College of Nursing Celebrates First BSN Students in Yorkton Program
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) College of Nursing, Parkland College and Sunrise Health Region came together October 2nd with alumni, community members, government and friends of the college to celebrate the start of the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Yorkton.
The College of Nursing believes students should have the opportunity to “learn where they live”. Until the start of this program, students in the Yorkton area completed their pre-professional year (year one) at Parkland College, but then had to relocate to Saskatoon, Regina or Prince Albert to complete years two thru four in the College of Nursing. As a result of the new partnership with Parkland College that was announced in January 2014 and support of the Sunrise Health Region, students are now able to complete their U of S BSN degree at Parkland College in Yorkton and most clinical components in the Sunrise Health Region.
“The College of Nursing is excited to celebrate our first Yorkton BSN class,” said Lorna Butler, dean of the College of Nursing. “We are pleased to collaborate with Parkland College and Sunrise Health Region to offer our BSN program to students in another Saskatchewan community. We look forward to great things to come from the Yorkton BSN Class of 2017.”
“This partnership offers great opportunities to the Parkland Region and the province as a whole,” said Parkland College president Fay Myers. “We are happy to celebrate these students as they take another step on the road to their nursing careers.”
“It is a pleasure to welcome the first students into our health care facilities to complete the clinical practicum components of their education,” said Suann Laurent, president and CEO, Sunrise Health Region. “As a learning organization we look forward to sharing our expertise with the students and to continued collaboration with our partners in health education.”
At the October 2nd celebration, students and their families were welcomed with kind words from Lorna Butler, Fay Myers, Suann Laurent and Yorkton MLA and Minister of Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit. BSN student Jesslyn Schigol spoke on behalf of her classmates to express what it means to be able to take their BSN program right in Yorkton.
Over the years, nursing education has had traditions come and go, but based on feedback from alumni and students, the College of Nursing has re-established the traditional pinning ceremony to celebrate students’ progression throughout their BSN program. During the Yorkton celebration, nursing students were welcomed into the program and received their Year two pin from Yorkton resident and U of S alumna Patricia Kachman. “The pins are a symbol celebrating the effort that was needed to complete the students’ education to this point. The new progression ceremony is a great way to celebrate these milestones, as they move through their years in the program,” said Butler. “Students were looking for a way during their placements to communicate with community members about their level of their education and we believe this pin, which we're hoping they will all wear proudly during their practicums in the Sunrise Health Region, is the perfect way to do so.”
Welcome to the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing Yorkton BSN students!