September 30, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

$225,000 for a three-year pilot program to enhance rural practice experience for nursing students

Life got a little easier today for fourth year bachelor of nursing students wanting to gain experience in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Premier Brian Tobin, Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and

Community Services, and Joan Rowsell, Chair of the Administrative Council of the Schools of Nursing, announced today a $225,000 three-year pilot program to assist 150 fourth year nursing students with travel, transportation, room and board during their four week placement in rural communities of the province.

"Fifty students in each of the next three years will receive $1,500 each to carry out their practicum in rural communities around the province," said the premier. "Placement of students in rural areas provides benefits to the students themselves, and the patients and nurses in rural areas of the province."

"Students will gain an appreciation of the complexities of practicing in rural communities, and nurses can gain an opportunity to assess and recruit students as potential nursing colleagues following their program completion," said the minister.

"Until now, it has been difficult for students to obtain rural placements because of the financial burden of maintaining accommodation in St. John's or Corner Brook while placed elsewhere," said Joan Rowsell, Schools of Nursing. "With this stipend of $1,500 per student, the financial burden is significantly reduced, if not eliminated, helping us ensure nurses receive a good combination of both institutional and community-based nursing experience before they graduate."

Students are part of the bachelor of nursing program at Western Regional School of Nursing in Corner Brook, and the Centre for Nursing Studies and Memorial University's School of Nursing in St. John's. Students at all sites will have an opportunity to apply for these stipends.

Faculty at each of the Schools of Nursing sites will identify potential community placements and students will apply for these placements through a competition open to all fourth year students at their respective schools. A site review panel will be established from people who teach or are familiar with the Community Health Nursing course. Common criteria will be used across all three sites.

The bachelor of nursing program is based on a primary health care philosophy. The provision of clinical practice in a variety of settingsis critical for the success of the program.

Media contact:

Heidi Bonnell, Premier's Office, (709) 729-3960

Glenn Bruce, Department of Health and Community Serices, (709) 729-1377

Joan Rowsell, Schools of Nursing, (709) 737-3818

1999 09 30 2:10 p.m.