Speech: Rita McGregor Excellence in Nursing Education Award

2010 Winner: LAURA MILLIGAN, LPN

by Rita McGregor

I have had the privilege of knowing Laura Milligan throughout most of her career and I am convinced she was born with a huge smile on her face and an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm.

Soon after graduation, Laura completed the Advanced Orthopedics course for LPNs and knew then this was where her passion was. She began working at the Royal Alexander Hospital Emergency and soon became a preceptor for other LPNs taking the orthopedic course. As her knowledge and experience increased, and her strong belief in this role for LPNs, Laura soon began to question why the Advanced Orthopedic course was not being instructed by LPNs in the classroom setting. It did not take long for Laura to convince NorQuest College of this concept but also that she was the one capable of taking on the role of primary instructor. As a result, she is today responsible for the day-to-day activities of the program, student tutoring, clinical follow-up, workshops and contract issues throughout Alberta and British Columbia.

Laura is 100% committed to her students and their learning. Her humor, enthusiasm, initiative and passionate teaching style is evident and respected by her employers and peers. They all see the great faith she has in the LPN profession.

Each student is treated with respect and she will go the extra mile for anyone requiring one on one tutoring or extra support. She is known for her flexibility, creativity and innovation in teaching. She has been known to come in on her days off or readily stay late to ensure deadlines are met and student’s issues have been dealt with effectively.

Laura is willing to do things differently and work professionally in difficult situations. Laura looks for new education techniques and had the idea to integrate interdisciplinary learning via the Client Simulation Lab and as a result designed a simulation lab practice for the orthopedic students to augment their learning experience. This has proven to be very effective.

Her passion, confidence and commitment to this program and NorQuest College have given the College and her ability to develop a large network of employers in Alberta and some seven Hospitals in British Columbia. Laura treats each facility as an individual and customizes the workshops and clinical to meet their individual needs. The term “one size fits all” is not part of her vocabulary.

Laura has developed strong relationships with several health publishing companies along with health equipment companies. She is always in search of the best books and materials for her students. Because of her strong knowledge base and expertise in the area of Orthopedics, she sits on a number of provincial committees and is often requested to speak to orthopedic specialist, nurses and managers.

Laura continues to work part-time in the emergency department at the Royal Alex in order to keep her skills current, stay up to date with new methodology and to keep open communication with the surgeon and doctors in the Edmonton area.

Laura is loved and respected by her employer and colleagues. Without a doubt, Laura Milligan is a very worthy recipient of the 2010 Rita McGregor Excellence in Nursing Education and Preceptor Award.

Photo (l-r) Laura Milligan, LPN and Rita McGregor (photo by Carolyn Black)

Speech: Rita McGregor Excellence in Nursing Education Award

2010 Winner: LAURA MILLIGAN, LPN

by Rita McGregor

I have had the privilege of knowing Laura Milligan throughout most of her career and I am convinced she was born with a huge smile on her face and an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm.

Soon after graduation, Laura completed the Advanced Orthopedics course for LPNs and knew then this was where her passion was. She began working at the Royal Alexander Hospital Emergency and soon became a preceptor for other LPNs taking the orthopedic course. As her knowledge and experience increased, and her strong belief in this role for LPNs, Laura soon began to question why the Advanced Orthopedic course was not being instructed by LPNs in the classroom setting. It did not take long for Laura to convince NorQuest College of this concept but also that she was the one capable of taking on the role of primary instructor. As a result, she is today responsible for the day-to-day activities of the program, student tutoring, clinical follow-up, workshops and contract issues throughout Alberta and British Columbia.

Laura is 100% committed to her students and their learning. Her humor, enthusiasm, initiative and passionate teaching style is evident and respected by her employers and peers. They all see the great faith she has in the LPN profession.

Each student is treated with respect and she will go the extra mile for anyone requiring one on one tutoring or extra support. She is known for her flexibility, creativity and innovation in teaching. She has been known to come in on her days off or readily stay late to ensure deadlines are met and student’s issues have been dealt with effectively.

Laura is willing to do things differently and work professionally in difficult situations. Laura looks for new education techniques and had the idea to integrate interdisciplinary learning via the Client Simulation Lab and as a result designed a simulation lab practice for the orthopedic students to augment their learning experience. This has proven to be very effective.

Her passion, confidence and commitment to this program and NorQuest College have given the College and her ability to develop a large network of employers in Alberta and some seven Hospitals in British Columbia. Laura treats each facility as an individual and customizes the workshops and clinical to meet their individual needs. The term “one size fits all” is not part of her vocabulary.

Laura has developed strong relationships with several health publishing companies along with health equipment companies. She is always in search of the best books and materials for her students. Because of her strong knowledge base and expertise in the area of Orthopedics, she sits on a number of provincial committees and is often requested to speak to orthopedic specialist, nurses and managers.

Laura continues to work part-time in the emergency department at the Royal Alex in order to keep her skills current, stay up to date with new methodology and to keep open communication with the surgeon and doctors in the Edmonton area.

Laura is loved and respected by her employer and colleagues. Without a doubt, Laura Milligan is a very worthy recipient of the 2010 Rita McGregor Excellence in Nursing Education and Preceptor Award.

Photo (l-r) Laura Milligan, LPN and Rita McGregor (photo by Carolyn Black)