The Ontario CLRI at Bruyère is happy to host another group of six nursing students for a virtual 10-week placement to allow them to gain knowledge, skills and values in community nursing related to long-term care (LTC). The placement program encourages nursing students to become Ontario’s future leaders in seniors’ care.

The fourth-year students are from the University of Ottawa – Algonquin College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN ) Collaborative Program and are completing their community health placement requirements as part of their community health nursing theory course. In an effort to provide guidance and mentoring throughout the placement, the Ontario CLRI at Bruyère will work with the students to increase their experiences in geriatrics and will expose them to health professionals in senior care.

The pandemic has revealed shortcomings in our healthcare system related to the care of residents in some LTC settings. One of these issues is the challenge to attract and retain nurses in LTC. It is with great pleasure that we give these BScN students and future registered nurses (RNs) an opportunity to focus on informing an orientation package for nursing students aimed to support preparedness, highlight the importance and positive aspects of working with residents in LTC. Myths and misconceptions about the LTC sector will also be explored in this project which will result in an enhanced understanding of how nurses play a key role in facilitating competent, evidence-based and coordinated care to enhance the health of geriatric clients. The work that the students will undertake will aim to increase retention, and support career paths in LTC settings. The students will also have the chance to explore how eLearning, and other valuable resources available via the Ontario CLRI, can be integrated into an introduction into the LTC sector.

We are looking forward to working within the Bruyère community and evolving our nursing practice through this unique experience. It is important to examine and question our views related to long-term care as we step into the position of finding holistic solutions for the problems this community faces.“
– Fourth-year BScN students participating in a Community-Focused Virtual Placement with the Ontario CLRI at Bruyère.

This group of students have an eagerness to learn and engage with their project, which is great, as the Ontario CLRI at Bruyère team has prepared a packed 10 weeks for them:

• Students will actively participate in independent and small group learning focused on interprofessional and resident-centred communication, clinical issues in geriatrics, and several other valuable career competencies.
• Students will become certified in a conflict resolution program designed to help them navigate conversations effectively and take certain skills, such as advocacy, confidence, self-reflection, and even humility. After the program, the students will be able to generate a greater understanding and allow for solutions to be found when overcoming conflict.
• They will work as a group to complete a ‘Community Health Project’ that is part of a toolkit to support nursing students and nursing preceptors and clinical instructors to improve the experience of LTC placements, a key priority for this year.

Our team’s engagement with this group of students is an example of how we are exploring ways to increase recruitment into the future LTC workforce by generating interest for potential careers in LTC and seniors care. Contributing to having a future workforce that is passionate, prepared and engaged, the Ontario CLRI is always interested in working with colleges and universities as they tailor their courses by including more seniors-care content and practice.

For more information on our current and upcoming resources to support nursing students in LTC, please email Education Coordinator, Natalie Spence at nspence@bruyere.org.