SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
For Fraser Lennie, caring for Northerners is a privilege. "This is my home," said Lennie, who graduated from Aurora College's nursing program in 2008.

Fraser Lennie graduated from Aurora College in 2008. Now he works at Stanton Hospital as a patient care co-ordinator and registered float nurse. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Now he works at Stanton Territorial Hospital as a patient care co-ordinator and registered float nurse. He takes pride in developing a close rapport with patients and their families. Stanton has provided him many opportunities to work in different areas of nursing.

"The hospital was so supportive to me as a new grad and I really felt at home," said Lennie. "Stanton Hospital has been a great workplace."

His bachelor of science in nursing is from the University of Victoria, but he completed the entire program in Yellowknife.

Class was a support group for Lennie, with students all helping each other and acting as a family.

"Nursing school is tough stuff," he said. "It takes a lot of work and commitment. I am thankful to my peers for their support and encouragement."

In his second year at Aurora, Lennie helped deliver a baby.

"I was helping to bring little ones into this world," he recalled. "It is a proud memory of mine."

During school he had the opportunity to complete practicums across the country, with one at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver working with HIV patients and another at Canuck Place Children's Hospice.

"These were surreal experiences," said Lennie.

"I learned how to provide care to patients with chronic illness and to children who are terminally ill."

He also worked at Regina's Pasqua Hospital in the emergency unit.

Aurora College is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its registered nurse program this year.

Kerry Lynn Durnford, senior instructor in the Aurora's nursing program, said the program is a significant achievement for the North.

"It allows Northerners to be educated with a baccalaureate degree in their home territory and then continue to work in their hometowns," she said.

In the last three years, 66 per cent of graduates in the program have stayed in the North.

Two hundred and seventy people have graduated since its inauguration.

"A large number of those were born and raised in the North and continue to work in the North," said Durnford. "That is very important for this territory."

Lennie said he liked the small class sizes. "They pushed me to think critically, which is so valuable in health care," he said.

"I loved the program for being able to stay at home while I went to school."

He thinks nursing is a great career.

"I encourage everyone who has an interest in helping people to give it a shot. It is very challenging but also rewarding."

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