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).

To be considered for the TRNC PEI Program, a decision from the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island (CRNMPEI) regarding eligibility for a RN registration is needed. For more information on the RN registration process with the CRNMPEI, please visit their website: https://crnpei.ca/

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

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

• Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector Check – valid for 1 year.
• Immunizations
  • Due to risk of exposure to infectious disease in the workplace, you are required to have up to date immunizations or have them in progress if they require multiple doses. If you have no history of disease or no record of immunizations, you are required to provide titre results.
• CPR–C AED for healthcare professionals or equivalent - valid for 1 year.
  • You are required to have an up to date CPR-C AED for healthcare professionals or equivalent. Certification is valid for 1 year or as per expiration on certificate. If you need to recertify, check with your employer first to see if they offer the session you require or there are options here for a fee
• WHMIS certification – valid for 1 year.
  • If you need to recertify in your WHMIS, you can do so by following the directions below: 
    • Read the WHMIS training presentation.* PDF 
    • Take the WHMIS quiz* WORD WHMIS quiz answers *WORD (Check your Downloads folder for documents). 
    • Print and have your manager sign your WHMIS Certificate of Completion. Please retain this certificate for your records 
    • If you do not have a manager, you can submit to RNBridging@ihis.org for signature.

Access to a computer or iPad with good WIFI is required. Optional: headphones with a microphone, calculator.

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

The TRNC program is a 14-16 week program (subject to change), provided over a defined period of time, 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 online, while skills lab and clinical are conducted 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 online over a defined two-week period through a Learning Management System (LMS) called D2L or Brightspace. Access information and digital textbook/e-learning codes are provided with instructions on how to download upon enrollment. Each course has mandatory evaluative points that need to be successfully completed. The courses are taken in the following sequence:

Weeks 1 to 8

• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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 schedule:

Week 9 and 10: In-person Risk Management, Training and Skills lab

The following are requirements provided during weeks 9 and 10:

• N95 fit tested
• Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) training: Transferring, Lifting, Repositioning (TLR
• Clinical Information System (CIS) training
• Point of Care (POC) equipment certification
• Simulation 

The Skills lab will focus on practicing nursing skills and health assessments. You will have access to online content for skills lab:

• NRSG-125 Registered Nurse Clinical Skills Lab

Week 11 to 12: Two weeks (80 hours) of in-person instructor-led clinical is required.

Week 12 to 16: Two weeks (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 PEI TRNC Program?

To be considered for the TRNC PEI Program, you must be have a decision made on your registration from the CRNMPEI and be referred to the program through one of the following:

• the CRNMPEI
• 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?

• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and 
• You must be a resident of PEI 
• You must 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: :
  • Government-issued photo ID 
  • PEI health card
  • PEI residential lease/property deed 
  • Recent utility bill displaying your name and PEI address
  • Letter from provincial government/court (marriage license, divorce, government aid)
  • Bank statement showing name and address or
  • PEI driver’s license/learner’s permit

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. 

How do I apply?

All nurses who are seeking registration to practice as a Registered Nurse on PEI must:

• Contact the CRNMPEI: https://crnpei.ca/

You will then be referred to the program through one of the following:

• the CRNMPEI.
• an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer

If you have been issued a general class RN registration through the CRNMPEI and have not been referred to the program through an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer but would like to enroll, contact: RNBridging@ihis.org

An application form may then be provided once a referral is received.

Is there any financial assistance available?

A stipend is currently available for those who qualify.

For more information about financial assistance or general information about the TRNC PEI Program, contact the Program Lead: RNBridging@ihis.org or 902-218-2963.