Christina Dahdah, Master of Science - Applied in Nursing
Hometown: Montreal
Began her degree: September 2019
Why did you choose McGill?
I completed my undergraduate degree in Physiology and Anthropology at McGill before pursuing Nursing. My familiarity with the university and awareness of the strong academic foundation it provides for students made me want to return for my graduate studies. The MSc(A) - Nursing program is also unique to McGill, so that made my decision even easier!
Looking back what impressions do you have from those early days of your degree?
While the early days of my degree were some of the busiest academically, they were also some of my favourite. I finally felt like I had found my community of people and my place when I joined the Ingram School of Nursing. The support, the laughs between classes, and new world of learning made me hopeful and excited for the future.
Where were you and what were you doing the day McGill announced it was closing the campus? How did you feel when you heard the news?
I will never forget when our program director dropped into our skills lab about a week before everything shut down and shared that McGill was working on back-up plans in case the pandemic affected clinical. A classmate commented that ‘for all we knew McGill would close completely and we’d have to figure out virtual classes.’ While most of us laughed off the comment at the time, lo and behold, a few days later we received that news that campus was closing, our Maternal-Child Health stage was cancelled, and we would be learning remotely for the foreseeable future. Admittedly, I was stressed at this point, but I also felt extremely lucky to have a close and supportive cohort to work through each challenge and new experience.
What were your hopes, worries and fears during lockdown?
My biggest worry/fear during lockdown was definitely the uncertainty that came with the unknown trajectory and long-term consequences of the pandemic. However, one of the first lessons I learned as a nursing student was to work with ‘what I know, what I know I don’t know, and what I don’t know that I don’t know.’ In other words, there is always uncertainty, but to cope with it and move forward, we must recognize its presence, focus on what is certain, be open to new things/ideas, and reflect on our actions as we go. This lesson gave me hope that I didn’t necessarily need to know where the pandemic was going to get through it and allowed me to take each day one step at a time.
Did you have a lockdown hobby or undiscovered/rediscovered passion or talent?
Lockdown gave me the chance to re-explore some of my creative hobbies including playing flute & piccolo, cross-stitching, and learning to paint.
Were you able to return to clinical rotations/lab work while campus was still closed? What was it like to be learning in clinical a hospital/clinical or lab setting at the height of the pandemic?
I was fortunate enough to be able to return to clinical rotations quite early on in the pandemic. Campus was still closed, but learning in the hospitals throughout multiple waves of the pandemic was an unforgettable experience in many ways. Seeing the resilience and adaptability of the nurses I learned from was inspiring, but the fatigue and treating multiple patients with severe post-COVID complications really drove home the severity of the pandemic. I am grateful to have been able to continue my education these past years, and I know that the skills, conversations, and experiences I have gained in the clinical setting during this time will stay with me and guide my future practice as a nurse.
What was the best thing about being back on campus when in-person activities were permitted again? What was the worst?
The majority of my courses remained online when in-person activities returned to campus, but the opportunity to attend the occasional lab or event in person was always uplifting. I truly enjoyed the chance to spend time with my classmates in-person again.
What did you learn about yourself during lockdown?
Lockdown taught me that I am more resilient and adaptable that I had ever realized. From last minute clinical changes, to finding new routines, to revising and re-revising projects, I learned to cut myself some slack, appreciate my accomplishments, and that sometimes it is ok to fly by the seat of your pants.
Did the pandemic change the course of your academic career or the path you hope to take?
Throughout the pandemic, I took the opportunity to participate more in student organizations like the Nursing Graduate Student Association (NGSA) as the VP Academic - Direct Entry. I also delved more into educational roles by grading and working as a teaching assistant. These experiences helped me build more confidence in my leadership style and have made me consider the possibility of pursuing teaching roles in my future career.
What will you tell your grandkids/alien visitors/biographer about being a university student during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Imagine becoming a nurse while barely leaving your home in two years. I learned tracheostomy care on a teddy bear with a piece of rigatoni tied to its neck over Zoom; and in hindsight, I wouldn’t change my experience. It genuinely blows my mind how far we have all come in these unprecedented times. While I never expected to study nursing in the midst of a pandemic, I think we have come out of the experience ready to continue learning, adapting, and growing as nurses.
What’s next after graduation?
I am very excited to be starting as a CEPI (candidate à l'exercice de la profession infirmière) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in in-patient medicine this summer. Before I knew I wanted to become a nurse, I knew I wanted to work with children. So, this opportunity to combine two passions and hopefully brighten or ease some tough days for children is something that I greatly look forward to.
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Rachel Pearson, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Hometown: Barrie, Ontario
Began her degree: September 2018
Why did you choose McGill?
I wanted to experience living in Montreal and McGill has a great reputation academically.
What impressions do you have from those early days of your degree?
As I started my degree at McGill, I remember being very excited but also overwhelmed with finding a good balance between school and extracurriculars. I also appreciated the diversity of the city and everyone I was meeting.
Where were you and what were you doing the day McGill announced it was closing the campus because of COVID? How did you feel when you heard the news?
I had just gotten back from class when I checked my email and saw that McGill was closing the campus. The evolution from hearing about COVID-19 to packing my bags after finding out McGill was closing was a lot to wrap my head around. At the time I was in second year, and I did not expect to be living this new reality over 2 years later and now graduating.
What were your hopes, worries and fears during lockdown?
I was scared about how COVID-19 would impact my family and friends, hoping they were all able to stay isolated and safe in their homes. I also started working in a long-term residence that summer so that was something else I was nervous about in terms of getting proper personal protective equipment and the spread of the virus between work and home.
Did you have a lockdown hobby or undiscovered/rediscovered passion or talent?
I started running more which allowed me to get outside and exercise while staying physically distanced from others.
Were you able to return to clinical rotations while campus was still closed? What was it like to be learning in a hospital/clinical/lab setting at the height of the pandemic?
I was thankful to be able to return to my labs and clinicals as soon as the Fall 2020 semester started but there were a lot of adjustments. Our clinical placement in the hospital was grouped into one month of full-time work instead of two days per week throughout the semester, so planning my five other classes around that was a big change. Going to our labs and clinical were some of the only social interactions I had outside of my house, so it was nice to be able to see some familiar (masked) faces then. While it was a bit scary working in the hospital during the height of the pandemic, I was thankful to have in-person learning for my clinical placement, where I feel I really consolidated my theoretical knowledge.
What was the best thing about being back on campus when in-person activities were permitted again? What was the worst?
The best thing about returning to campus was seeing all the friends and classmates I would normally see on a day-to-day basis again. The worst thing was having to get up for my 8:30 classes again instead of watching them online on my own time.
What did you learn about yourself during lockdown?
I learned about my resiliency and ability to adjust to changes during lockdown, but I couldn’t have adapted the way I did without the support of my loved ones.
Did the pandemic change the course of your academic career or the path you hope to take?
I managed to stay on track with my degree and stayed in nursing, but the nursing profession has taken a hard hit with the pandemic so it will be a big learning curve as I start work.
What will you tell your grandkids/alien visitors/biographer about being a university student during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I would tell them it is something I learned a lot from but also something I hope they do not have to experience themselves.
What’s next after graduation?
I will be taking a graduation trip to Europe and then starting work as a nurse back in my hometown.
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