Long-term care nurse caps career with master’s degree
Transforming Lives: Learners of AU is an ongoing series where real students and alumni share how flexible online learning at Athabasca University made a difference in their lives and communities. Submit your story.
Who knew? As an experienced nurse, I thought I was at the end of my nursing education when I finished my bachelor of science in nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).
Little did I know what was waiting for me at Athabasca University in Alberta.
I did some digging at the end of my degree in June 2004. It was a busy year for my husband and me because we were getting married that summer.
I managed to get everything submitted on time and in September 2004 I started my Master of Nursing degree. I graduated in 2008 and was thrilled with my academic results.
“Little did I know what was waiting for me at Athabasca University in Alberta.”
– Deb Jenkins (Master of Nursing '08), retired nurse
Studying sexuality and intimacy in long-term care
My focus for my master’s degree at AU was on sexuality and intimacy in long-term care.
It was a perfect topic me to hone in on. I had been a long-term care nurse for many years and at the time was working for Ontario’s health ministry as a best practice coordinator. The role was about improving the lives of those who both live and work in long-term care.
‘Treated like a queen’ at convocation
My husband and I attended my graduation in the fall of 2008 and it was thrilling to say the least. We spent three days in Edmonton and I was treated like a queen—we all were.
It was so nice to meet all those I had worked with throughout the course of my master’s.
Our poster work was on display and it was a great opportunity to share our work.
As fate would have it, this wasn’t my last visit to Alberta. Later in my career, I worked as a community nurse in Fox Lake, a remote First Nations community in northern Alberta.
My education at Athabasca University helped shape my future endeavours as a master’s-prepared nurse. Thank you!
Transforming Lives: Learners of AU
Read more profiles of AU students and grads in our series Transforming Lives: Learners of AU.
