February 24, 1998 NEWS Over The Edge Page 3 Post Diploma BSN Facing Potential Closure By Darla Dickinson The post diploma nursing program is facing potential close-out at UNBC. _ This decision could place the health care in the North at a definite disadvantage. UNBC is currently offering two nursing programs: The Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Programme (NCBNP), and the Post Diploma BSN. Both programs are important to the future health care in the north; but the Post Diploma graduates are the only ones with the knowledge, and experience to work in the specialty areas within a hos- pital (such as emergency). The two year Post Diploma program gives the Registered Nurses a chance to upgrade their training, and meet the shortage which is expected to hit Canada, and the North in the next five years. The Post Diploma program offers a serious incentive for Registered Nurses to come to the North, as it will provide them with further training in their field. The president of the Nursing Association at UNBC believes that “the health care of the people in the North will suffer more in the future, because of the dif- ficulties of attracting, and keeping nurses within the North.” The Association have worked all summer and fall in their efforts to convince the univer- sity, and the minister of edu- cation to reconsider the clo- sure of the Post Diploma achieve their BSN _ pro- Bachelor of gram. The Science in “Strongly, strongly P o s t hi s ben believes that the Post = loma : e . 4 pro- NCBNP is a Diploma— 26h _pro gram will go four year pro- gram offered gram = meets needs of students, the to senate on March 11 for at UNBC, and and perspective stu- the _ final is in collabo- gents in Northern decision. ration with the = Bo » The College. of ’ Nartha Maciood NCBNP N ew "takes its Caledonia (CNC), _ this Chair of the Nursing future grad- Program uates to the program allows students to become Registered Nurses. UNBC is unable to continue to offer both programs due to lack of funds. The NCBNP was originally in collaboration with the Northern Lights College, the Northwest Community College and CNC. The former two col- leges pulled out of the deal because of financial reasons. The NCBNP is the only pro- gramme offered north of Kamloops where students can become _ Registered Nurses. Due to the lack of nursing programmes offered in the North, it often makes it difficult. to attract, and keep nurses in this area. There is already a shortage of nurses in the North, and the number of new graduates coming out of NCBNP cannot hope to point where they can become new nurs- es. Unfortunately, these new nurses are not qualified, nor do they have the experience to work in specialty areas of a hospital. The Post Diploma BSN graduates have both the knowledge and experience behind them to work in these specialty areas. Martha Macleod, the Chair of the Nursing Program “Strongly, strongly believes that the Post Diploma BSN program meets the needs of students, and perspective students in Northern BC. It prepares nurses to step into intermediate, and advanced roles in the hospitals, and communities. Having well prepared nurses is going to be critical in the nursing shortage that we are begin- ning to face.” Nurses © Prince with 125 members of the public, students and profes- sors to hear the Chairwoman of the Council of Canadians, Maude Barlow, speak about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). Introduced by Molly Eichar, Barlow started ‘by talking about the loss of Canadian sovereignty through the MAI. “Under the MAI, transnation- al corporations can sue gov- ernments if the government bring in laws that the transna- tionals believe are _ profit inhibiting,” said Barlow. Barlow went on to say that this would effective handcuff all levels of government. “If the government enforced its law to prevent pollution, this could lead to a law suit and if Fri. Feb. 27, 1998 Sat. Feb. 28, 1998 KISSED -Lynne Stopkewich Sun. Mar 1, 1998 7:00 9.00] FIRE - Deepa Mehta Ticket Prices Tickets Available at: George-The Weldwood theatre was filled TWILIGHT OF THE ICE NYMPHS -Guy Madden - a twisted Garden of Eden -a visual feast! with WAITING FOR TWILIGHT -Noam Gonick BARBECUE ... A LOVE STORY - Stacy Kirk Set in Trailer Trash limbo this fs filmed in the style of the Cohen Bros. "indisputably impressive."- The Globe and Mail GERRY & LOUISE - Sturia Gunnarsson a look at one of the most unusual love stories in South Africa with KID NERD- Shereen Jerrett THE HANGING GARDEN-thom Fitzgerald a half slice-of-life drama, half surrealist fantasy Books & Company or Mosquito Books the transnational won the suit, any penalties paid by the company would have to be returned with what the com- - pany thought was lost profit. Referred to her draft copy, Barlow stated that the MAI is ‘NAFTA on steroids’ and that this would greatly effect many aspects of Canadian’s lives. “Culture, energy and health care are just a few of the areas that are not exempted from the MAI. Through the MAI, subsides for culture or local development projects could be called unfair trade practices,” said Barlow. “The point to the MAI is deregulate and privatize all public agencies.” All is not lost though, Canada has taken a leader- ship role in analyzing the MAI. Arn THEATRE ‘Nonri Wesr presents Moving Pictures Canadian Films on Tour Feb. 27, 28 & Mar. 1 GENERATIONAL ANXIETIES Parenting is a leap into the void! Four finely crafted, intensely thoughtful films THE SWEET HEREAFTER: Atom Egoyan Intemationally heralded winner of Cannes’ Grand Prix voted best Canadian film at the Vancouver Film Festival $1 Membership Fee $15 Saturday Pass $36 Festival Pass $15 Sunday Pass $11 Friday Pass $7 Single Tickets sa Barlow stated that she thinks that the global economy is inevitable but MAI is the worst way to set up trade agreements. A lively question and answer period followed Barlow’s speech. Leanna Chatten, spokesper- son for the MAI action group, stated that getting Maude Barlow to come to talk at UNBC was a lot of work. “Maude was really easy to talk to and really down to -earth. Having Maude visit really helps boost the local awareness,” said Chatten. For more information about the MAI or the Council of Canadians, visit the PRIG office in beside the book- store.