SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC
Saskatchewan Polytechnic celebrates convocation of 228 internationally educated Filipino nurses

Image Credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

As Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Regina campus convocation ceremonies got underway this past week, the province's health care system has been welcoming internationally educated nurses (IENs) graduating from an innovative new Sask Polytech program aimed at helping transition nurses here from the Philippines. Created in response to the Government of Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan, the Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program is a cooperative solution to an identified need for more nurses across the province.

Recruitment of IENs is a key deliverable of the government's HHR Action Plan. Sask Polytech collaborated with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to identify innovative ways to facilitate transitioning IENs to Canada. One of the resulting programs, the TRNC aims to both support the success of these nurses and safeguard Saskatchewan residents by ensuring incoming IENs meet all required entry level competencies.

In the last year nurses from the Philippines represent the largest number of all IENs who come to work in Saskatchewan. The TRNC program reflects efforts by intersectoral groups and stakeholders including the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, Ministry of Advanced Education, Ministry of Health, College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) and Sask Polytech, to streamline and accelerate the education and training of Philippine-recruited IENs.

These learners come with a Registered Nursing degree as a prerequisite; the additional education and training they receive as TRNC students builds in Canadian context that allows them to integrate swiftly and seamlessly into the Canadian healthcare system. "Learning how to use new equipment and understanding nuances of the English language are examples of learning specific to the Canadian context," explains Monica Gretchen, the academic chair of nursing and health sciences at Sask Polytech.

Unlike the nine-month Registered Nursing Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Nurses offered to internationally trained nurses, the Philippine-targeted, accelerated TRNC program is 14-weeks long. The program is delivered in a hybrid model utilizing online theory courses and in-person labs and clinicals. An important component of this program is the ability to access the theory courses while the learners are overseas. Other innovations include the use of open education resources for cost effectiveness and ease of access, and a comprehensive support system that addresses the specific needs of the IENs from the Philippines. TRNC learners complete the program six weeks after they land in Regina, a benefit for both the new nurse and the patients they're more quickly able to take on.

Chuck Sagmit, a TRNC graduate, celebrated his accomplishments at the Regina convocation ceremony this week with his sister. His sister, who lives in Regina, encouraged him to apply for the program and move to Saskatchewan. He says everyone at Sask Polytech has been very helpful and encouraging.

Sagmit shares, "The virtual TRNC course was challenging, as I wasn't used to online learning, but Sask Polytech's instructors helped me navigate the course successfully. My favourite part of the program was the in-person learning in the simulation lab. It really prepares you for work in a Saskatchewan hospital." This July will mark Sagmit's one year anniversary in Saskatchewan. He is currently working in the emergency department at Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw.

Graduates of this program are eligible to complete the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX). Once graduates pass the NCLEX, they gain licensure with the CRNS and are eligible to practice as registered nurses in Canada.

Gretchen notes the time from conception of the new model to seeing graduates cross the stage has been remarkably short. "The flexibility and ability to pivot at Sask Polytech is amazing. This program is life-changing, and we aim to be the gold standard," Gretchen shares.  

The TNRC program has monthly intakes, with up to 45 IENs from the Philippines each intake. Sask Polytech had 228 IENs cross the convocation stage this month.

All graduates of the TRNC program to date are working for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The provincial government offers TRNC graduates some support and they sign a return in service for three years with the SHA.

"We are extremely proud of the success this program has had in only its first year," says Christa MacLean Sask Polytech dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. "The TRNC program is redefining the educational pathway for internationally educated nurses and represents a transformative model, emphasizing intersectoral collaboration and innovative teaching methods. Congratulations to all the graduates, we are so proud of the hard work you've put into your education."

Reaching beyond the province, programs such as the TRNC enact the values in Sask Polytech's Global Engagement Plan by creating global partnerships that are reciprocal in nature, engaging groups and individuals from all walks of life, acknowledging differences, and embracing diverse cultures. The TNRC initiative contributes significantly to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring a diverse, competent nursing workforce that enhances the overall health and wellbeing of the Canadian population.

To learn more about the Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program, visit our website: Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (saskpolytech.ca)