“It’s amazing to watch the transition that students make to thinking and behaving like true nurses in such a short time.”
While Jeff has been a valued part of the Practical Nursing (PN) program’s faculty for eight years, he has an even longer history with the College.
“I was a student here, starting my nursing education before heading to BCIT,” he said. “I’m still small college proud after all these years!”
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Jeff proceeded to earn a Master of Education. He has also completed the provincial Instructor Diploma program and is currently completing his Clinical Educator certification through the Canadian Nurse Educator Institute.
As an instructor for the PN program, Jeff primarily teaches first-year students in subjects like anatomy and physiology, nursing practice, and pharmacology. He is also responsible for leading practicum placements.
“I love teaching because I feel that, as nurses, we engage with people on a very real and visceral level in an effort to change the quality of their lives for the better,” he said. “As an instructor, I get to work with students who want to help others in this way. I have some of the best students in the College!”
Though he recognizes the value of the theoretical components of his teaching, it is working with the students in the lab that brings him the most joy.
“In a practical setting, students can change in ways that they can’t through just theory alone,” he said.
These students also help remind Jeff of the essential goodness of people.
“I’ve learned from my students to trust that people are primarily trying to do good,” he said. “Maybe it is the nature of the students I teach, but I’m shown year after year that there are people out there that still care for others, even if the others can’t reciprocate.”
As COVID-19 has had an impact on the hands-on instruction that is so key to the PN program, Jeff and his colleagues are finding creative ways to interact with students and are making the best of the time that they do spend in the lab.
“In a profession that has personal interaction at its core, we have to strive to connect with our students to the fullest extent possible,” he said. “I plan to use the technology available to make classes as organic as possible. As a department, we will support the students’ learning with online material and case studies so we can make more effective use of the time that we do have in the laboratory setting.”
Outside of his passion for nursing instruction, Jeff also enjoys cooking, eating good food, hiking, biking, playing soccer, and playing guitar. In fact, Jeff once played in an 80s cover band under the moniker of Jef Leppard.
His advice to College of the Rockies students?
“Treat everything as an opportunity to learn. No matter who you’re working with, they have something to teach you.”