Frequently Asked Questions

Through the Nursing PLEDGE program, both long-term care homes and participating nurse mentors will be eligible for funding supports and incentives to implement a robust mentorship program within the home.

Participating long-term care homes will be eligible for funding and education supports to implement a mentorship program, including funding to start or coordinate a mentorship program, backfilling the time nurses spend mentoring, and funding for participation in a Community of Practice to support networking and connection. To apply for this funding, participating long-term care homes must submit an application on the “Funding” section of the Nursing PLEDGE page. Applications will be accepted and approved by the Ontario CLRI at the RIA within the program’s available budget.

Participating nurse mentors will be eligible for financial stipends for their time spent providing dedicated mentorship to mentees. Stipends will be paid out by participating LTC homes/employers. To apply for this portion of funding, participating LTC employers must submit an online application to Ontario Health. Applications will be accepted and approved by Ontario Health within the program’s available budget.

No. LTC homes enrolled in Nursing PLEDGE are eligible to be automatically re-enrolled in years 2 and 3 of the program so long as the following requirements are met:

• Mentor/ Mentee participation in CoP
• Each mentor/ mentee completes mentor modules
• Continued registration of additional mentors and/ or mentees
• Continued in-home mentorship program development and implementation for registered mentees
• Participation in Nursing PLEDGE evaluation program elements
• Confirmation of LTC home interest in program renewal and funding. Upon confirmation and verification the home is meeting above program requirements, funding will be applied to in-year payments (April – March).

Nursing PLEDGE is geared specifically towards registered practical nurses, registered nurses, or nurse practitioners in your LTC home, and does not include PSW’s. Visit the Ontario CLRI Course Library to see other training opportunities.

Yes, participating LTC homes can choose to leverage the maximum allocation of $39,000 to hire a new RPN, RN, or NP, to act as a mentor in the home, so long as new nurse recruit meets the eligibility guidelines to act as a mentor in the program. See below for additional details on the eligibility of nurse mentors.

Nurse mentors are identified during the enrollment and registration process for Nursing PLEDGE. Once your LTC home has enrolled in the Nursing PLEDGE program, and registered nurse mentors, they will be invited and encouraged to participate in the CoP. 

Experienced nurses will be expected to participate in a virtual CoP to connect, share best practices, and gain peer support as mentors. Backfill funding will support the nurse mentor’s participation in the CoP.

A nurse mentor participating in the program must be an experienced member of the existing registered nursing staff in the participating LTC home (RPN, RN, or NP), who has the experience, knowledge, competencies, and clinical skills to provide dedicated mentorship to nursing mentees within the home.

A nurse mentee participating in the program will be a member of the existing registered nursing staff in the participating LTC home (RPN, RN, or NP), who would benefit from or seeks additional mentorship, coaching, support, etc. while working in the home.

Nursing students completing their clinical placements are not eligible to receive mentorship through the program.

We recognize that each LTC home will offer its own unique mentorship program. The Nursing PLEDGE program will support the development and enhancement of nurse mentor programs across the province through CoP, education modules and additional program resources.

Yes. If your LTC home already has a mentorship program that is inclusive for nursing team members, that is good news. The Nursing Pledge funding can be applied to augment and enhance your existing nurse mentorship program. When registering, please note the existing Mentors in your home. On the mentor registration form, be sure to select the month and year you register the mentor within the Nursing PLEDGE program.

LTC homes are eligible to receive up to $10,000 to support the administrative elements of the mentorship program. This includes support for:

• Designing the mentorship program or enhancing your existing program
• Scheduling 
• Identifying mentors and mentees
• Documentation of processes and evaluation of results

LTC homes are eligible to receive mentorship coordination funding to support the administrative elements of the mentorship program. This includes support for designing or enhancing your mentorship program, scheduling, identifying mentors and mentees, and documenting processes and evaluating results.