Dixie Weber grant appreciated by Vicki Kubik

Vicki Kubik

Toni Lucas

The first ever round of grants for the Dixie Weber Staff Education Bursary have been awarded by Crowsnest Pass Health Foundation. The fund was recently established by the family of Dixie Weber as a memorial tribute, and the funds are intended to assist medical professionals in broadening their skills and thereby enhancing local health care services. Funds are allocated in two annual funding periods during the spring and fall. Six awards of various amounts totaling close to $5,200.00 were distributed this first round. The successful applicants included two health care aides, two ER nurses and a nurse in Acute Care, and Palliative Care Nurse Consultant Vicki Kubik.
"What I do is work as a palliative care nurse," explained Kubik. "What my role is is to provide pain and symptom management for clients that are nearing the end of life." Many of the people that she cares for have cancer or other terminal conditions. "We bring forward the most current information and research based evidence that we have for providing the best care." To do this requires good communication throughout the health care team and good education.

Kubik is currently working on a Masters Degree in Nursing. The $1,400 that was awarded to her by this grant will cover the tuition for one of the 11 courses she will be taking between now and when she hopes to graduate in the spring of 2016. "I am so appreciative. As a student going to school, it's difficult to afford advanced education. Without the support of things like the Dixie Weber Fund it would be very cost prohibitive to go to school." said Kubik. "When you can access funding it really helps to relieve some of the stress associated with being an adult learner. Going to school and juggling a whole life, work life, school life and trying to make it all fit and work." Kubik moved into the Crowsnest Pass when she was eight years old, and is proud to still call it her home.

Believing that education is a lifelong goal, Kubik received her initial nursing diploma through Mount Royal College, her Bachelor of nursing degree in Lethbridge University 1993, and her Hospice Palliative Care Certification through Grant McEwan 2012.

"We try to make ensure that the clients that access care in the rural area have services as good as in an urban area. It's really about supporting the community and providing them with the best care available."

"I am very excited for this program as it benefits employees that work in our facility," said Crowsnest Pass Health Centre Acute Care Manager Elizabeth Cook. "Three of the recipients work for me on the acute care side and this has really opened up some doors for people to branch out and take opportunity to further their education, sometimes in areas that haven’t been looked into before. My staff have shared this newly acquired knowledge and skills with their co-workers, which makes it a win-win situation for the whole facility. I couldn’t be happier for them."

Full time and part-time staff of Crowsnest Pass Health Centre are eligible to apply for funding, including: Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Attendants, Allied Health including Laboratory, Medical Imaging, Respiratory, and Recreation Therapists. The grants are to help cover the costs of course fees and / or educational materials.