Richard Kusi-Menkkah

Practical Nurse

Breaking down barriers and saving lives

When he was in Grade 12, Richard Kusi-Menkkah struggled with one of life’s most important decisions.

“I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do when I got out of high school.”

What he did know was he liked helping people and—perhaps most importantly—he still listened to his mother.

“My mom suggested that maybe I look into nursing.”

That wasn’t quite what he wanted to hear. The whole gender stereotype stuck with him.

“But as I thought about it, it came to me that, yeah, I am a people person and working in health care you do work with a lot of different people. I also liked that I would be making a difference. So I gave it a try, and as I went through the program I thought, ‘you know, this is pretty cool. I can see myself doing this.’”

Today, eight years after graduating from NorQuest’s two-year Practical Nurse diploma program, Kusi-Menkkah now works at the Misericordia Hospital. He still enjoys what he does, has no regrets about breaking the gender stereotype, and is grateful for the education NorQuest provided.

“I felt very confident when I started working. The program prepped me well. Being a NorQuest graduate means you are legit.”

NorQuest students are taught to be innovative in their thinking and to seek additional learning opportunities. As a result of recognizing a need at the Misericordia, he is now using the college’s online programming to become an orthopedic technician.

“I am very happy but I know I can do more. And studying online fits my lifestyle.”

I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do when I got out of high school. As I went through the program I thought, you know, this is pretty cool. I can see myself doing this.