Advancing Nursing Education: Celebrating Achievements and Collaboration
We were thrilled to host a pinning ceremony in February where I had the honour of presenting each of the 82 graduands with a nursing pin to commemorate their entrance into the wonderful profession of nursing. We celebrated the success of these students who chose to accelerate their completion of the bachelor of nursing (BN) program by enrolling in the summer term and entering the workforce four months earlier than anticipated.
We also celebrated the achievement of our maximum five-year approval of our BN program from the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.
It was exciting to officially open our new simulation centre and virtual reality lab that were created to accommodate the major expansion of 120 seats in the BN program.
It was with pride that we celebrated our strong 25-year partnership with the University College of the North (UCN) for the delivery of the much needed BN program in The Pas and Thompson. This valued partnership has resulted in more than 543 graduates over the years and assisted in addressing the need for nurses in northern Manitoba. To mark the achievement, UCN hosted a special event in The Pas and Thompson with active engagement from the community, students, faculty and staff.
Our Graduate Nursing Students Association hosted its 14th annual Advanced Practice Nursing Conference focused on intersectoral collaboration. It was inspiring to hear from three esteemed nursing leaders and practice experts about their lived experience with intersectoral collaboration.
We were delighted to host the in-person Helen Glass Research Symposium focused on research that guides solutions to the national health workforce crisis. Our researcher-in-residence, Dr. Ivy Bourgeault, highlighted the urgency to prioritize retention of the current workforce to address the crisis.
These advancements and collaborations are a testament to the dedication and commitment of all involved in shaping the future of nursing education. Together, we celebrate these achievements and eagerly anticipate the continued impact on health care and communities locally and beyond.