Michael Scarcello, RN, HBScN, MA(Nursing), Clinical Nurse Specialist

1st & 2nd Year Coordinator
Practical Nursing Program

Michael Scarcello is a full-time Professor in the Practical Nursing Program at Confederation College. A graduate of The College of Saint Scholastica (Master of Arts in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Class of 2009) and Lakehead University School of Nursing (HBScN, Class of 2000), Michael has held positions in direct clinical practice, nursing education and staff development. Michael's research interests include: clinical nursing practice (particularly geriatric and complex chronic care); and the themes related to 'patient', 'staff' and 'systems'.

Michael identifies that his most memorable bedside nursing position is, and continues to be, in the Emergency Department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. In addition, Michael has also attained clinical experience in: medical nursing, neurosurgical nursing, acute psychiatry, chronic care, palliative care and long term care. Prior to teaching in the Practical Nursing Program, Michael developed several credited courses and workshops for RPNs in the Centre for Continuing Education at Confederation College. Michael currently serves as an advisory board member with the College of Nurses of Ontario, and is a member in good standing with Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society of Nursing.

Keltie MacDonald

I have been involved in the challenging and varied field of nursing since 1974, graduating from Lakehead Regional School of Nursing.   I have had the experience of working in the Emergency department for almost 20 years, as well as in ICU and Pediatrics. I have also had the opportunity to teach Health Promotion and Pharmacology courses in different programs at Confederation College such as the Child and Family Worker Program, Developmental Service Worker Program, and Native Child and Family Worker Program.

In 1995, I completed my H.Ba (Psych) at Lakehead University, followed by a B.Ed. I  was fortunate to then be employed as a classroom teacher working in various elementary schools in Thunder Bay. During the last 5 years I was also a part-time clinical facilitator for the R.N. diploma program at both Confederation and Northern Colleges.

My interest and passion in health promotion and disease prevention through healthy lifestyle education led me to continue my quest for knowledge, and as a result received a M.Sc (Kin). in 2001.  I continued to teach elementary school at that time as well as developing and delivering mental training programs for local elite athletes and sport teams in the community.

I have now realized a wonderful meshing of my education and nursing experience and since September, 2004 have been teaching in the Practical Nursing Program here at Confederation College.  I not only teach and promote health promotion strategies in the classroom but apply them to my personal life.  I am an active member of the Thunder Bay Cycling Club, Kamview Nordic Ski Centre, Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre and Loch Lomond Ski area.

Lindsay MacFarlane

Lindsay graduated from Lakehead University's Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program in 1985.  She continued her education in 1998 by completing a Bachelor of Education Degree at Nipissing University in North Bay Ontario.

Lindsay was born and raised in Thunder Bay, and came to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of Northwestern Ontario, returning to her roots to raise her family, after a 14 year absence.

Confederation College is now home to Lindsay where she can apply her extensive knowledge of Nursing in combination with her expertise in Education, to assist students in achieving their optimal best in their education endeavours. Lindsay sits on various committees within the College. As a mother of 4 small young children Lindsay is very busy with in the community of Thunder Bay, and enjoys her summers at her camp on Loon Lake.

Debra Walker RN, MDE

I graduated in 1973 from Lakehead Regional School of Nursing. My nursing experience focused on Medical, Geriatric and Post Coronary floors in Thunder Bay, Toronto and Oshawa. In 1981 I started working at Durham College in Oshawa in the Practice Lab with first and second year diploma nursing students. I still to this day love working with students in the lab setting. Then in 1987, I shifted to teaching nursing theory just to first year nursing students in the classroom as well as taking them into clinical settings at the Oshawa and Bowmanville hospitals.

Around that time, I started taking courses myself from Trent University and became interested in Psychology and Sociology.  I moved back home to Thunder Bay and in 1995 I graduated from Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology.

My first job at Confederation College was in the Extension Health Department where I learned a great deal about continuing education and the college system.  In 1995, I started teaching part-time courses through distance education and became hooked on that mode of delivery. Enrolling in the Master of Distance Education program at Athabasca University, I graduated in 2004.

Today, I teach in the first year of the fast track Practical Nursing program that is delivered by distance education from Thunder Bay alternately each year, to two of six regional campuses in Northwestern Ontario.

It is my hope to do research on how we can meet the educational needs of our fast track Practical Nursing students by developing successful strategies for teaching them by distance.

Barb Morrison

Barb is a full time nursing professor at Confederation College with 17 years of experience teaching in both classroom and clinical settings. Since graduating with an HBScN from Lakehead University in 1983, Barb has attained clinical experience working in a variety of areas including medical, surgical, paediatric critical care and adult critical care. She completed her Masters of Education degree at Lakehead University majoring in Curriculum Studies. Her Master's thesis was a qualitative study which examined student performance and success in nursing programs. Barb's interest in student success and application of theory to practice has compelled her to utilize a variety of teaching strategies and innovative teaching techniques. She has been instrumental in establishing the Confederation College simulation lab and incorporating the use of patient simulators in health science programs. She has also developed an interest in the use of patient simulators in distance education.

Caroline Hutch 

My name is Caroline Hutch.  I am one of the newest members in the Faculty of Nursing in both the collaborative, as well as practical nursing programs.

My life-long dream has been to teach nursing and I began my journey many years ago following my graduation from the practical, diploma, baccalaureate as well as currently graduate studies in Public Health here at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

I have had a truly wonderful career that has provided me with extensive knowledge and experience primarily within the specialties of oncology as well as maternal-infant care areas. Currently I live in Thunder Bay with my husband and son and we enjoy camping as well as traveling during our spare time.

If you are a new or returning student to either the college, or the university, I look forward to meeting you and I wish you well with your endeavor to pursue this truly wonderful profession of nursing. Good Luck!

Laurie Wright

Lauri Wright is a full time nursing professor and previously graduated from Confederation College Accounting Diploma program and the Nursing, diploma program. She also graduated from Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and continues to pursue her education and is presently completing a Masters of Public Health specializing in Nursing. Lauri has an extensive nursing background having worked in acute care, at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in  the areas of surgery and cardiology. She has taught in the Cardiac Rehab program in acute care and also the community of Thunder Bay. Lauri has worked in the community as a case manager with the Community Care Access centre and has worked for many years as a Utilization coordinator/discharge planner for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Most recently Lauri has worked as an Admission Facilitator for Continuing Complex care at St Joseph’s Hospital and has worked collaboratively for many years interprofessionally with many allied health professionals.

Lauri truly believes in life long learning, and is excited to be teaching and sharing her many experiences with students entering the Practical Nursing program.