Dona Grace-Campbell is an RN currently living in Prince Rupert who’s been working with GoHealth BC since December 2023. For the last 10 years, she’s been working in remote settings, so she understands the many services nurses provide in these communities – one being educational opportunities.
While working in Stewart recently, Dona shared a presentation on the new cervical self-screening program with community members. She also helped arrange a Teddy Bear Clinic to ease children’s fear of visiting the emergency department.
Cervical self-screening presentation
Dona wanted to promote awareness of the transition to the new BC Cancer Cervix Screening Program. “It’s a new development that’s extremely important in these rural settings where women might not get this kind of health care often,” she said. “I approached Jane Beaumont, the nurse manager there, and asked if there would be interest from the community in a presentation on the new cervical self-screening method. She was really happy about that idea and suggested we take it outside of the hospital so it would be more of a community event.”
They partnered with the local library to host the presentation there, which led to a lot of interest from the community. Eighteen women between the ages of 25 and 69 attended.
“It was a special event, with community members speaking,” said Dona. “Women could safely speak about their own histories, and it answered a lot of questions that they had.”
After the presentation, the attendees left with a better understanding of how the process worked. Dona encouraged the participants to share what they learned with their friends and neighbors who weren’t able to attend. “I got a lot of positive feedback outside of the event,” she said.
Teddy Bear Clinic
Dona had done Teddy Bear Clinics in other communities where she’s lived, so she was happy to take part when the manager in Stewart set up the event.
“It’s successful in helping kids deal with their fear of coming to the hospital,” explained Dona. “I’ve dealt with a lot of children who are quite scared when they come into the ER. They can be frightening places, especially in smaller settings that need to be functional.”
A Teddy Bear Clinic is a hands-on way for children to learn about common hospital procedures and how they are performed. Kids at the Stewart Clinic got to use the cast cutter and were able to confirm for themselves that the blade didn’t feel dangerous.
They also used a nebulizer treatment (made with steamy water) on their teddy bears.(Nebulizers create a medication “mist” for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions to inhale, delivering the medication directly to their lungs.)
After that, the children all got their vital signs done, which helped them get used to having their blood pressure read – something that kids typically have a hard time with, Dona noted.
“We just walked them through all these things, and I think it makes it a much friendlier experience if they need to go to the ER for something more serious,” said Dona.
Dona is looking forward to supporting more rural and remote communities as a GoHealth BC nurse in the future. “I really see the need for these things,” she said. “I’m going to Dease Lake, and I’d like to offer the same thing there.”
Are you or someone you know interested in rural/remote nursing with GoHealth BC? Check out our website for more information and see if you’re eligible for a recruitment incentive of up to $15,000!
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