SHERIDAN COLLEGE
College joins provincial pilot and welcomes Practical Nursing students back to campus

Sheridan welcomed forty-one Practical Nursing students back to its Davis Campus on July 14 for the start of a two-week session which will see them fulfill their lab requirements before undertaking the 450-hour work placements required to complete their program. The completion of their fourth, and final semester in April was delayed due to the pandemic.

Sheridan Practical Nursing students participating in a two-week, on-campus session to fulfill lab requirements before undertaking work placements required to complete their program.
 

The decision to include Practical Nursing students in the pilot was a clear choice, according to Dr. Michael O'Leary, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies, and Davis Campus Principal. "The demand for health care workers is intense due to the pandemic, and these students are eager to complete their program and support their communities in a professional setting." Participation in the pilot is not mandatory - students were given the option of enrolling now or deferring to the Fall semester.

The pilot is operating in accordance with the framework set out by the Ontario government. A complete safety protocol was implemented before students set foot on campus, including:

• All students and employees were required to produce a negative COVID test result prior to participating in the pilot
• Physical distancing measures were put in place, reinforced with campus signage and floor decals to help maintain distance
• Masks/face coverings are mandatory for all students/employees participating in the pilot

"Given their training, our students are well-informed about the importance of protective personal equipment and its role in the workplace," says O'Leary. "They are ideal candidates for the pilot, and we anticipate a successful outcome to this venture, which will see the addition of much-needed, trained  personnel to our health care industry."