U of S College of Nursing set to deliver nursing program in Yorkton, SK

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) College of Nursing announced today they have entered into a partnership with Parkland College to deliver their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Yorkton beginning September 2014.

The College of Nursing believes students should have the opportunity to "learn where they live." Until now, students in the Yorkton area completed their pre-professional year (year 1) at Parkland, but then had to relocate to Saskatoon, Regina or Prince Albert to complete years 2 through 4 in the College of Nursing. As a result of the new partnership, students are now able to complete their BSN degree at Parkland College in Yorkton and most clinical components in the Sunrise Health Region.

"The University of Saskatchewan continues to take steps to realize its goal of providing opportunities for students to 'learn where you live'," said Patti McDougall, U of S vice-provost, teaching and learning. "Exciting work with Parkland College now increases our capacity to offer a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to students in the Yorkton region, thereby advancing on the underlying goal. As we build on our activities around the province, the College of Nursing remains a campus leader on the distributed learning front."

"We are very excited to make this announcement today," said Lois Berry, acting dean, College of Nursing. "The opportunity to offer our BSN program to students in another Saskatchewan community is wonderful. We want to give individuals province-wide the chance to take post-secondary nursing education and this completes another piece of that puzzle."

"We are thrilled to form this partnership and provide the full four-year nursing degree as a new education option to students from across the Parkland region," said Parkland College president Fay Myers. "This is great news for students who don't want to move away to get their education. We are excited to help them excel and graduate with the skills and knowledge to make an impact in the community."

This isn't the first programming the College of Nursing is offering in Yorkton. In April 2012, the college entered into a partnership with the Sunrise Health Region to offer graduate level nursing education. Karen Semchuk was appointed into a dual position with the U of S and Sunrise Health Region and has been actively recruiting students in the region.

Without the support of Sunrise Health Region and its staff, many of whom will serve as clinical instructors and preceptors in the BSN program, the College of Nursing wouldn't have been able to bring this program to Yorkton. Students who are given the opportunity to learn in their community will most likely stay in the community to work afterwards. As such, Sunrise is extremely pleased with the announcement today. "The addition of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in our region will support recruitment and further enhances our vision as a learning organization," said President and CEO of Sunrise Health Region, Suann Laurent. "This initiative also allows us to continue to grow in our collaboration with the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing and Parkland College."

For more information on this partnership and the College of Nursing programming, visit: http://www.usask.ca/nursing/.


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For more information, contact:

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Kylie Dietrick

Communications Officer

U of S College of Nursing

306-281-8448

kylie.dietrick@usask.ca



Brendan Wagner

Communications Officer

Parkland College

306-728-6595

b.wagner@parklandcollege.sk.ca



Sharon Tropin

Director of Communications

Sunrise Health Region

306-786-0144

sharon.tropin@shr.sk.ca
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