I graduated with my bachelor’s in psychology from McGill in 2016. During that time, I had done a lot of research. I couldn’t see myself doing six extra years of research without feeling like I’m concretely helping people.
I really enjoyed the mentality, the spirit of helping each other out. It’s a lot of sharing and growth and learning together, which is also great for your well-being.”
This is why I decided to branch out and I stumbled upon the direct-entry master’s program in nursing at McGill. When I got accepted, I was thrilled because within the first month, you were already in a hospital setting. Therefore, from the get-go you knew if this is something you see yourself doing in the long run or not. For me, this experience gave me the clarity I needed as I found out what I really wanted to dedicate my life to: nursing.
I honestly loved my McGill experience. I come from a very French background. I’d never experienced an English setting before university. First semester was a bit hard diving into full-blown English classes, readings, exams – English everything. But I really enjoyed the mentality, the spirit of helping each other out. It’s a lot of sharing and growth and learning together, which is also great for your well-being. At McGill, you encounter individuals from across the world, which makes it possible to learn and increase your knowledge about many different things.
This pandemic has darkened what I envisioned as my first year in the workplace. It is not what I had envisioned for myself. It has been very interesting in the sense that, by the time you feel more skilled being on your own and handling everything, all of a sudden you get thrown into this pandemic where almost every day there are new changes. You have to adapt very quickly.
In my particular experience, our surgical patients were shipped to other units, while we became a COVID unit. We were dealing with CHSLD (long-term care facility) patients, 90 to 95 per cent of whom had Alzheimer’s or were confused, many were bed-ridden. So it’s a different type of care provided – more psycho-social interventions. There was a lot of dealing with the families as well because they are the ones making most of the calls, in the end, as the decision-makers. Some days were definitely harder than others while others were rewarding. Sometimes, we just had to remind each other that it’s the little things (eg.: taking a bath, being fed, etc.) that make the biggest difference for them in brightening their day.
I enjoy every moment of being a nurse. I enjoy talking to the patients, I enjoy the continuity of care that we provide to them.”
I myself got COVID back in March, so I can empathize with what my patients and their families were experiencing. While in quarantine, I found out about a pan-Canadian clinical trial coordinated by Dr. Todd Lee, a clinician-scientist at McGill. I managed to get enrolled the day after they got the approval here in Quebec province.
The trial is evaluating the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for COVID. They would send you either the medication or a placebo. You had to answer questionnaires until you tested negative. I thought: we don’t know much about this virus. I’m here at home quarantined, not doing much with my days besides recovering. If I can do anything to help the scientists learn about this virus and help others that are in worse shape, then I might as well help out in any way I can.
I enjoy every moment of being a nurse. I enjoy talking to the patients, I enjoy the continuity of care that we provide to them. We get to see them from admission to their discharge. You’re there with them through their setbacks, their little victories, their tear sessions and pretty much everything in between. And you provide education and support when needed.