Diana

Driskell

Nurse Practitioner Program, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Winnipeg, MB

My decision to register at Lakehead was originally determined simply based on my relocation to the city. My husband grew up in the small town of Marathon, and much of his family was in the Thunder Bay area. Upon his University graduation from Brandon University, which is where we met, he hoped to return home to be closer to family. Once relocating, I did some research into Lakehead University, and quickly realized Lakehead was the place for me to continue my own studies.  There was support from the beginning to guide me through the application process, and all of my questions were answered in a timely fashion, making the transfer easy.

I entered into the Compressed Bachelor of Science Nursing Program, and it didn’t take long for me to feel that this was going to be a great ride. The program had excellent professors and instructors, a continuous stream of support and guidance right up to the Director of Nursing, and the quality of education was worth every long night spent studying in the library.  Prior to finishing my undergrad, I knew my next educational journey would also start and finish at Lakehead. 

After graduation from my undergrad in 2011, I worked fulltime as a Surgical Registered Nurse at the TBRHSC. I became involved in Lakehead University’s Nursing Program by teaching the Clinical Skills practice lab for the next two years, as well as Clinical Instructing at the TBRHSC with 2nd, 3rd and 4th year nursing students. While doing clinical teaching and nursing, I began full-time studies in my Master’s program in 2013, and then proceeded to take the Nurse Practitioner program in 2014, which I will complete this July. 

Lakehead prepared me for my Graduate studies by offering quality education, taught by some of the best in the field. Having the opportunity to work along side some of these academics has allowed me to fulfill some of my own career aspirations, to work at a University level, in a field I wish to work in for decades to come. As a Nurse Practitioner, I wish to work in a Family Practice and Acute care setting, particularly specializing in wound and trauma care.

There were a great variety of courses and topics covered, for which enlightened and created a well-rounded nursing student, for which I am most proud to have been a part of. It has been years since I was a first year nursing student, but I still receive the same friendly greetings, support and nursing love from the faculty when I walk through; many still remember my name. That is Lakehead University for you.

This graduate program that I am about to finish will not be my last, and I am certain to find myself at the front steps of Lakehead University in the near future. I can’t imagine attending anywhere else.