North Island College pathways help health care professionals advance while meeting province’s demand for nurses
In 2022, the provincial government announced an Access to Practical Nursing Pathway program, allowing health care aides to earn a Practical Nursing diploma in under 16 months. Students are also able to apply for a $10,000 access to practical nursing bursary.
For Genevieve Clayton, the support was an important factor in her career choice and education.
“I was interested in getting into nursing for a decade before I finally made it to where I am now,” Clayton said. “However, I chose and completed the Health Care Assistant program through NIC because there was financial assistance available, and I thought it was a great opportunity to gain experience and work—a stepping stone to a nursing career.”
Clayton is now in the pathway program for practical nursing.
Last year, the Province also announced more than 600 new nursing seats in post-secondary institutions, which includes support for Licensed Practical Nurses to enter the second year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
To help them keep working, students are provided with options: some educational components are spread out gradually over the length of the year while other courses might be concentrated over a few weeks. As a result, NIC pathway students often study on different schedules, which helps keep health care assistants and nurses working.
The current cohort of Health Care Assistants in the Practical Nursing program started in November 2022, with the next one set for November 2024. The cohort for Licensed Practical Nurses in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program starts in September and will run every three years, with a subsequent intake for Fall 2026. The College is encouraging anyone interested to find out more about prerequisites.
For NIC, pathway programs had been offered before, but only intermittently, so the announcement means more opportunity for students and better program continuity for communities.
Eventually, Clayton is considering taking her studies further and becoming a registered nurse.
“I think knowing that there is room for advancement in the Bachelor of Nursing degree is encouraging,” she said. “Knowing the option to go further with my education is inspiring and something in the back of my mind.”