Single moms tackle nursing studies at Gabriel Dumont

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Being a student is difficult enough when one is out on her own, but what happens when a student is not alone? What happens when a student, before going to classes, has to take care of someone very precious to them. Then at the end of their own school day, has to go and pick up this precious person or persons to take them home with them, so they could feed and care for them before putting them to bed, and still find time to perhaps finish up a long essay for the next day?

Such is the case with several students enrolled in post-secondary education, who also happen to be single parents. In years past, programs that would take childcare into consideration were almost non-existent. But now, thanks to the flexibility of certain programs, some students living in or near the Prince Albert area are able to achieve their academic goals, with the hopes of their experiences leading to finding permanent, well-paying employment to support their families.

One such program is the Licensed Practical Nursing program, an 18-month course offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) that prepares nurses with a lot of hands-on experience as well as classroom theory.

Both Anna Thommes and Laureena McCallum are in the final four weeks of the course, and both are single parents. However, their routes to the GDI program were very different.

"My auntie, she's the principal at Charlebois school at Cumberland House," said Thommes, "and she's the one that told me about this program here in [Prince Albert]."

McCallum found out about the program while she was still living in her home community of Buffalo Narrows, Sask., when she spotted information about the program that was posted at the Metis Employment Training Centre. McCallum decided to apply to get into the program "because I was always interested in working in the health field and working with patients."

Thommes realized nursing might be her calling because of her interest in working with and caring for others.

"I've always been interested in working with people, and I did care for my grandfather and my auntie who were ill, and I just enjoy it," Thommes said.

Both students were in agreement about what part of the program they've enjoyed the most.

"I love the practicum. It's better than just sitting working in the classroom," said Thommes.

"I like doing the clinical work at Victoria Hospital," McCallum added.

And how have their children adapted to the changes in their home lives as a result of their mother's post-secondary studies? Both Thommes and McCallum had to move away from their home communities in order to attend the program in Prince Albert.

"It was really hard, but between sick kids and trying to study, it was harder trying to make classes," said McCallum, whose children made the move to Prince Albert with her.

"They go to a daycare, and it's hard that they were sick. I really didn't know anyone from Prince Albert," she added. "[My kids have] always been in daycare, because either I've always been working or going to school. The first day, they took it hard, where they had to go to a strange daycare in a bigger city, but they're used to it now."

For Thommes, who chose to leave her son in the care of her mother back home, the adjustments have been different, but no less challenging.

"It's kind of hard to leave him, but I knew it would be better off for him to leave him there in Cumberland," she said.

"At first, it was hard for him, but now, he's come to accept it, and he's really excited for me."

And what advice would the two students give to other single parents thinking about taking the Licensed Practical Nursing program?

"It's really worth it," said Thommes. "You get a lot out of it."

McCallum has already been asked this question by a friend of hers, who is also a single mother.

"It's not hard, you don't get as detailed classes like you would if you took registered nursing. I told my friend it was a really good course."