Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig plans to accept upwards of 30 students into its new practical nursing program
Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig in Sault Ste. Marie is launching a practical nursing program that aims to mobilize more Indigenous health-care professionals to help address significant shortages in the north.
The two-year diploma program — which is being rolled out in partnership with Canadore College in North Bay — will officially launch when the fall semester begins at the Indigenous-led post-secondary institution this September.
The school’s health program coordinator says the practical nursing program will also serve as a pathway for students already enrolled in the personal support worker program, a one-year certificate program that began at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig earlier this year.
“It’s really exciting to be able to offer that for our students, because sometimes they’re not sure, right?” said Shantelle Nichol, who worked as a clinical instructor and staff nurse prior to joining the school last year.
“They take the [personal support worker program] and they’re not sure if they want to keep going, so then they at least have that year to decide if they want to keep going on to the nursing program.”
Nichols believes students will benefit from simulation-based learning in a small classroom setting, leading to a more supportive learning environment.
Cultural teachings and community connection will also be woven into aspects of the practical nursing program, as Indigenous communities in the north continue to experience gaps in accessible, culturally safe health-care practices.
“We’re going to integrate our culture into the program as much as possible, and there will be outside opportunities for that as well, like workshops and lots of different opportunities for our students,” Nichol said.
The school will also be eligible for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, a pocket of funding that Nichol says could potentially help students to cut costs.
“Basically their tuition and books would be free, because there’s such a shortage in the health-care system for nurses,” she said.
Jamie Manitowabi-Fox, who serves as the academic support officer for students at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, says the school’s personal support worker program is already making progress in developing the next wave of Indigenous health-care workers.
“The students that we have right now, they all want to give back to their community,” she told SooToday.
“They know that there is a high demand for nurses and PSW workers, and they see how overworked the health-care professionals are, and especially how First Nations patients are treated.
“To have that understanding at the age that they are is pretty incredible.”
So far, 18 prospective students have applied to the practical nursing program, which is anticipated to have from 24 to 30 students enrolled before classes start in the fall.
“We expect that we will have a waiting list, because we haven’t even gone into the high schools yet or even really started recruiting,” Nichol said.
More information on the practical nursing program at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig can be found on the school’s website.