NorQuest practical nursing students getting hands-on mental health training

As more patients report mental health issues, Norquest College is responding by changing how nursing students are educated. Curtis Goodrum explains.

Practical nursing students are getting hands-on mental health training at NorQuest College.

Current and former students have been advocating for a more stringent program after dealing with mental health situations in the field.

“Now we have an opportunity to be able to flow it through the program, throughout each course, so that our graduates have a more enhanced experience and a more solid base in mental health and for themselves,” said Jennifer Mah, dean of the faculty of health.

The simulation provides students the opportunity to prepare for real world situations, where an actor plays out different mental health scenarios for the students.

“My daughter is going through nursing,” said Mental Health Foundation CEO Darren Lunt. “I know firsthand the impact that this is going to have on your people pursuing a career in practical nursing.”

The Mental Health Foundation partnered with Del Mar Construction and NorQuest in developing the training.

“We look at building our community together as one of our main purposes,” said Del Mar CEO Jeff Sterlang. “We do a lot of work in healthcare, a lot of work in education … so when the opportunity came to collaborate with two great industry leaders, we thought it would be a really good partnership for us.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum