An investment in our future

Ellen Bentulan describes the experience of being Niya Manu’s nursing preceptor like watching a butterfly spread its wings. Over the course of her eight-week placement on the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s (St. Joseph’s) Parkwood Institute, Ellen watched the young nursing student transform - a metamorphosis from cautious to confident.

When Ellen began her own nursing career 18 years ago, she was drawn to the amount of opportunity within the profession. “The best thing about nursing is that it’s broad and there are so many opportunities out there to find your passion, space and calling,” says the palliative care nurse.

Feeling a pull away from pursuing the fast-paced nature of acute medicine, Ellen’s first nursing role was in St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Program. From there, she moved on to roles within the Veterans Care and Complex Care programs, before finding what she describes as her "perfect fit" on the Palliative Care Unit.

Since her arrival to the palliative care team eight years ago, the mom of three has been a mentor and integrated placement preceptor to over ten nursing students like Niya.

As an integral part of the nursing curriculum, practicum placements allow students to apply nursing theory and technical skills in a clinical setting, reach their individual goals and gain hands-on experience to prepare them for the workforce.

Among Niya’s goals was improving her confidence when communicating with patients, families and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Determined to help the budding nurse reach her placement and career goals, Ellen intentionally created opportunities for Niya to practice her communication skills, encouraging and advocating for her to communicate with patients and families, physicians or other members of the care team. For example, briefing a physician after a patient assessment or asking patients and their families about individual care plans and goals.

“Ellen drastically improved my confidence in being able to interact with others,” says Niya. She advocated for me to get the most experience possible and gave me countess opportunities to interact with physicians and other interprofessional team members.”

Inspired by the confidence, skills and experience she gained under Ellen’s compassionate mentorship, Niya nominated Ellen for a Nursing Preceptor Award through Western University's Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing earlier this year. One of four nursing preceptors at St. Joseph’s to be nominated, Ellen was chosen for the award and recognized this spring.

Both the nomination and award came as a surprise to Ellen who says she has grown to love wearing both the hat of nurse and teacher over the years.

“I love teaching my students clinical methods and techniques so that they can be more independent and grow their confidence,” she says. Ellen also notes that mentoring students helps to hold her to the highest standard possible and she believes showing her students the love she has for her job while modeling excellence will help them aspire to do the same.

As an academic health centre, a commitment to mentoring the next generation of health care students is woven into the fabric of Joseph’s. “We’re proud of our more than 633 nursing students each year,” says Ann Turcotte, Director of Professional Practice at St. Joseph’s. “Providing opportunities for clinical mentorship is an investment in our future and we’re fortunate to gain many insights from students, like Niya, through their spirit for inquiry and passion for knowledge.”

Niya says her practicum placement at St. Joseph’s has helped give her the confidence to write – and pass - her nursing licensing exam and she's recently began job hunting in her hometown of Brampton, Ontario. Her goal is to begin her nursing career working in acute medicine but says she is leaving the door open to become a palliative care nurse, like her preceptor Ellen, in the future.