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Program for fourth year nursing students launched in North Battleford

Apr 20, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Collaboration between three post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan and the Prairie North Health Region has brought opportunities for nursing students to the Battlefords.

North West College, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Regina are piloting nursing courses of the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in North Battleford.

According to the Dean of Nursing at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Netha Dyck, the program offers opportunities closer to home for fourth year nursing students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon and the University of Regina, while also meeting the needs of the greater population.

“There is a continued need for registered nurses in Saskatchewan, so we can help to address that need by providing nursing education in more Saskatchewan communities, and provide students with educational opportunities in or close to their home communities,” Dyck said.

She added expanding to a community like North Battleford allows the school to utilize precious clinical hours.

“Certainly clinical placements are in high demand across the province, so having these opportunities within North Battleford for quality clinical placements (is) an opportunity for our students, and an opportunity to maximize clinical placements across the province,” Dyck said.

Participants enrolled are offered three clinical practical education courses which will offer real world experience for the students before they embark on their careers in nursing. They will also take part in two online correspondence courses with study space and support provided by North West College.

The program began in January of this year and the three-term pilot will end in December with an assessment to follow, after which there could be an expansion of programs or even the number of participants.

cstockwell@jpbg.ca