Yellowknife (Sep 03/04) - Excitement mingled with relief last Friday for the first graduates of the Stanton Territorial Health Authority's new perinatal postgraduate certification program, as the first of two pilot runs wrapped up.

The course is designed to give registered nurses with limited obstetrics experience -- or none at all -- the training they need for obstetrics work.

Obstetrics -- also known as perinatal care -- is the branch of medicine dealing with the care of women before, during and after pregnancy.

Previously, Yellowknife nurses would have had to go to Edmonton for a 12-week training program in the field. That time commitment was too much for most nurses so the Department of Health, in concert with Aurora College, arranged to buy the licence for the program and hold it in the North, said program co-ordinator Helen Goodwin.

"It's the exact same program as Edmonton's," said Goodwin. The only difference is that the 12-week program extends over 20 weeks here.

"We had to extend the length so the nurses could see as many patients as they would in the south."

Because the program is still in its pilot phase, there was no tuition fee. However, the nurses did have to pay their own living expenses when they went to Edmonton for four weeks to train on equipment not available in the North.

The course's six graduates -- Cora Veilhauer, Cora Blanchette, Melissa Davey, Kathy Rene, Tannis Hushagen and Liane Ohrling -- are not just registered nurses, now they're obstetrics nurses, too.

"Obstetrics work has been a dream since before I became a nurse," said graduate Tannis Hushagen. "It was a goal and I've reached it."

She said having the program in Yellowknife helped a lot.

"It was great. I would never have done it if I had to go down south for months at a time."

Kathy Rene echoed Hushagen's sentiment.

"I couldn't have done it without this program -- single mom, four kids," she said. "Edmonton's great, but the level of care here is incredible."

Rene said she got into obstetrics "to facilitate that transition from being a couple to being a family. It's a good part of life."

Melissa Davey pointed out having obstetrics nurses provides for continuity of care. "It allows the nurse and the mother to be very empowered."

Cora Blanchette, who with Liane Ohrling, is one of the two graduates with some obstetrics experience, praised the value of the program.

"I liked it very much. I learned a lot," she said, recommending the program and adding she hopes the hospital continues with it -- a view echoed by the other grads.

The second pilot program begins in October, Goodwin said.

She adds, the new graduates will be a big boost to staffing levels in the obstetrics ward.

"When can you start working?" she joked as she congratulated the graduates.