Seven students in Niagara College’s Practical Nursing program marked the last day of their co-op placement at Rapelje Lodge in Welland by surprising long-term care residents with special gift baskets.
On August 18, term two students Sarah Bland, Olivia Bussi, Lindsay Ciaraldi, Maddison Hey, Jessa Lott, Courtney Ricica, and Casandra Tabak gifted baskets – each with more than 50 items per floor – for the residents they supported during their 14-week placements. The baskets contained a variety of personal care items, including shampoo, razors, combs, lotions, tooth brushes, nail polish and more.
“As a group, we decided to put something together for the residents as a thank you for the opportunity,” said Lott. “Working with the residents was an amazing experience and such a great learning opportunity for all of us.”
“Our students showed genuine compassion and generosity for the residents of Rapelje who hosted their CLIN1230 placement this past term,” said Angela Butt, associate dean in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies. “Their act of kindness truly reminds all of us that residents play a huge role in students’ learning and should always remain central to our thoughts and actions.”
“This is a beautiful act of kindness for the residents and speaks well of our future caregivers,” said Douglas Rapelje, former director of senior services and namesake of Rapelje Lodge. “Because of the College – both the students and leadership – we have come a long way with hiring people with the skills and training needed to care for our aging population.”
Residents at Rapalje Lodge require the availability of 24-hour nursing care, supervision, and high levels of personal care and support within a secure setting. In their placements, students provided support with activities of daily living like bathing and feeding, began to apply assessment skills and implement individualized care plans. They focused on cultivating the values of client well-being, client choice, privacy and confidentiality, respect for life, maintaining commitments, truthfulness, and fairness.
“My placement at Rapelje Lodge aided my learning in the Practical Nursing program by allowing me to interact with residents, learn bedside manners and care, how to build a therapeutic relationship with a resident, and complete a full, head-to-toe assessment during morning care,” said Bland. “This experience will help me in the profession once I graduate as I learned how to help and care for a wide range of people.”
Students commend their professors, Tracy Davey and Kristina Nelson, and clinical supervisor Camilla Chindemi, for supporting their learning in their placement. “Camilla was the backbone of our experience and made it that much more amazing. She taught us things that will stick with us forever and was nothing but supportive and honest. It was an honor to have her as our clinical supervisor,” said Lott.
“I’m very proud of our students. They’re well on their way to living their nursing values,” said Chindemi, clinical nurse supervisor in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies.
“I commend Niagara College for continually offering new programs that allow long term care facilities and community care programs to employ well trained, compassionate and caring staff,” said Rapelje.
