A La Ronge nursing student will be joining the frontlines of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaylara Gray is graduating from Northlands College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Gray is among 11 students graduating from the program.
The class curriculum went online in March due to social-distancing protocols.
Gray said she and her classmates were also unable to complete their practicums.
Unlike most nursing classes in the past, this class is graduating in the midst of a global pandemic.
Gray said she views starting her nursing career during this time as a chance to gain some great hands-on experience.
“Going into something like this as a new nurse is a great learning opportunity,” she said. “Just because, when will you ever experience this again and it can help you learn for the future if it does ever happen again.”
While excited to begin working as a nurse, Gray said she’s also nervous about starting out during a health pandemic.
However, she said she will have a support system of other nurses and healthcare staff to make it less daunting.
“Working as a nurse, you could be scared every day because you never know what’s going to happen. There are some things out there that are pretty scary but as long as you take the right precautions and you have a good team to work with to help you out, you should be fine.”
Gray said she is still deciding whether she wants to work at a hospital or a care home.
She added she hasn’t heard if Northlands College will be holding graduation ceremonies.
The nursing graduation ceremony had been scheduled to take place May 8.
(PHOTO: Kaylara Gray. Photo courtesy Kaylara Gray.)