Brock’s Nursing students are quickly and skillfully transitioning from classroom to clinic thanks to the University’s ongoing partnership with Niagara Health.

Brock’s longtime collaboration with Niagara Health, which was formalized five years ago through Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), has led to enhanced teaching, learning, research and innovation focused on improving health and well-being in Niagara amid provincial health-care sector labour shortages.

Niagara Health is one of several health-care partners offering clinical placements where Brock Nursing students can apply their classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

Karyn Taplay, Brock Nursing Chair and Associate Professor, says these practical, hands-on experiences equip Brock Nursing students to serve Niagara’s and Ontario’s health-care needs.

“Our Nursing students are learning alongside health-care professionals in a variety of health-care settings,” says Taplay. “Not only are students developing their psychomotor, clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills, but they are also gaining first-hand nursing experience learning how to care for diverse patient populations, such as children, seniors and those who have mental health issues.”

Brock also collaborates with Niagara Health to support community health-care needs by connecting graduating nurses with local career opportunities.

This past spring, Brock’s Department of Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) worked with Niagara Health and the University’s Nursing Department to facilitate a week-long series of recruitment activities for fourth-year Nursing students, including information sessions and job interviews.

All 14 Nursing students interviewed by Niagara Health were invited to move forward in the recruitment process. Students who graduated from Brock in June were hired for positions in Cardiac Care; Kidney Care; Women, Babies and Children; Respirology; and Emergency and Urgent Care.

Niagara Health’s Manager of Recruitment and Volunteer Resources Amanda Basilone says she and her team were so impressed with the graduating Nursing students’ level of commitment and professionalism during the interview process that they extended job offers to all of the applicants.

“This is unprecedented and offers us so much hope for the future,” she says. “We are so grateful to have access to such high-quality, caring and well-trained nursing graduates right on our doorstep. Our partnership with Brock continues to provide us with an important recruitment pathway that makes a real difference in the lives of our patients.”

Elyse Hesp-Reimer (BScN ’24) was one of the 14 graduating Nursing students hired. She will begin a role with Niagara Health this month as a Labour and Delivery Nurse.

As a student, Hesp-Reimer had many clinical placements with Niagara Health and feels her placements and clinical instructors prepared her well for a career in health care.

“By my pre-grad placement, I was independently caring for up to 12 patients with minimal help from my nurse instructor, and I felt very confident with my skills and overall nursing care,” she says. “I’m looking forward to using the four years of knowledge and critical thinking skills I gained through school for my individual nursing practice with Niagara Health.”

The number of graduating Nursing students from Brock is on the rise. The University’s Nursing program has tripled its enrolment over the past three years and has welcomed its largest intake this fall.

It’s Concurrent Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing (BN/MN) program is also experiencing success, having recently celebrated its first graduating class. As the first and only concurrent BN/MN degree in Canada, the accelerated 20-month program allows students to graduate more quickly than traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) programs while offering a master’s component not included in other accelerated nursing programs.

“It’s an exciting time for Brock Nursing and I have no doubt our success is in part thanks to our collaboration with Niagara Health,” says Taplay. “Their ongoing support of our students through high-quality clinical placements and the hiring of our graduates will help to ensure that Niagara and Ontario are equipped with the highly educated nurses and health-care practitioners needed to keep our region and province healthy and safe.”

Brock Nursing students are encouraged to watch for upcoming events and professional development opportunities this academic year, such as interview preparation workshops hosted by the Department of Nursing and CCEE in collaboration with Niagara Health.

Students and recent graduates can also visit CareerZONE to view current employment opportunities and drop in to the CareerZONE space in Market Hall for assistance with job search strategies, resumé and cover letter writing, and interview preparation.

To learn more about Brock’s MOU with Niagara Health and other partner institutions, visit the Community Relations web page.