Image: UFV / UFV nursing student Chantal Glowacka (pictured) created an initiative for UFV nursing students that enables them enhance their skill set in flexible, accessible ways and helps ease the transition into clinical settings in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and surrounding communities. The additional training not only benefits the nurses in training, it also helps with patient safety in the long run. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

UFV nursing program

UFV nursing program pilots peer-to-peer project for students as they transition to Chilliwack, Abbotsford-area clinical settings

Dec 20, 2023 | 9:08 AM

CHILLIWACK — A new near-peer mentor program unveiled this semester as a pilot project has enabled nursing students at the University of the Fraser Valley to enhance their skill set in what the postsecondary institution says are flexible, accessible ways.

According to a news release from the university, the initiative was the brainchild of fourth-year nursing student Chantal Glowacka and Experiential Learning coordinator Lee-Anne Stephen. The pilot project was meant to ease the transition into clinical practice, whether that’s in a hospital setting, long-term care home or other venues, throughout the greater community. What’s unique about this approach is that it is student-centred, meaning it gives nursing students the opportunity to practice around an informal, drop-in platform under the auspices of a guided, experienced peer.

Glowacka embarked on this work-study project to develop her leadership skills, and to empower her fellow students, particularly newcomers.

“I know when I was going into the program, I felt nervous asking my instructors for extra help – I didn’t want them to think I was incompetent or, you know, asking stupid questions,” Glowacka said. “So it was just really nice to be able to be that peer that already had some experience, was a little further along in the program that students felt comfortable coming to and asking lots of questions.”

Glowacka discovered that peer-to-peer support assisted participants by strengthening their motivation while improving their outlook for the future. She disseminated information about the initiative through an online platform known as Blackboard, posters, in-class videos, and word-of-mouth. Glowacka and Stephen first queried students to find out what skills they were interested in practicing, how they like to learn, and when they were available.

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With this information in tow, they scheduled three open lab sessions so that nursing students of any level could sign up for or drop into to work on IV skills, respiratory assessments, blood pressure assessments and more. While the additional training may benefit the nurses in training, it also elevates the needs of patients.

“The extra practice helps with patient safety in the long run,” says Stephen. “The more time that they can have in the lab practicing these skills, the safer they’ll be when they get into clinical, the more confident they’ll be, and the more knowledge they’ll have. Chantal has taken the first steps in this project and really stepped up and took initiative.”

Plans are underway for the School of Health Science’s near-peer mentor program to continue next year, providing more opportunities for nursing students to build on their skills and their confidence.