Nurse fights the good fight

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/05/2020 (2184 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kirkfield Park is full of great people. In recognition of National Nursing Week (May 11 to 17), we share the story of Allison Culligan, one of our own Kirkfield Park residents who is also a nurse at the Grace Hospital.

In 2008, Allison’s family moved to Winnipeg from Nova Scotia when her husband Chris was posted to 17 Wing. It was during that time, while raising three boys under the age of seven, that Allison decided to go into nursing, embarking on a career in health care. She is now a nurse in the Grace Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Speaking highly of her colleagues in the field, Allison shared stories of her recent experiences at the Grace. With COVID-19 changing the way we connect with each other, patients in ICU are unable to receive visitors. When that decision was announced Allison noticed that a pair of med students took the time to set up technology so that patients could video-chat with their loved ones, creatively continuing to provide the best care they can give.

Allison’s family understands how important it is to be able to connect with loved ones. They are coping with the recent passing of her mother-in-law at a nursing home in Nova Scotia, and the passing of military colleagues who were killed in the helicopter crash in Greece. Despite the grief, Allison stressed that she and her colleagues love their jobs and their patients are getting the best care they can possibly get even with their loved ones not being able to be there in person.

Picking up additional hours to assist with care at the hospitals has meant less family time for Allison. Her oldest son is set to graduate from Sturgeon Heights Collegiate this year, and her two youngest are missing their friends from Sturgeon Heights and from Lincoln Middle Schools Allison admits it’s been challenging to juggle home-schooling with work — something that many parents can relate to. Despite all of this, Allison maintains a positive attitude and chooses to recognize the good she sees people doing to help others, celebrating the small victories day by day.

These are interesting times we’re in, and everyone is facing different challenges. Thanks to Allison for sharing her story, and to all of the essential workers who are continue to keep people healthy, nourished, and safe as we work to re-open the province for business. We are in this together.

As always you can reach me by calling 204-889-0540, or emailing me at scott@scottfielding.ca.