4 Nursing program fills gaps _and provides opportunity By ROD LINK | The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - A3 News In Brief 3 Bridgework i in Nass ALTHOUGH A multimillion highway improvement project leading into the Nass Valley and in the valley may be coming to an end this year, the transportation - ministry still has two bridge replacement projects that are not part of that multi-year plan to be done. of Ruskin Construction of Prince George has a $1.6 million contract as part of an overall $2.1 million cost - to replace the Ksi Xyans Bridge in Greenville. Work | . started in February and the anticipated completion date is the end of June. “ = The second bridge project is.larger at_an estimated cost of $4 million and will be at No Name Creek, which is on the way to Greenville, past the western end’ of the lava bed memorial park. : Four previous bridges have washed out there in re- cent. years because the creek continually changes: its course, but transportation ministry official George Lo- oo ‘mas says ministry officials are confi dent this one won’t “be affected. That project will start this year but won't finish until next year. . DEMAND FOR Northwest Community College’s licensed practical nurses continues unabated with facilities already wanting to hire this year’s graduates ]:- who officially don’t finish - “until September. 'E 7 This is the fourth such - 'Class* ‘since the college opened a 12-month licensed practical nursing (LPN) pro- — “gram after an earlier one for — registered nurses was shut . down-in the early: 1990s. “We would hire two full: “time and look at at least two. ' to five for casual positions,” » § Says Northern Health: Au- thority administrator Rowe- - na Holoien who looks after Mills Memorial Hospital. — .. . Holoien and other health (care, administrators __ prize licensed practical ‘nurses _» because their training: is ad- vanced,’ 7 LPNs can now perform : duties that could once only . be undertaken by registered “nurses. _ And with registered nurs- es in short supply, having a home-grown program pro- ducing LPNs for the area is” Victim not in child seat ‘A BABY who perished along with her mother and grandfather when their vehicle went off the road. near : McBride last year died from a severe head injury, according to the Coroner’s report. 9 '. .Ava Elaine Soucie, four:months, was riding from | Terrace-to..Calgary’ with her mother Trena in a truck... | driven ‘by ‘her’ grandfather ® ‘Roger when. the vehicle” L.. crossed the centre line into the westbound lane of Hwy _[ 16 and collided head-on with a tractor trailer unit short- ' ly after 4: 30 p.m. June 4, 2005... a The coroner’s report said the infant and her mother” were in the rear bench seat of the truck at the time of the accident. Sn ~. Ava-was not in the child carrier, which ¥ was: found sey facing rearward, belted in with the lap and shoulder belt mo LICENSED practical nursing graduates: Bailey Wagner, Laura Whitaker and Amy McCall, play with their stetho-. . - scopes at their Northwest Community College graduation ceremony at R.E.M: Lee Theatre May 13. The.gradu- ates are in high demand due a shortage of registered nurses. ‘DUSTIN QUEZADA. PHOTO | _ welcome, she said. — “LPNs: certainly have ‘helped us with the shortage of registered nurses,” said Holoien. - . The local availability of LPNs has meant that Mills and other health care facili- ties have’changed their nurs- “ing care.models to reflect the growin LPN role. “LPNs are certainly now, part of the team approach © to nursing,”. said Holoien. “Because of their increased scope of practice, they are able to do a lot more on. the _ floor.” Michele Nehring, a regis- tered nurse who is both the coordinator and an instruc- otor.of the LPN program, estimates * that half of the graduates ‘of ‘the first three. classes :are working in the _. “Terraceview Lodge and Mills Memorial took a lot” the first year, And we have graduates in Smithers but [RG . also in’Vancouver and some _ said have gone to Alberta,” Nehring. “I just got a call from Prince. George - [Regional Hospital] saying please send . us your graduates,” she add- ed. _ last year’s class. ' The students are now ‘wrapping up their theory _ before heading into the field for a five-week clinical ex- perience stint. This is followed by, a five;week spreceptorship. in whi student is assigned * . This year’s class of 20 :@ students is the same size.as * uafes. “ -ROWENA HOLOIEN - half are. signed up immedi- ately,” said Nehring of grad- to # working ifiirse, also for “Who aré“Hired“immiediately five weeks. most likely have built a con- e,,athers, follow a, a littte while after' that. Those! ; northwest. GuaranteedInvestmentCertificates are popular investments. GICs are low risk, and they guarantee a fixed return. That's why they're appealing to investors looking for a safe haven for their money. But if you overload your portfolio with GICs, you are taking chances- _ -mainly the risk of missing out.on— potential investment. returns. A ““T would say probably nection through clinical ex- ARE GIC’S ENOUGH government bonds, zero-coupon bonds, high-quality ~ dividend-paying common stocks, preferred shares, and bond mutual funds or other income- oriented mutual funds. You may be able to generate higher returns than GICs, while still keeping a lid on risk. . If you do invest in GICs, make sure’ you get the highest possible returns through a strategy known as “laddering.” For example,:if you have portfolio consisting largely - of GICs $25,000 to invest you would is likely to considerably _underperform one... with a healthy proportion of growth investments. — That's why GICs aren't enough for your portfolio. GiCs_ provide safety of principal, but not the growth. every portfolio needs. GICs generate low returns: relative to many other Kevin Marleau Investment Represenvaive ladder by putting $5,000 in one, two, three, four. and ‘five-year GICs. When the year certificate, which will provide you with the highest available interest rate at GIC matures in two years, investments. Sometimes they. may not even keep up with _inflation, which means the money you invest will buy less in the future. There's a tax disadvantage, as well. Outside a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) .or other registered investments, interest is fully taxable. So, GICs don't offer the tax breaks you'll get with investments | that generate capital gains and | dividend income. Plus, GICs tock in your money for a specified period, making it difficult or impossible to | access cash in an emergency. This isn’t to say GICs have no place in a portfolio. They can be suitable as a wealth-preservation tool and an important element of an investment strategy as you grow older and are less inclined to put retirement savings at risk. But you'll still need growth to protect purchasing power. When you're younger, GICs have less of a role to play. Instead, you should concentrate on _ growth because your time horizon will allow these investments to make a major contribution to your financial goals. When conservative investments are on the agenda, you should also consider GIC alternatives. These invest in another five-year Gic-and so on; until all your money is | invested in five-year securities. From that point on, you will have a five-year GIC coming due every year. And try to-keep GICs in.your RRSP or RRIF, . where taxes are deferred. Your. investment representative can help you, decide whether GICs are right. for you, and recommend suitable investments for a well- rounded portfolio. 7 MEMBER CIPF UPCOMING SEMINARS. RULES OF THE ROAD STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING SOLID STOCK PORTFOLIOS Tuesday, May 30th - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3rd - 1:00 p.m. ~ at the Edward Jones Office — - Please Call Kevin To Reserve Your Seat at 638-1202 or 1-877-638-1202. Edwardjones Serving Individual Investors 107-4716 Lazelle Avenue Terrace, B.C., V8G 112 (250) 638-1202 or 1-877-638-1202 first GIC matures in.a year, reinvest the money ina five- that time. When the second. , perience.” , The Northern Health Au- . thority’ s Holoien said Mills Memorial has hired 14 LPNs ‘in recent years. Although . the . college’s ‘S) oprogram is aimed at filling health care vacancies, Neh-. a}. ring says it also plays an im- . ~ portant.role for women who - live in the northwest. That’s because regions - such as thé north. haven’t had a tradition or capability of being able to train women B for higher paying jobs, ‘said ‘Nehring. : : “A woman. can now get the skills for a career that: not only pays well but she now has skills that she can transfer, out,of the region to. places ; :where she is in de- “mand. They” have options,” : she said. - Nehring’s particularly co WA mae “LC! happy that. the scope of an — _LPN’s work has expanded because it gives them an en- - hanced role. “An LPN can now step — into a team leader’s role at Terraceview, for instance,.. - and an LPN can now give injections,” she said. © » “And I can. tell, you that - I’m really: proud: of our. stu- dents. Their course takes 12 months. There.are no breaks. - Iv s very hard and they have . to stay” focussed, ” Nehring added. She _ said northwestern health care. facilities, and their administrators, instruc- tors and patients have done much to embrace the NWCC “program. oo. iss ta ; “Its been guite ‘amazing. : We've just had so much sup- port and that’s been key to the program,” said Nehring. Agel bybytitevretevtaybetaybey nd cyber 2 THE TERRACE COMMUNITY BAND | it IN. co INI ¢ = RT _ CELEBRATING | Musical Director - Susan Brouwer _in the right front seat of the vehicle. of a 1990 Dodge van. - after the vehicle stalled while attempting to leave: the parking lot. . bomber-style jacket and blue jeans ¢.y~ ee te ye tri _ be more than $3,000. Those with information can call . : Crimestoppers at 635- 8477. The coroner’s report said no. conclusive evidence was found to explain why the pickup crossed the centre line of the highway into oncoming traffic. Police request help 4931. Walsh Ave. May 15, say ‘Terrace RCMP officers : investigating the incident. . dee _ Just after 6 am., a dark’ green 192 Ford Explorer & driven by the girl, struck the driver’s side of a.1992' }) GMC Suburban: and then backed into the: driver’ s ‘side : ‘The driver and her female passenger fled on foot Both are described as caucasian females about 15- or 16-years-old with short brown hair. The driver wore a_ pink jacket and black jeans. The passenger wore a white Police estimate the damage toall. three Vehicles to” WITH MUSIC A Special Musical Evening Dedicated to Volunteer Community Groups _ who are contributing i ina phenomenal way to the Spirit of Terrace 7 A Special Tribute t to Vesta 3 Douglas and J sim Ryan - ‘ Solo Performances by: -YWette Bos - Clan! ¢ Andrew Johnstone - Trumpet ¢ -Nirbar lt Percission. A Special Band Performance of Jim Ryan's original composition — “The Spirit Of Terrace” AND MORE! . R.E.M. LEE THEATRE| Friday, May 26 - 7:30 PM ~* General Admission $5.00 * Children Under 12 Free. Ss. Net Proceeds to be Donaied to the Terrace Food Bank Funding provided by BC Gaming Commission through affiliation with the Luck Dollar Bingo Palace ‘THREE VEHICLES sustained thousands of dollars [*s °° in damage after a teen drove around the parking lot at coal dE . femme 5 » | include: Canada Savings Bonds,. ae a ee ee Te ee aaa ara a rar err aay ee eee wa sy ST Se