For Practical Nursing alumna Logan Roney, choosing Carlton Trail College was about more than education, it was choosing a community that supported her through one of the toughest times in her life.
Raised in Simpson, Logan was working as a Continuing Care Assistant when she felt called to advance her healthcare career. With Watrous close to home, the Practical Nursing program at Carlton Trail College offered a supportive, accessible option.
“The thought of going to an urban centre for my education gave me extreme anxiety,” she shared. “At CTC in Watrous, I wasn’t just a number; I was a person. Our class of 12 formed strong friendships, and the staff and instructors cared about each of us.”
Logan’s second year brought profound personal loss: first her mother, then her grandfather two months later. At the same time, she was completing coursework, clinical placements, and caring for her four children as a single parent.
“The support I received from instructors and classmates became a lifeline,” she said. “Their flexibility, compassion, and encouragement helped me keep going when everything felt overwhelming.”
CTC became like a second family.
Despite these hardships, Logan completed the program in 2023 and soon began practicing as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Lanigan, Watrous, and Manitou Lodge. The transition, she says, has been both challenging and deeply meaningful.
“I learned that nursing is as much about humanity as it is about skill,” she reflected. “It’s okay to ask questions and rely on your team – confidence comes with experience. Every shift teaches you something new.”
Logan is now pursuing her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse while continuing to work in rural healthcare. She offers thoughtful advice for future PN students:
“Nursing requires strength, but also vulnerability. Give yourself the grace you give your patients. It’s not a sprint, it’s a journey.”
Looking back, Logan says what she’ll remember most about Carlton Trail College is the sense of belonging.
“CTC became like a second family,” she said. “If I could do it all again, I’d soak it all in. The days are long, but the two program years fly by.”
Her story reflects the heart of Carlton Trail College’s Practical Nursing program – personalized support, strong community, and a pathway to meaningful careers in Saskatchewan’s rural healthcare system.
