prof. Ann Noseworthy, Call the Midwife will soon become a real-life choice for expectant mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

September

School of Nursing turning the Big 50!

Calling all School of Nursing (SON) graduates; the SON is turning the big 5-0 this year and celebrations are in the works!

January

First-hand interaction leads to learning with impact

When it comes to getting nursing students thinking about building therapeutic relationships with patients who have different cultural health beliefs and cultural traditions, Dr. Caroline Porr thinks first-hand interaction is the best teacher.

2015


November

SON students earns award for community service

Third-year striker and School of Nursing student Jessie Noseworthy of the Memorial Sea-Hawks is the 2015 student-athlete community service award recipient.

Nursing student mines his own battlefields to achieve success

A reprise of a special interview with nursing student Matthew Westcott, who fought in Afghanistan and was later diagnosed with PTSD.

October

Retired SON faculty named professors emeriti

The School of Nursing has two new professors emeriti who will be officially recognized by Memorial University at fall convocation this Friday evening.

Mental health matters!

It's Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada (Oct. 4-10) and we thought it was timely to share this article written last spring about SON student and MUN Minds co-founder Meaghan McKeough. MUN Minds is the campus-wide student-run group that aims to end the stigma still associated with mental illness, and raise awareness about mental health issues among students, faculty and staff in the university community, and also in the larger community.

Job-sharing led to nice lifestyle for pioneering SON alumni

Louise Tipple and Sharon Leonard have known each other for quite some time, since they were students together at the School of Nursing (SON) over 40 years ago.

September

Nursing student dives into controversial subject; wins national essay competition

An SON student who has her sights set on becoming a flight nurse with the Canadian Armed Forces has been named winner of a national essay competition.

June

Student success - Nursing student leads MUN's mental health movement

Meaghan McKeough looks back on her first year at Memorial's School of Nursing with some surprise and a great deal of satisfaction.

2014


December

Nursing alumna wins humanitarian award

Gina Colbourne (BN'12) learned the real impact of volunteering at an early age. The third-year medical student and native of Carbonear, NL was recently named the 2014 Red Cross Young Humanitarian of the Year.

November

SON student leads Sea~Hawks to national soccer finals

Soccer powerhouse and nursing student Jessie Noseworthy helped lead the Sea~Hawks to their first ever varsity soccer finals.

June

New grad finds her niche

New nursing graduate Rebecca Puddester finds her niche in caring, compassion and camaraderie.

May

"In nursing, the possibilities are endless"

"In nursing, the possibilities are endless." True words spoken by School of Nursing Professor Emeritus, Dr. Lan Gien when she addressed new graduates last October, during fall graduation 2013. Her speech was entertaining, full of wisdom and good advice, and worth sharing again!

April

Polishing up the right tools for relationship building

Dr. Caroline Porr is determined that her PhD research isn't going to collect dust on a shelf in her office. So the assistant professor at Memorial's School of Nursing has put it into a toolbox of sorts...one she can easily carry to workshops, or professional development sessions.

February

Child's allergy becomes research fodder for busy faculty member

Little did Prof. Karen Dobbin-Willians know that when her youngest son Ian was diagnosed with a life-threatening food allergy to milk and milk products, she would eventually channel her need to to keep him safe and healthy into a research project.

2013


October

Dr. Lan Gien becomes first professor emeritus for School of Nursing

Dr. Lan Gien became the School of Nursing's first professor emeritus at fall convocation last Friday evening, Oct. 25, 2013. It was a special moment for Lan who retired last winter after 41 years with the school. It is also a great honour for the school.

Pinstripes remembered at nursing reunion

School of Nursing (SON) student Rebecca Puddester wore a vintage uniform (circa 1970s) and mingled with alumni at the SON's welcome reception to celebrate Reunion 2013 held here at the school recently. The event brought together alumni from class years '73, '88, and 2003.

 

School of Nursing alumni stay connected
School of Nursing alumni from the Class of '78 came from the Maritimes and Ontario earlier this month to get together with classmates from Newfoundland and Labrador. The group of women had so much fun they are already talking about future reunions!

September

School is in for new PhD nursing students

They’ve been oriented to the school, met faculty and staff, and now they’re well into coursework. Students enrolled in the School of Nursing’s new PhD in nursing program are excited to be part of this inaugural group.

May

Students to publish in national nursing journal

Seeing your byline in print can be pretty exciting, and that’s how six master’s students at Memorial’s School of Nursing felt when they found out their work is being published in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Infomatics.

April

Who let the dogs in?

To help students feel a little bit better during the stressful exam season, the Health Sciences Library is going to the dogs..

March

Travel bug takes student on Tanzanian adventure

Nursing can take you everywhere, on big adventures and small ones too. Read more about Martha North, whose month-long experience in Tanzania helped shape her career aspirations!

2011


December

Dr. Sandra MacDonald – President's Award for Distinguished Teaching 2011
Dr. Sandra MacDonald is the first one to celebrate her students' accomplishments and the first one to encourage them to try again if they don't come first. She treats her students like patients and her door is always open. Her teaching is described as innovative and passionate. And that is why she is the latest recipient of Memorial's highest teaching award.