Sask Polytech and U of R: Proud partners in quality nursing education

The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Nursing have partnered to provide two innovative nursing education programs in Saskatchewan.

In the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN), students experience a flexible and supportive learning environment with a strong focus on clinical practice education, critical thinking and clinical reasoning, interprofessional collaboration, and scholarship. The range of delivery methods, from on-campus to online, offers students flexibility to learn where they live or work. Students can also choose to continue their studies during the spring and summer and complete the program in 3, 3.5 or 4 years.

The SCBScN program is the only baccalaureate nursing education program in Saskatchewan that offers these exit options. Also, the SCBScN is the only nursing degree program in Saskatchewan that admits students directly from high school.

The SCBScN program also offers an after degree option which allows students with a degree in another discipline to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just two calendar years. Currently, the two institutions are exploring the possibility of a bilingual option which would open the door for many Francophone people to explore a career in nursing.

The U of R and Sask Polytech have also collaborated on a Master’s of Nursing program: the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (CNPP). The CNPP allows Registered Nurses to further their education and specialize in becoming highly qualified Nurse Practitioners. The program utilizes the same principles of collaboration and adapting to health system needs. The CNPP curriculum is delivered through online learning with the exception of a one week on-campus residency. Students do not have to interrupt their careers and livelihoods to earn their Master’s degree.

The programs have made diversity and inclusion a priority for their students. Indigenous support services and advisors are available to help students through the entire education process, from application through convocation and beyond. Advisors take a holistic approach to support and are chosen for their unique knowledge and backgrounds in Indigenization and nursing.