Lloydminster USask Nursing students celebrate program completion

Gillian Studer (BSN’25) will celebrate the completion of her University of Saskatchewan (USask) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree during USask spring convocation, alongside 11 of her classmates from the first cohort at the Lloydminster distributed nursing site.

Studer was able to complete her entire nursing degree in the same town where she grew up, thanks to the College of Nursing’s learn where you live philosophy.

USask Nursing announced the partnership with Lakeland College and accepted the first class of BSN students in fall 2022. Prior to the partnership, students located in the Lloydminster area relocated to a USask campus after completing their pre-professional year in the university transfer program at Lakeland College.

Having the opportunity to study in Lloydminster allowed Studer to maintain the support network she’s known all her life. It gave her the chance to develop nursing skills that she is eagerly waiting to apply to help her community, a place where she is familiar with the hospitals and care centres.

“All of my friends and family are here, and this is where I grew up,” said Studer.

“Being able to take my entire nursing degree from Lloydminster worked out well for both my finances and convenience,” she said.

This is learn where you live at its best; giving students who may not have had the opportunity to study nursing if they had to move away, a chance to complete a post-secondary education.

Given the demands of the busy nursing program, the option to learn where you live makes it that much easier for students to choose nursing. Case in point: when reached over Zoom for an interview, Studer shares that she is fresh off of a night shift. Eager to get started in the nursing profession, she’s been working as a graduate nurse in nearby Vermillion. Now she’s preparing to write her national nursing licensure exam and hopes to return to the hospital in Lloydminster as a registered nurse.

“When we announced the partnership with Lakeland College in 2022, I told the students I was excited to celebrate their program completion in 2025 and here we are today,” said College of Nursing Dean Dr. Solina Richter (DCur).

“Watching these first students complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Lloydminster and soon become the registered nurses the world needs, has been an honour. I wish to thank our faculty, staff, and instructors, Lakeland College, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Government of Saskatchewan, and local clinical placement partners, for making this collaboration an astounding success. But most importantly, to our students, the BSN Class of 2025 from Lloydminster, thank you for choosing USask Nursing and for being part of this moment in college history. Congratulations on achieving this significant milestone in your educational journey!”

"Today marks a milestone for Lakeland College as we proudly celebrate the first graduating class in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program,” said Jackie Bender, Lakeland College dean of university transfer and foundational learning.

“This achievement is a testament to the strength of our academic partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the incredible perseverance of the students. Being able to offer the nursing degree at Lakeland provides more opportunities for future nurses and will strengthen our local health-care system. As these new graduates become licensed and step into their roles as registered nurses, they carry with them the knowledge, compassion, and commitment that will make a lasting impact on our communities.”

For Studer, the pathway to nursing was not always clear. After high school, she studied for a year at Lakeland College in the university transfer program and played on the soccer team, then moved to Edmonton to continue her studies, but didn’t enjoy the program she was in. She left and started working at a long-term care home, which offered her a glimpse into health care. Ironically, her first clinical placement was also in a long-term care facility. This and other placements throughout the program cemented her interest in nursing, especially the aspect of providing care for others.

“There’s a lot of great aspects about nursing, especially getting to know people,” said Studer. “Being able to be there and be the face that’s smiling and telling them it’s OK. Seeing people at their worst and then getting to see them through the process of eventually being discharged, and improving their quality of life, I really like that. For me, it is very rewarding.”

Moving through the BSN program, Studer has been grateful to complete almost all her placements in Lloydminster, giving her the opportunity to get to know the different specialities, while also learning about the medical community and opportunities in the city. She’s thankful for her professors and classmates, especially this first Lloydminster graduating class that she is part of.

“We’ve been through it all together; the new students in a new program,” she said with a laugh. “We all helped each other out. That's a big part of nursing school is your classmates, working together and figuring things out as a team.”

“I’m very glad the nursing program opened in Lloydminster. Since I plan to live in the community, now I have my foot in the door in different areas in health care. I’ve had clinical placements all over, so I have contacts and I’ve been able to network where I want to further my nursing career,” Studer added.

Studer was also the recipient of the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan Yvonne Brown Award for Nursing Excellence, which is celebrated at convocation.

The benefits of learn where you live and completing the nursing program locally in Lloydminster don’t end there. The Government of Saskatchewan Student Loan Forgiveness program includes Lloydminster. Not only can students study in Lloydminster, but upon becoming licensed as a registered nurse, graduates who practice in Lloydminster are also eligible to receive up to $20,000 of Saskatchewan student loan debt forgiveness.

For more information on USask Nursing at Lakeland College, visit USask admissions.  
For more information about Lakeland’s university transfer program, visit Lakeland College.