Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada Program

The Prince Edward Island (PEI) Department of Health and Wellness has partnered with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to deliver the Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program to internationally educated nurses with the essential education, skills and training required for a successful transition to registered nursing in Canada. This program is also available to Canadian Educated nurses looking to re-enter the workforce as a Registered Nurse (RN). Please be advised, this program requires full time enrollment and is intensive in nature.

To be considered for the TRNC PEI Program, a decision from the Prince Edward Island College of Nursing & Midwifery (PEICNM) regarding eligibility for a RN registration is needed. For more information on the RN registration process with the PEICNM, please visit their Website.

You must also be a resident of PEI. Proof of Prince Edward Island residency (living on PEI) is required. You must be able to provide a copy of any TWO of the following: 

• PEI Government-issued photo ID,
• PEI health card,
• PEI residential lease/property deed,
• Recent utility bill displaying your name and PEI address,
• Letter from PEI government/court (marriage license, divorce, government aid),
• Bank statement showing name and PEI address, or
• PEI driver’s license/learner’s permit.

Please note that a Permanent Resident (PR) card is not accepted as valid proof of residency in PEI.

Prior to entering the program, the learner is required to provide proof of:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC), including Vulnerable Sector Check- valid for 1 year from the issue date.
• Immunization Records – all immunizations must be up to date. Due to risk of infectious disease in the workplace, you are required to have up to date immunizations or have them in progress if they require multiple doses. before beginning your in-person clinical rotation; The form below must be signed by an approved authority on PEI and include serology results.

Immunizations

• CPR–C/AED for healthcare professionals or equivalent - valid for 1 year from issue date.
  • You are required to have an up-to-date CPR-C/AED for healthcare professionals or equivalent certification. If you need to recertify, check with your employer first to see if they offer the session, you require or there are options available for free.
• WHMIS certification – valid for 1 year from issue date.

Upon entering the program, the learner is required to provide proof of:

• N95 mask fit testing – valid for 2 years from issue date. (If you have had a significant change in your face, changes in weight, major dental or facial surgery, you need to request a re-fit sooner)

If you can’t complete the N95 mask testing, you will need to notify RNBridging@ihis.org why testing could not be completed. If there is a health concern, written documentation from your provider needs to be submitted with your ability/inability to be fitted.

• Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) training: Transferring, Lifting, Repositioning (TLR) training date will be provided to you during your first 8-weeks.

What is the PEI Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program?

The TRNC program is a 14-16-week program (subject to change) available to assist internationally educated nurses (IEN) transition into a Canadian nursing landscape. It is also accessible to Canadian Educated RN’s who are seeking to re-enter the nursing profession in PEI.

The courses are thoughtfully designed to enhance entry level competencies and ensure alignment with Canadian standards.

Delivered in a hybrid format, all theoretical courses are available asynchronously online, while skills lab and clinical are conducted synchronously in-person. Learners have access to online content for theory, skills lab and clinical.

The learner will:

• learn about the Canadian health care system
• study health assessment, health challenges, communications and care of the elderly
• study medical technology, terminology and drug therapy theory in Canada
• study regulations, ethics, safety and cultural competency
• explore issues generated by language barriers and cultural differences
• have clinical skills assessed in comparison to techniques and equipment used in Canada
• take part in simulation labs and supervised clinical practice education, and
• prepare to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) using the provided resource if applicable.

What courses does the program cover?

There are four theory courses. Each theory course is delivered asynchronously online over a defined two-week period through a Learning Management System (LMS) called D2L or Brightspace. Each course has mandatory evaluative points that need to be successfully completed. The courses are taken in the following sequence:

Week 1-2

• NRSG-121 Fundamentals of Canadian Nursing Practice: The learner will focus on the fundamentals of Canadian nursing practice. The learner will analyze therapeutic communication for nursing practice in interprofessional healthcare settings. The learner will analyze the role of the nurse as a leader including appropriate conflict management styles and techniques for healthcare settings. The learner will utilize best practices with documentation and communication to enhance safe client care. The learner will analyze the nursing profession and healthcare system in Canada, legal and ethical issues in nursing, and foundational concepts of nursing practice and the nursing process. The learner will examine concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The learner will analyze evidence-informed practice and nursing research and emerging trends of nursing practice in Canada.

Week 3-4

• NRSG-108 Pharmacology Review: The learner will focus on pharmacology review. The learner will examine nursing roles and responsibilities related to safe medication administration in Canada. The learner will examine factors impacting medication administration. The learner will integrate critical thinking and clinical judgment with medication administration into caring for clients taking anti-infective and anti-inflammatory medications; neurological, cardiovascular and renal medications; endocrine, respiratory, and gastrointestinal medications. The learner will explore the concept and management of pain. The learner will analyze cultural implications to medication therapy, including complementary and alternative medicine. The learner will analyze medication related issues and impact on special populations (older adult, maternal/child, pediatric, mental health).

Week 5-6

• NRSG-123 Health Assessment: The learner will examine growth and development of adults, including older adults and components of a holistic assessment. The learner will analyze techniques of health assessment and nursing care, assessments of cardiovascular and renal systems, assessments of respiratory and neurological systems, assessments of genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, and nursing care required to support surgical clients. The learner will adapt nursing care to support clients experiencing various health alterations. The learner will integrate assessment, nursing care, and pharmacological or alternative therapies to support clients experiencing various health alterations.

Week 7-8

• NRSG-124 Nursing Care for Special Populations: The learner will focus on nursing care for special populations. The learner will articulate the nurse’s role in supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges. The learner will analyze nursing care for clients experiencing a variety of mental health disorders. The learner will integrate nursing care and pharmacological interventions for mental health across the lifespan. The learner will analyze foundational concepts of maternal-newborn nursing. The learner will manage nursing care to support maternal-newborn clients. The learner will examine community-based nursing care for maternal-newborn populations. The learner will analyze foundational concepts, growth and development, and the nurse’s role of children from birth to adolescence. The learner will formulate nursing care, pharmacological therapies, and health teaching for pediatric clients experiencing a variety of health alterations. The learner will integrate intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration for client and family centered care.

What happens after theoretical courses are successfully completed?

Following successful completion of the theoretical courses you will move into the following synchronous schedule:

Week 9 to 11: In-person Skills Lab and Training is required. This lab will focus on practicing nursing skills and health assessments. Learners will have access to online content for skills lab:

• NRSG-125 Registered Nurse Clinical Skills Lab

The below clinical requirements are provided during week 9 to 11:

• Clinical Information System (CIS) training.
• Point of Care (POC) equipment certification
• Simulations

Week 12 to 13: 80 hours of in-person instructor-led clinical is required.

Week 14 up to 16: 84hrs of in-person preceptor-led clinical is required. This schedule varies from 12-hours shifts, shift work and weekends.

You will have access to online content for both instructor-led and preceptor-led clinical:

• NRSG-109 Clinical Practice Education Experience

Are there any accommodations for accessibility?

The aspects of this program may vary in hours and locations and are MANDATORY for you to complete in the pre-determined time allotted for each intake.

Specifically, the in-person portions and of note, the preceptor-led clinical experience consists of 12-hour shifts, shift work and weekends. In the interest of fairness to all learners, there is a mandatory, standardized process for accommodations. For detailed information on available support, visit: Accessibility Services

If you require accessibility services, you will need to provide a supporting document as per the guidelines.

Who is eligible for a referral to the TRNC PEI Program?

To be considered for the TRNC PEI Program, you must be eligible or hold a registration with the PEICNM and be referred to the program through one of the following pathways:

• the PEICNM.
• an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer, or
• the TRNC Program Lead through self-referral

Do I need to be a resident of PEI and/or Canada?

Yes - to be eligible for the TRNC PEI Program you must:

• Be legally entitled to work in Canada, and
• Be a resident of Prince Edward Island

What is the cost of this program?

Currently, Program fees are covered by provincial funding for all learners but may be subject to change without notice.

Is there any financial assistance available?

The PEI Department of Health and Wellness has partnered with SkillsPEI to provide a stipend for those who qualify. To be eligible for the stipend, applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have lived in Prince Edward Island for at least six months prior to the program start date. Additional requirements will be assessed through a formal application and a Return to Work Action Plan (RTWAP), developed with a case manager. Eligible participants may qualify for a $200/week stipend (single or married participants) or a $300/week stipend (parents), while attending training.

For more information about financial assistance, contact Melanie Johnston: meljohnston@gov.pe.ca

How do I apply to the TRNC PEI Program?

If you have been referred by the PEICNM or an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer, click the “Apply Online” link below to complete the application. You can expect to hear a response via email after submitting your application within 7-10 business days.

If you have been issued a general class RN registration through the PEICNM and have not been referred to the program through an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer but would like to enroll, click the “Apply Online” link below to complete the application. You can expect to hear a response via email after submitting your application within 7-10 business days.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at rnbridging@ihis.org.