CODEBlue
NURSING UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER I OCTOBER 2013
CALLING ALL NURSING STUDENTS CLASS OF 2015: This newsletter is for you too! If you have an idea, opinion,
photo or event please send an email to nusubc@gmail.com to have your cohort’s voice heard!!
D
ear friends in the nursing program, whether you are an undergrad student, grad student, faculty or staff member,
Firstly, let me just give a huge welcome to the incoming cohort of undergraduate and graduate student nurses! It is a
huge accomplishment to be accepted into the program – give yourselves a pat on the back (and then pat the back of the
person next to you, dolphin-style) for that impressive feat. I hope you love it here as much as I do.
This is my fourth contribution to the Code Blue Newsletter as the Nursing Undergraduate Society (NUS) President, and so far my
writing has, in part, touched on the following: the great panache we UBCers demonstrate in the field of nursing, the superhuman
dedication to which nurses steadfastly adhere, and the ways that the NUS can work for you to assist you with your time at UBC’s
School of Nursing. I have also referenced films such as “Rushmore”, compared the strength of our friendships to The Lord of the
Rings’ characters, and I have commented on my embarrassing inability to distinguish between the seasons here in the Lower
Mainland of BC (thankfully I no longer have this problem, because I now know that there are two seasons: Rainy and Sunny). That
little recap was just to emphasize that though I can be pensive and
write deep stuff, I also have a goofy side – so just so you know, don’t
take anything I say too seriously, because deep down I really am pretty
silly (see attached photo).
As for the future, here are some of the excellent initiatives that the
NUS has in the pipeline for the upcoming months: Nursing Week, Fall
NUS socials, UBC Nursing clothing sales, The Art and Soul of Nursing,
among many others! Furthermore, elections for the next NUS Council
approaching fast this November! So if you’re interested in getting involved with council start thinking about it NOW! (It is seriously a great
opportunity and I would recommend it highly.)
And, as always, you are absolutely welcome to get in touch with us
directly, either in person at our office on the Third Floor of UBC Hospital (on Mondays and Tuesdays at lunch for heart-to-heart chats, questions, comments, tea & coffee, etc.), or through our email: nusubc@gmail.com. Also, check out our new website at http://
blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/ and look us up on Facebook at “UBC Nursing
Undergraduate Society”.
In nursing friendship,
Timothy Vigneux
President, Nursing Undergraduate Society (2013-2014)
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
Up and Coming
Work Hard Play Hard
Hello fellow future nurses! Social Reps here to say welcome to the wonderful life of nursing school. We are sure you have
heard many stories on how everything fun in your life is now over since starting this program, but we are here to tell you that
this is not true. Have no fear for we are here to provide everyone opportunities to break free of their study dungeons and to
hang out with people who probably understand you the most now; other fellow nursing students. In the past we have had bar
nights, bowling nights, beach BBQ, and ugly Christmas sweater parties to help provide a relax and fun atmosphere to hang out
with one another. We had an awesome time at the Academic with the first year students and it was great to see them in a non
stressful environment to get to know them better. Although our boat cruise social sadly became a sunken ship, we are not going to let that bump in the road stop this party train! We are planning to have two more social events this year with one being
in the fall (mid October to early November) and then another one before we all go away for the holidays. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at these socials and more information will be available once dates and plans are set. So remember
everyone study hard and party hard too.
Leila and Allison
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
SPORTS
DAY OF THE LONGBOAT
The sky was grey and cloudy, but eight nursing students braved the early Sunday
morning and headed to Jericho Sailing Centre to compete in UBC Rec’s Day of the
Longboat. Here is a recap of the race: The horn sounded and Tim was off, running
down the beach with his colourful wings (see team picture for said wings) flapping
behind him. He reached the water, jumped in the canoe full of his teammates, and
the paddling started. And just as quickly as it had begun, the paddling stopped. We
were stuck. With all eight canoes trying to get around one buoy, and our canoe in
the middle, it seems we were stuck in a boat jam. But not to worry, a bit of back
paddling and we were on our way again. With five boats ahead of us, we paddled
quickly to make up the lost time. Gaining safari animal strength from our leopard
arm/head bands (again, see team picture to understand what I am referring to), we
quickly passed Canoes #4 and #3. We then reached another beach where Deanne
leapt out of the boat, sprinted up the beach, and retrieved our baton. Now in third
place, we paddled hard to catch up to Canoe #2. We tussled with them around another dreaded buoy. Fingers were smashed, rabbit ears were bruised (yup, same
picture), but we managed to get ahead and claim the second spot. Rounding the last buoy, we headed to the final beach. Deanne jumped out,
ran up the beach, and signalled our 2nd place finish by hitting a big gong with the baton. Good job Code Paddlers! (See Becky, I didn’t mention
that you almost tipped us.)
Hayley Brugger
THE COLOR RUN
Despite the sombre skies and west coast mist, the COLOUR RUN was a
glorious success! We had an amazing team of 19. We arrived at the PNE
bright and early and joined the pre race party to get everyone pumped up!
It is actually quite shocking and blinding to stand in a crowd of white tshirts. We definitely stuck together in true dolphin style and ran or walked
(depending on preference) the race together without losing anyone. Quite
an impressive feat when you’re being doused in coloured chalk and
everyone sort of looks the same. We kept a great “chatting marathon”
pace and made our way through the pink zone where we cut a few pylons
in order to stick together. As the sweat began to bead on our faces, we ran
through the blue zone- and you can be sure it was sticking! Through the
stadium and around the bend was yellow! All-star Sarena took a slight fall, trying to multi task running and closing her eyes to avoid an ocular
injury. What a feat! As we rounded the orange zone, Matt made sure everyone got a splash to ensure photo worthy pictures at the end. We
were greeting with vitamin water and granola bars at the finish line and proceeded to take some fun pictures and throw one more blast of
powder in the air!
AMAZING JOB TEAM UBC NURSING!!!
Becky Wengle
NUS SPORTS UPDATE
The intramural season has officially started! This semester the nurses have managed to put together a flag football team and a futsal team. Our
futsal team, the Poison IVs kicked off their season with a HUGE victory over a fraternity/sorority team, with the final score being 12 – 4. A big
shoutout to the one and only Paulo Balatbat for singlehandedly outscoring the other team with FIVE goals!! Good luck to the Poison IVs as they
take on a kinesiology team and another frat/sorority team in the coming weeks.
The all-girls flag football team, The Superboluses, is looking to start off their season on a positive note. They will have to brave the storm and
get a little soggy as they take on a sorority team. With many new players, the team is looking to come up with some new offensive and defensive strategies to improve our record from last years.
Kaitlin K
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
Special Features
ORIENTATION 2013
First off, Kate and I would REALLY like to thank all the volunteers that came out to help . We had approximately 10 people on the first day and approximately 20 people the second day. I am amazed by the support of our cohort. You guys are awesome!.
The first day went really well with a breakfast mingler and bingo! Everyone seemed to have a really good time and people seemed to really appreciate the fourth year's being there to speak with them. The energy of the new cohort was infectious! Everyone seemed really excited (but anxious/nervous) and I have to say, it temporarily made me excited for school again...until I remembered what school involved. It went without a
hitch though and I believe the NUS owes a big debt of gratitude to the faculty for making it go so smoothly.
The second day was a bit more chaotic but even more fun. We had volunteers start arriving at around 10:00am and they went to work right away
mingling with all the new students. In addition, we had another guest that day that was unexpected...the rain (I don't know why it was unexpected, this is Vancouver after all). Did that stop us though? Heck no. We went ahead like little troopers and the BBQer's outside ended up having a wet t-shirt contest outside (well, not really). The volunteers had all 120 new students eating by 12:15pm. It was awesome.
Following the BBQ, we had lovely tours of the school of nursing, sports sign-up, social sign-up, locker sign-up and bluebook distribution. After seeing all 120 students through these two stations, the NUS also hosted a Q&A panel. I have to admit, I was extremely scared that no one would ask
any questions but I have to say, the new cohort remained curious and alert until the bitter end and asked us some great questions! With excellent
answers from our panel and a few quips on how great we can all look in clinical (thanks Paulo!), the day wrapped up and we all felt better for a job
well done and having done all we could do for the new cohort.
The very last orientation event was the social held at the Academic. We had a great turnout from both cohorts and fundraised $400.00 for grad
and CMHA. Thanks for the support in all who attended and a VERY special thank you to Allison and Leila for organizing.
Jess Pope
TOUR BUS TEMPTATIONS AND CLINICAL DECISION MAKING...
Last week I almost ran away. Walking down Burrard Street in the dim light of a too-early morning I passed a tour bus idling outside a hotel in anticipation of its passengers. The large baggage compartments were open at street level. Slowing my pace momentarily I fantasized about what it
would be like to hop in and nestle behind some of the battered suitcases. Wouldn't it be great, I thought, to be whisked away from the books,
assessment frameworks, disposable bed baths, and BP cuffs. I'd stretch out over some duffle bags and instead of sheep, I would count web portal
acronyms and logins to sleep away the serendipitous journey: P.E.P… H.S.P… I.P.E… CCRS… Zzz… I'd wake up in Seattle with a gaggle of Russian
tourists and make a new life as an inept translator!
By the time I realized that this was a foolish idea I was standing in trepidation at the steps of St Paul's hospital as important people in scrubs and
suits whizzed past me. Thankfully I soon realized that I wasn't doing this alone.
From orientation onward I have been repeatedly amazed at the diversity, sensitivity, resilience, accomplishments, and capability of my colleagues.
Every day I sit in class or a lab marveling at the stories and experiences of those around me. The instructors, too, have been ceaselessly supportive
and enthusiastic.
Keeping this in mind I finally made it up the steps and into the hospital and had a mostly un-terrifying experience caring for actual human beings. I
emerged unscathed and craving more. I bet most people felt somewhat like this at some point, but if you try to remember that you aren't in it
alone maybe you won't feel the need to stow away on a tour bus like I did, at least until after the midterm.
Tristan Becker
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
This and that
Book Sale Success!
'Thank you all for your participation with the NUS Book Sale, it was
a HUGE success and would not have been possible without all of
you! Although money is still being tallied, we raised approximately
$700 for the Canadian Mental Health Association!
If you have unsold books or money to pick up, please come to the
NUS office on October 1st at lunch or after classes. If this does not
work for you, please email me at zkhcreighton@gmail.com and we
can come to another arrangement! If you do not pick up your
money by October 15th (and do not contact me), the money will
be added to the donations!
Thanks again and stay tuned for information about the next book
sale happening in January 2014.
Thanks! Zahra
Introducing the new BLUE BOOK !
Thank you to everyone who has contributed and supported this
year's production of the NUS Blue Book. We tried very hard to
transform the traditional agenda into a clinical handbook that
would be a useful tool for our student body. We hope you are enjoying it and welcome all feedback that you have. We hope that
this production will continue to be improved each year so that the
students can get the most out of it. If you have ideas about what
else can be included, or if you found some things more helpful
than others, please shoot us an email at nusubc@gmail.com with
the subject Blue Book. Let us know what you think! We would love
to hear where and how people are using this handbook!
Emily Kupp (VP)
Student Faculty Forum update
As classes and clinical heat up, remember you've got resources and
support should problems arise! Your Student Faculty Forum (SFF)
reps, Shawn Langlois and Jess Peart, are here to help you deal with
academic or clinical issues in the UBC BSN program. We can provide
helpful strategies for dealing with problems and conflicts, and
anonymously represent your concerns should you be unable to
resolve them on your own.
You can reach us at ubc.sff.2014@gmail.com. If you'd like to meet
confidentially in person or talk on the phone, that's fine too! Just
send us an email, and we'll make further arrangements from there.
Interested in supporting your graduating class as an advocate? We'll be hosting elections for the 2013-2015 SFF reps in the
coming weeks. Stay tuned for more info on roles and responsibilities, and how to get involved!
Jess Peart
INTERPROFESSIONAL events
Imagine Day kicked off the school year for incoming students.
The Nursing Undergraduate Society (NUS) represented with a
booth in the Abdul Science Student Centre. It was an
opportunity to network with new students to UBC.
Thayanthi Tharmaratnam was the inspiration behind
increasing nursing presence at the event.
On September 9, the College of Health Disciplines held the
interprofessional orientation for the new students in
professional programs. This year, they linked with the
Faculty of Medicine to hold the HIP mixer.
The evening started with a short video from the Deans of the
various professional programs involved, stressing the
importance of interprofessional collaboration. Participants
were then encouraged to participate in an interprofessional
case study. It was an evening of mingling and getting to
know people from other faculties and also, ones own
classmates. Delicious food and drinks were provided by the
College of Health Disciplines. Also, congratulations was in
order to the 3rd year nursing student who won a prize for
their case study completion. Again, the NUS had a booth
that proved popular for it’s lollipops. A special thanks to
Jessica Pope, Thayanthi Tharmaratnam and Kevin Duncan for
their time volunteering during the event.
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
Vanessa Johnson
CLASSIFIEDS
Crown Satori Touring Skis with complete AT setup for sale. Specs:
169cm 127/97/118 Bindings: Fritschi Freeride Pro with XL brake (size
small) Skins: G3 Alpinist Elle Climbing Skins (pre-cut) They also come
with custom top sheets that I designed myself. Only used for one
season plus one month . This is a great, surprisingly light set up but I
can't afford to have two pairs of skis kicking around. Price new was
1200 bones, selling for $500. Kaylabrolly@gmail.com
Brand new, tags still on GV Winter Trail Snowshoes.
$100. The snowshoes are aluminum frame with front
and rear crampons. The pair of snowshoes weighs
5.72 lbs. and are 10 x 36 inches. They offer excellent
float on powder and are suitable for a medium to tall
male (or tall and curvy female) 100-200 lbs. Very
sad to sell these beauties but they are way too big for
me. Hope there is an outdoorsy nurse or nurse
boyfriend who would love these! Made in Canada, too.
And MEC used to sell them. Can't beat that.
Sarahwolfson55@gmail.com
Custom made men’s mountain bike, light frame, commuter tires,
ten speeds, two years old. Fits a rider 5’6 to 5’10. $175 OBO. clothieramt@gmail.com
Gliga-like 4/4 violin/fiddle in hard case with backpack straps. Resin
finish, chin rest, chromecore strings. Needs one string replaced and a
good oiling. Hardly been played! clothieramt@gmail.com
I'm interested in buying/trading for a frame for a double bed. Any
sort of frame (simple metal, wood, or gold-inlaid platinum) would do, I'm selling my Norco Pinnacle mountain bike (white frame) for $200.
so if people know of one that someone needs gone, I'm your guy.
Excellent condition, suitable for anyone under 5'7'' or so
tvigneux@gmail.com
Gillian.albert@gmail.com
Hey, I'm looking for a time-traveling machine. If anyone has one, drop .
it off at the NUS office, thanks!
Anyone interested in learning Spanish? The cost is $154 for ten classes and 15 hours instruction. Six people per class and we meet at a
Starbucks location to be determined (free drink included with each
class). Let me know if you want to! lauraruthbain@gmail.com You
can see more about it at: http://www.fivearrows.ca/Spanish.htm
If any climbers out there are selling old trad gear on the cheap I am
always looking, or ice gear including axes, crampons, screws, biners,
draws.... Manky or not I am a tinkerer and can fix whatever.
Mr.gage.wright@gmail.com
Wanted: A full-length electronic piano keyboard. It doesn’t have to
have all the fancy synthesizers; just in need of something simple to
satisfy my musical needs. Email me at sarenanarsing@gmail.com if
you are looking to sell or know of someone selling. Thanks!
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
EXTRAS
Nursing confessions: “ I silently mouth “WTF” at least 20 times a shift” - anonymous
Nursing Week
Nursing week is being held on UBC campus week of September 30th in honour of our hardworking nurses around BC and Canada. In celebration here are some facts about nursing in Canada
1. Nurses are the largest group of regulated health professionals in Canada, and one third of the health care workforce
2. For every 100 000 Canadians, 787 are nurses
3. The passing rate of Canadian educated CRNE first time writers is 88% (based on 2010 CNA stats)
4. The average age of a nurse in Canada is 45
5. The average retirement age for Canadian nurses is 56 (high five early retirement!)
6. Saskatchewan pays the highest hourly wage for nurses out of all the provinces (top paying scale at 44.46 an hour). Saskatchewan also reimburses the cost of the annual professional licensing fee !
7. Approximately 89% work in direct patient care, 6.5 in administration, 3.5 in education and 1% in research
8. Public sector nurses worked 20, 627, 800 hours of overtime in 2010.
9. Current national data indicates there will be a 113,000 nurse shortfall by 2016
10. The average nurse in Canada has eighteen years experience.
Nursing students will be in the Student Union Building at lunch on Monday, September 30th and Tuesday, October 1st taking BPs, talking up
upcoming events and networking! Stop by to show your support for nursing week.
Leila Popat
Snacks By Becky - Clinical Treats
This is my latest muffin recipe with no sugar, butter or oil! Still delicious. I always make the full batch and freeze half for the next week.
Ingredients
2 c. old fashioned rolled oats (not the quick kind)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 ripe banana
1 egg
1/4 cup almond milk (or any kind of milk)
1/2 cup plain yogurt (Greek or otherwise)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 cup chocolate chips
Handful raw sliced almonds
Mix gently.
In another medium bowl, mash banana completely with a fork. Whisk
in the egg. Add the peanut butter and combine. Add in milk, yogurt, and
honey. Whisk until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips, reserving some to place on top of the
muffins if you'd like.
Spray a nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray. Spoon the mixture
evenly into the cups, filling about 3/4 way. Top each muffin with a
sprinkle of raw sliced almonds.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes
out clean.
YIELD: 12 small-medium muffins
PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes
COOKING TIME: 25 minutes
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Check us out online at http://blogs.ubc.ca/nuswebsite/
Work Hard,
Snack Harder