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Nova Scotia Health and St. Francis Xavier University (St. FX) announced today a memorandum of agreement that Canada’s premiere undergraduate institution will pilot instruction of the classroom component of its internationally educated nurses clinical training.
The classes will be hosted virtually through St. FX Online, the university’s platform for Online Learning and Professional studies.
“We are working to build a healthcare system that makes Nova Scotia a destination of choice for healthcare professionals from around the world, and part of that is ensuring the right supports are in place to help them transition successfully when they arrive here,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson.
“This new pilot program will offer tailored support and give internationally educated nurses who want to work here the support they need to succeed,” she said.
The program, coordinated by Nova Scotia Health Interprofessional Practice and Learning, combines the online learning hosted by St. FX with in-person training hosted by Nova Scotia Health to offer high quality practice support and resources tailored to the learning needs of each nurse.
“We want everyone who joins our organization to succeed and feel supported,” said Annette Elliott Rose, Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President of Clinical Performance and Professional Practice. “We’ve learned directly from the internationally educated nurses that additional support is important to ensure successful transition to practice.
St FX’s virtual instruction will provide the nurses with the required theory before entering clinical training space. There will be three pilot cohorts. The first group of eight students began online learning in late September, the last cohort is expected to begin in early Spring 2025. Each session is estimated to last 12-13 weeks (including in-person clinical training with Nova Scotia Health).
“Our professional studies team at STFX Online, led by Fred Allen and supported by faculty at our Rankin School of Nursing, is thrilled to partner with the Nova Scotia Health to provide a high quality and intentional transition to practice program for Internationally Educated Nurses joining the provincial workforce,” said Jack Rice, Director, Online Learning, Graduate and Professional Studies, ST. FX.
The Transition to Practice pilot program will be evaluated and adjusted after each cohort to ensure student success. After the final class is complete, Nova Scotia Health and St. FX will evaluate the program as a whole and determine next steps.
There are currently more than 150 internationally educated nurses waiting to complete transition training with Nova Scotia Health.
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