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50 years and going strong

Barrhead’s June Kaus celebrates golden anniversary as an LPN
June Kause copy
Barrhead LPN June Kaus is celebrating her 50th anniversary as a nurse this year, saying she has no plans to retire. Barry Kerton/BL

BARRHEAD- When June Kaus was a student at Barrhead's Lorne Jenkins High School, she had no idea that a part-time job at the hospital would become a 50-year nursing career.

However, she is glad it did.

"I love my job, but just as important is that I am still very needed," she said.

Kaus is a Licenced Practical Nurse (LPN) at the Barrhead Health Care Centre. Currently, she works part-time, spending the majority of her time in the operating room, where she has spent the lion's share of her career, but she does occasionally work on the floor.

"I was going to school and my sister was working at the hospital and she said I should work there for the summer," she said, adding this was in December.

At the time, the hospital was named St. Joseph and was run by the Catholic Church, specifically the Sisters of St. Joseph from Pembroke, Ont.

When Kaus approached the nuns to ask if she could work at the hospital, they asked her if she could start right away as a healthcare aide.

When she told them that she was still going to school, the nuns asked if she would be willing to work evenings.

Kaus agreed, noting it was one of the best decisions she ever made.

"I absolutely loved it," she said.

It is only then that Kaus started to think seriously about a nursing career.

The only problem is because she didn't have the necessary prerequisites to get into the registered nursing program, she decided to opted to go to the Alberta Alberta Vocational School in Edmonton, enrolling in a 10-month certified nursing aide program.

"I was planning to go into accounting, secretarial, work at a bank and if I wanted to become an RN, I would have had to go back to Grade 10 and get my matric," she said.

The school looked like a "big, old house" next to the University of Alberta.

After graduating as a certified nursing aide (which after two name changes became an LPN), she returned to the Barrhead hospital.

"We [LPNs] were in such high demand the government paid me $85 a month. It wasn't enough to live on, but in those days, it was enough to pay your rent in a housekeeping room at $50 and with a little help from your parents, you made it," she said.

Shortly after returning to the hospital, Kaus had the opportunity to upgrade her training, taking the operating room training course under the supervision of Dr. Hugh Horner and Dr. Wiliam Robert Keir.

"They were our main surgeons," she said, noting the pair organized training courses for any LPN or RN who wanted to work in the OR. At night you train, take exams and practicals, while during the day, those taking the training course would work on the floor, whether it would be maternity, nursery or one of the other units.

Kaus said it was a busy hospital and studying under a general surgeon was great training.

"Back then general surgeons did everything. Dr. Keir would take out kidneys, do prostrates, remove your bowl, pin hips ... now you have specialists," she said.

Dr. Horner would move on to the world of politics serving four terms as Progressive Conservative MLA for Barrhead, serving in the cabinet under multiple portfolios, including Agriculture, Transportation and Economic Development.

Kaus would also have the opportunity to work with talented and dedicated surgeons such as Dr. Bose, Dr. Laiji and Dr. Wray.

She said while she always loved her job, at times Kaus has had the opportunity to expand her horizons and try out different careers while still working as a nurse.

"I was an EMT for 15 years, taught CPR for 40 years, including to many doctors and nurses, was a County of Barrhead firefighter, served on many professional boards including Canadian Licenced Practical Nurse Association.

At the same time, Kaus and her husband Alton raised a family having two children and adopting two more.

Over her 50 years, she has also seen a lot of changes.

"When I started at the St. Joseph's, it was two stories," she said, adding the community's first hospital was still on the grounds, but that it served as the nuns' residence. "On the top floor was maternity, surgical while the main floor housed pediatrics, the cardiac unit and medical/emergency."

Eventually, the two-story building was replaced by the current healthcare centre under the moniker of the Barrhead General Hospital.

Unfortunately, she said, not all the changes were pleasant, saying the Kline years were difficult for those in the medical profession.

"He downsized, slashed and dashed, we lost doctors, nurses, LPNs, healthcare aides," Kaus said, adding it put stress on an already stressed system. "It was also difficult to watch how it impacted your friends and coworkers."

She also has observed a change in how the healthcare centre is administered, moving from a localized board to become part of a larger system under the Alberta Health Services umbrella.

But despite it all, Kaus reiterated how much she has enjoyed her 50-year  career and encourages young people who haven't made their career choice to seriously consider nursing.

"It is highly rewarding. It pays well and has good benefits," she said.

Kaus added that if they have the opportunity to work at the Barrhead hospital, they will meet a group of talented, dedicated medical professionals.

"Barrhead has always been very fortunate to have been able to attract quality people," she said, adding that extends to the current generation. "There is not one doctor that I would hesitate to go to. While they all have their gifts, they are all wonderful."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

 


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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