Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Entry Program
Established in 1986, the Native Nurses Entry Program (NNEP) at Lakehead University is a nine (9) month access program that provides the necessary academic and self-development skills required to enter and successfully complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program. Students successful in completing the NNEP program are guaranteed entry into Year One (1) of the Lakehead University BScN program. The Lakehead University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a four (4) year undergraduate degree program. A three (3) year compressed BScN program is also offered, however, graduating NNEP students must achieve a grade point average of 80% or over to be eligible to enter this stream. In 2007, four (4) NNEP students were qualified for entry into the 3 (three) year compressed BScN program.
Mission Statement
The mission statement of the Native Nurses Entry Program is:
To improve the health care of Native people by increasing the number of Native nurses who would provide culturally appropriate care. The Native Nurses Entry Program provides access to Baccalaureate Nursing Education for those of Native ancestry who do not meet the University entrance requirements.
AHHRI Goals
This directly supports the goals of the AHHRI which are:
- To provide conditions for optimizing the future supply, mix and distribution of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis health workforce in ways that are responsive to the unique and diverse needs of First Nation, Inuit and Métis;
- To achieve and maintain an adequate supply of qualified First Nations, Inuit and Métis health care providers who are appropriately educated and supported to ensure culturally competent and safe health care for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people;
- To facilitate the adaptation of health care educational curricula so that the cultural competence of graduates providing health care services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis is improved.
The NNEP program also supports the following AHHRI goals:
- To increase the number of First Nations, Inuit and Métis who are aware of health careers as viable career options, focusing particularly on youth awareness.
- To increase the number of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students entering into, and succeeding in health career studies.
- To increase the number of post secondary educational institutions which are supportive of and conducive to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students in health career studies (e.g. with curricula culturally appropriate; student support; access programs; mentorship; and reduced barriers to admissions)
- To increase the number of qualified Aboriginal people in the FN healthcare workforce
Linkages between NNEP and the AHHRI goals and objectives already exist. This is demonstrated through annual promotion and recruitment campaigns which see NNEP staff participating in regional career fairs, health fairs, special events (e.g. pow-wows & conferences), print advertising, and the program’s website and by virtue of membership on various university and community committees.
Progress
Since its inception, there has been a steady improvement in student retention and in the number of students successfully completing the NNEP. This has resulted in increased numbers of NNEP alumni entering into and graduating from the BScN program at Lakehead University. Since the number of students accepted into and entering the NNEP program has not changed significantly from earlier years, it is fair to conclude that this improvement is attributable to the culturally appropriate supports (i.e. a full-time counsellor/liaison and Elder) that are in place.
NAN will seek to strengthen these linkages to ARRHI. The establishment of a strong, collaborative relationship has already begun. The NAN AHHRI Policy Analyst has become a member of the NNEP Advisory Committee and in this capacity will provide input and support on program policy and procedures (e.g. student admission and selection process, recruitment and promotion, etc.).
http://nativenursing.lakeheadu.ca/
