A hard road out of poverty

MUN nursing student battles challenges in her personal life and at school

By Nathan Downey

At any given time there are close to 400 students enrolled at MUN’s School of Nursing — both in the four-year program and the two-year fast track program. Students are subjected to a rigorous curriculum that consists of core nursing subjects, practical skills labs, and clinical placements.

Paula Humby’s third year of study might be the end of the road for her. A single mother, Humby has difficulty juggling her nursing studies and the challenges in her personal life.

“I was sick last year and my mother was sick. I had to take a semester off which means I was a year behind,” Humby said. “This semester I’m battling illness again and it doesn’t look like I can handle the current load…I’ll have to take another year off.”

The nursing program follows a set track, establishing and progressively building upon a foundation of basic science education and nursing fundamentals. If a student fails or is unable to complete a pre-requisite course, they have to wait a year until that course is offered again in order to advance.

According to Karen Webber, associate director of MUN’s undergraduate nursing program, there’s about a 16 per cent attrition rate after the first year. She says some of the students who drop out aren’t ready for the heavy workload, and some discover nursing isn’t for them.

Humby cites rising debt levels and personal struggles as the reason she might not be able to continue with the program.

“It’s sad, because I’m an A student and I get really good grades,” she said. “I’m good at what I do, but because of my life circumstances, I can’t attain this degree because I can’t handle the set course load.”

Dr. Judith McFetridge-Durdle, director of MUN’s nursing school, agrees that the nursing curriculum does involve a very challenging academic schedule.

“What helps them through this is that there’s a lot of camaraderie; they work together in small groups,” she said.

One of the fundamentals of the nursing program is health promotion. Within this, students are taught to advocate for vulnerable populations and those on the margins of society. They're also taught that one of the keys to healthy living is reduction of poverty.

Humby and her daughter live with her aunt because she can’t find decent, affordable housing. Her parents are unable to help her financially or even to help take care of her daughter because of illness.

“I’m trying to become a nurse not only because I love it, but [because] it’s a way for me to provide a stable future for me and my daughter and get out of this hole called poverty.”

Second-year student Erin Wight says many nursing students work as personal care attendants in order to support themselves through their degree.

“They’re flexible for the most part; they work my schedule around my studies,” she said.

However, Wight says she can’t imagine supporting herself and a child while in nursing school.

“It’s tough for me and I live by myself. The actual time you have to put in…I don’t know how you’d do it.”

Humby spoke to the Muse about an incident in January that severely shook her confidence in the program. One of her professors rescheduled the start time for a clinical course at the Health Sciences Centre the day before it was supposed to begin. She told her professor that she’d be unable to come earlier because she needed the time to drop her daughter off at daycare.

“She told me that that’s my problem and I would have to be there at [the re-scheduled time] or it’ll reflect on my evaluation,” Humby said.

She says her professor added that she had kids as well and faced the same challenges.

“I have no money, no job, no husband…how to you expect me to get here magically at [the new time?] If I was working I’d have the ability to buy a car and therefore transportation.”

Humby feels that this incident highlighted hypocrisy within the program because students are taught to advocate for the marginalized, but the school itself does nothing for its students in difficult circumstances.

“The way the structure of the system is now…I’m increasing my debt every semester I wait. I can’t wait any longer,” she said. “I have to get out there and start making money; I can’t just keep piling up the debt.”

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union (NLNU), the province is currently faced with a nursing shortage. Newfoundland and Labrador currently loses 30–40 per cent of nursing graduates, according to the NLNU’s website.

Pat Coish-Snow, one of Eastern Health’s chief operating officers, told the CBC that Eastern Health would be ramping up its recruitment efforts at MUN’s school of nursing.

“There’s nurses needed everywhere,” Humby said. “If someone’s having a tough time accomplishing the goals of a heavy program, there should be a restructuring of the program to accommodate people who face additional challenges.”

CORRECTION: The student mentioned in the article entitled “A Hard Road out of Poverty” is not enrolled in the nursing program in the Memorial University School of Nursing; she is enrolled in the nursing program in the Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS). Students enrolled in the nursing program at the CNS are governed by the policies and procedures of the CNS.

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