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Nursing students live commuter lives during their time at the University of Calgary. They
spend a lot of time in clinic and hospital situations so connecting back to the university
by volunteering on campus is one important way they enrich their university experience.
When Jenna Baumgartner decided she wanted to volunteer, she soon recognized this
type of experiential learning gave her a university experience different from her
classmates who were concentrating solely on their course work alone.
“I decided to become the Students’ Union Faculty of Nursing representative because I
wanted to step up and represent our interests,” says Baumgartner, a fourth-year nursing
student. “I felt I could get some of the students’ questions answered and get action on
the issues we face. This experience made me feel a part of the U of C campus while
making positive changes for our faculty.
“My experience with the Students’ Union has provided an opportunity to be involved with
a wider range of student life activities and has made me appreciate being a part of
a campus community.” Baumgartner says working with the Students’ Union helped her
understand how to lead and motivate people, strengthened her communications skills,
and taught her how to work through systems – a skill that will help her be more
successful when she graduates and begins to negotiate through the bureaucratic
hospital setting.
Although Baumgartner puts in long hours in class and completing her clinical
requirements, she takes her volunteer work seriously and spends considerable time
representing her classmates. One of the key initiatives she successfully led was a
proposal to secure simulation resources through the Students’ Union Campus
Improvement Fund.
“Our faculty needs educational simulation resources to hone our skills for clinical
patient care,” says Baumgartner. “The Improvement Fund allowed us to purchase a
birthing simulator – a programmable mannequin that enables students to practise
responding to a wide range of real-life situations. We also purchased a virtual I.V.
simulator, a fully interactive, self-directed learning system designed to help students
learn to start IVs competently. These tools help students hone their dexterity,
organizational ability, time efficiency and confidence so they perform better when
working with real patients.”
“The experience of representing the needs of nursing has improved my communication
and leadership abilities. I believe I will now be a better patient advocate when I become
a new RN,” says Baumgartner.
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