I Didn't Know What To Expect

Talk about a bombardment of information. A brief meeting with the nurse educator was just that. There are binders and binders of mandatory information that we need to know and perform. For instance, complete neonatal assessments with equipments that I have never heard of. There are also a handful of assessments that we need to know, like istats for suspected MIs and other tests that we are required to perform. The nurse educator was very good at letting us know that she would go through the binder with us, which gave me a sigh of relief.

*Flight to Fort Albany*

“I did not know what to expect” was quite literal this time. The flight was nothing short of a scenic flight. Flying at an altitude of 8,000 ft. gave me a majestic view of the vast land of the reserve. It made me think, how the reserves were bordered, or if they were displaced unfairly. It looked like a lot of land that could be used isn’t. It sparked abit of an interest, as to how the aboriginals could make use of their land to expand and have healthier living conditions. Again, this was me thinking with my assumptions.

After landing, the airport was the size of a portable. Lugguages were on a steel trolley, for passengers to pick up. We also helped our ride to load the truck with hospital supplies that just came in via air. Interestingly, it was a pile of scattered boxes on the tarmac!

Living conditions wise is great, the house is a duplex, where the building is shared with two groups of people. Michelle and I are in house 6A. For anyone who is trying to track us. Good luck. The living conditions are certainly a step up from student housing.

We got a tour of the James Bay General Hospital (soon to be Weeneebayko Health Authority). And I was extremely surprised that there was equipment you would see in a city hospital. BUT, the neat thing is, that everything is on one floor AND nurses get to rotate onto different parts of the hospital. For example, you could be working at the LTC wing for two weeks, and then onto the ER/acute wing for the next two. With the added nursing skills, like venipuncture, suturing, prescribing medications etc, the scope of the RN just seems so limitless! With the MD a phone call away, the RNs’ responsibility is huge. Needless to say, being a new graduate into this expanded nursing role, is going to be extremely challenging. With that in mind, its comforting to know that the staff are very supportive and very welcoming of the new graduates.

Moosonee Airport

Heading up to FA on a large aircraft

Kashechewan from the plane

Fort Albany

Fort Albany Airport; Arrival & Departure

is the same door

Hospital supplies on the tarmac

Loaded and ready to go!

James Bay General =)

House 6

Kitchen

TV Room

Kitchen

Doesn't she look smashing?

Bed for the next year

                                                           Onto starting my career!