Several students, staff, and community partners stood inside Lambton College's nursing lab on Tuesday morning to mark the official launch of the new School of Nursing.
Lambton College mascot attends launch of School of Nursing. May 9, 2023. (Photo by Natalia Vega.)
The "revitalized school structure" was unveiled as the post-secondary institute gets ready to welcome its first cohort of students into the four-year standalone Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing program in September.
Students in other nursing programs will now be under the umbrella of the new School of Nursing instead of Health and Community Services. To start, the School of Nursing will encompass the Personal Support Worker (PSW) Ontario College Certificate, Practical Nursing College Diploma, and Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing Degree.
Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Success Mary Vaughan said the evolved academic structure will make the process easier for students who want to bridge their education from one program (such as the PSW certificate) to a nursing degree.
"With the formation of a school of nursing, it provides the focus and the dedication that the community needs for the nursing profession and for our graduates," said Vaughan. "It's also been a real beacon to our community providers -- Bluewater Health, our long-term care homes, our community partners, that we are invested into the School of Nursing and the nursing profession and that they are very active partners with us."
Vaughan said Lambton College is one of the few schools in the province that has a multidisciplinary approach to nursing and health care.
"Being a smaller college, that exceeds in infrastructure, faculty, and learning experience for students... it really creates a unique place to study and to live," she said.
With the standalone program, students will no longer need to travel to the University of Windsor to complete their final two years, an option that is not feasible for some.
Melanie Postel. May 9, 2023. (Photo by Natalia Vega)
One student who plans to bridge within the School of Nursing is fifth-term practical nursing student Melanie Postel. The former business owner, now a student and mother of four, said the opportunities provided locally have helped her pursue further education.
"I've always had this desire to take care of people, I've wanted to be the person who can support them, who can educate them... but I didn't come from a family with money so I didn't have those opportunities as a younger lady," she said.
Postel said her previous school grades would have posed a challenge getting into other competitive programs in cities like London. However, through her time at Lambton College, Postel said she was recognized through the Dean's Honour List for having the highest grade point average out of the first-year students.
Postel has spent her school placement with Bluewater Health, an active community partner involved in the School of Nursing.
Bluewater Health Chief Nursing Executive Shannon Landry and Vision Nursing Home CEO Heather Martin spoke during Tuesday's launch, highlighting the need for PSWs and Registered Practical Nurses within the community and across the province.
"In the community, we welcome you always and it is with great appreciation you come to us and see the work that you can do to care [for] primarily our senior population," said Martin during a speech.
The college previously said 55 to 60 students will be accepted into the first intake of the standalone program. The final number of registered students will not be known until early September.
