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<\/p>\nOriginally from the small town of Chippawa, Ontario, near Niagara Falls, Marnie Ceccato-White now calls Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, home. As part of the first nursing class to access the satellite site in Gander, she\u2019s embraced the unique opportunity to help shape what future rural nursing education might look like in the province.<\/p>\n
Marnie isn\u2019t new to healthcare. Before starting her nursing studies, she spent 16 years as a medical technician in the Canadian Armed Forces, training as both a primary care paramedic and a clinical medic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a medic, the more you rise through the ranks, the less patient care you actually do,\u201d she says. \u201cThat hands-on patient care is what I love. It’s where I think I thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
That desire to stay directly involved in patient care ultimately led her to pursue a career in nursing.<\/p>\n
Nursing school has allowed Marnie to explore the nuances between pre-hospital and in-hospital care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe roles and the stressors are so similar, yet very different,\u201d she notes. \u201cContinuing hands-on care has been the highlight of this program for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the most meaningful experiences of her training have been the variety of clinical placements: from General Surgery to Dialysis, and from Long-Term Care to the OR.<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding care is always the best part,\u201d she says. \u201cBut collaborating with nurses across so many specialties really showed me the strength of teamwork. Speaking with skilled nurses in their departments speaks volumes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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As a parent, time management has been one of the biggest challenges of nursing school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it would be tough to organize life,\u201d she admits. \u201cDuring hockey season, I\u2019m often on the road with one kid or another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marnie has developed creative coping strategies, including studying at the rink. \u201cWhether in a dressing room or a vehicle, I find a place to make it work.\u201d<\/p>\n
One particularly tough day stands out. \u201cMy husband was away, two kids were up sick most of the night, and I still showed up for a 12-hour clinical shift.\u201d<\/p>\n
Set to graduate in 2026, Marnie\u2019s post-graduation path will begin with a posting by the Canadian Armed Forces, most likely in an acute care setting in a major city.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat fast-paced environment\u2014where you need to solve problems quickly and make informed decisions\u2014is right up my alley,\u201d she says. Eventually, she\u2019s considering returning to school to become a Nurse Practitioner.<\/p>\n
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Above all, Marnie wants to be known as a nurse who is both competent and compassionate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want patients to leave my care feeling truly well cared for,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s what matters most to me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From Chippawa to Gander Originally from the small town of Chippawa, Ontario, near Niagara Falls, Marnie Ceccato-White now calls Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, home. As part of the first nursing class to access the satellite site in Gander, she\u2019s embraced the unique opportunity to help shape what future rural nursing education might look like in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[89,90],"class_list":["post-1256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nursing-matters","tag-national-nursing-week","tag-student-nurse-day"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n