Nipissing University's nursing students have proven they are among the best in the province, taking home the top prize at the highly anticipated 2025 Ontario Nursing Games. Hosted by the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, the event marked the return of the competition after a five-year hiatus and brought together nursing students from across Ontario for a day of academic, simulation, and athletic challenges.
(left to right) Nipissing Nursing students Avery Cafaro, Rachel Miller, Lacey Sisson, Alycia Baldwin, Bianca Vantroba, and Gurkirat Singh (front)
Representing Nipissing University were six dedicated members of the Nipissing University Nursing Society (NUNS): Avery Cafaro, Alycia Baldwin, Bianca Vantroba, Gurkirat Singh, Lacey Sisson, and Rachel Miller. Competing against students from 10 other universities, the team excelled in six academic events and three athletic competitions, ultimately securing their place as champions.
"Participating in the Nursing Games was an amazing opportunity. My team and I were challenged but had a lot of fun working together to compete against the bigger universities. It was also a fantastic experience to chat with other nursing students from different universities and learn from each other," said Avery Cafaro, President of the Nipissing University Nursing Society (NUNS) and third year student in the Nursing program.
The highlight of the competition came during the CPR challenge, where Nipissing's team was the only one to beat the 10-minute timer, earning a perfect score of 100%. Their strong performance across all events showcased not only their academic and clinical expertise, but also their teamwork, leadership, and dedication to excellence in nursing.
"This achievement is another testament to the hard work and commitment of our nursing students," said Dr. Karey McCullough, Interim Associate Dean of the School of Nursing. "The group demonstrated outstanding clinical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork, and we could not be prouder of them. This win highlights the strength of our nursing program and the incredible potential of our future healthcare leaders."
The Ontario Nursing Games provided participants with a unique opportunity to refine their clinical skills, compete in academic challenges like medication calculations and triage simulations, and connect with fellow nursing students from across the province. The event also fostered a spirit of collaboration and wellness, reinforcing the importance of networking within the nursing community.
Congratulations to the NUNS team for their hard-earned victory and representing Nipissing University with pride.
To learn more about Nursing at Nipissing University visit nipissingu.ca/nursing.
