Global Health Professional Practice Application Process

Update during Covid-19 

Dear Students,

At this time, the application process for Global Health Placements has been placed on hold until further notice. This is a result of the current pandemic and the limitations related to student travel. 

Based on the information received throughout this application process, the Global Health Education Committee (GHEC) reserves the right to decide whether or not the student is eligible for a Global Health Professional Practice Placement. Our goal is to help you achieve success. You must meet all criteria in order to be eligible for a Global Health Professional Practice Placement. If successful, ​you will be contacted by the BScN Program Coordinator. All application questions are to be directed to kadic@mcmaster.ca. 

Note: Students in the Accelerated (F) Stream of the BScN Program who are interested in a Global Health Professional Practice are strongly encouraged to contact Academic Advising Services  during their first term of studies to discuss options. 

How to Apply:

Please review the steps involved in obtaining a Global Health Professional Practice Placement as outlined below. Please note the steps below may not occur in the order they are listed. 

Important Dates

Note: The deadlines are listed below. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their file is complete by the deadline.

• Application Deadline: TBA
• Interviews: TBA 
• Reference Letter Deadline: TBA
• Pre-departure Documents: TBA
• Pre-departure Workshop: TBA
• Re-Entry Session: TBD

Step 1: Create Your Application Profile

Your profile will consist of the following documents:

A) Cover Sheet
B) Letter of Intent
C) Resume
D) Global Health Clinical Preparation Checklist

A) Cover Sheet

Available under the “Forms” section 

B) Letter of Intent

The Letter of Intent must meet the following criteria:

• 3-page maximum
• 1" margins
• 12-point font
• single-spaced
• Addressed to Nina Cavey, GHEC Chair and the Global Health Education Committee

The Letter of Intent should address the following subjects:

• Why you are interested in a Global Placement; outline your goals
• Your geographic preference
• Your knowledge of the site you wish to visit (i.e. geography, history, demographics, health care system, priority health care issues, role of nursing, etc.)
• Your clinical focus (i.e. community or other)
• Type of population you may care for
• Your language skills (if relevant to the language of care) 
• Your knowledge of the nursing profession in the country or role of the nurse in the clinical setting
• How this placement will differ from those in Southern Ontario
• Which term you plan to complete your global placement (Spring/Summer or Fall).

C) Resume

• Your resume must be no more than two pages
• The Student Success Center has many references to help students write strong resumes: https://www.msumcmaster.ca/employment/crafting-a-resume

D) Global Health Clinical Preparation Checklist

• Submit a completed Global Health Clinical Preparation Checklist. Found under "Forms" section
• This form helps you organize the planning of your professional practice placement and gives the Global Health Education Committee (GHEC) an idea of how far along you are in the process. The more thorough you are in completing this form the better it will give the Committee an idea of your level of commitment to the application process

Application Deadline: TBA

To submit your Application Profile. Please save all four documents listed above in one PDF file using the following file name template: 'Global Health Placement Application - YEAR - YOUR NAME'.

Email file to Mediha Kadic (kadic@mcmaster.ca) with subject line "Global Health Placement Application - YOUR NAME"

Step 2: The Interview

• Your understanding of BScN curriculum
• The SON philosophy of learning
• NURSING 4J07 course aims as they relate to your planned practice placement (refer to N4J07 Course Curriculum on Avenue). 
• The challenges of being placed in your planned setting.
• Your personal attributes for success, including interpersonal, problem - solving, group skills, etc.

​Step 3: Academic Record

1. A GPA of 8.0 from all mandatory HTHSCI/NURSING courses in Level II and Fall term of Level III (Basic Stream); Winter term Level II and Fall term Level III (Post RPN Stream); Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms Level III (Accelerated)
2. A grade of ‘P’ (Pass) in all Professional Practice NURSING courses
3. A minimum grade of C- in NURSING 4H03 

Step 4: Letters of Reference

For Basic (A) Stream students: Letters of reference from clinical tutors (one from Level II and one from Level III)

For ​Post Diploma RPN (E) Stream students: One from a clinical tutor and one from an employer.

For Accelerated (F) Stream students: Letters of reference from professional practice tutors (one from term 1 and one from term 2 of their first academic year).

Successful Applicants 

If you have been chosen to participate in a Global Health Professional Practice Placement  and  have met all the requirements please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Risk & Liability

• Liability Agreement between yourself and McMaster University. Original, hard-copy must be submitted. Found under "Forms" section. 

Step 2: Final Documentation

The following will need to be submitted in Avenue to Learn (ATL) well in advance of your departure. 

• Copy of your travel itinerary
• Proof of private medical insurance
• List of emergency contacts in Canada
• Information where you can be contacted while in your placement (address, phone, e-mail)

Step 3: Pre-departure Orientation Workshop

 Step 4: Re-entry Session

Professional Practice Placement Forms

Application Process Forms 

• Cover Sheet (fillable)
• Global Health Application Process
• Global Health Professional Practice Placement Preparation Checklist
• Reference Form

Legal Forms (successful applicants only please)

These forms are essential in order for McMaster to release a student to go on field trips, research activities and student placements. They will also help you consider a variety of risks you are taking on as you plan your global health placement.

• Risk Management Manual (RMM) 801 Planning and Approval Program   (Read the entire form, then complete and submit pages 11 – 15 on Avenue to Learn)
• Risk Management Manual (RMM) 801 Program Guidelines   (Read this entire form as well. Read, check off, and initial relevant items on pages 4 -15, then submit on Avenue to Learn) 
• Liability Agreement  (Print and complete this form in hard copy, sign it, and submit to Mediha Kadic. Refer to dates listed under Successful Applicant tab)
• Participant Waiver Agreement (Long Form) (Read and complete this form and submit on Avenue to Learn)

• Recording Release Form (Standard AV release. In case you submit your photos or videos for any of our Global Health materials we will have this completed). 

Professional Practice Placement Funding

There are a number of scholarships and bursaries available to students who are completing a placement in Canada or abroad.

Many of our students have been successful in obtaining financial support for their Global Health clinical placement. 

Refer to the links below. We suggest that you speak with a representative of the financial aid office at your respective site.

• The Awards Offices at each of our program sites (they have lists with criteria)
• Your site’s School of Nursing (McMaster University, Conestoga College or Mohawk College)
• The CNO
• The RNAO
• Nursing students' organizations
• Rotary Club
• Faith-based organizations

Links

• Badhuri Nursing Scholarship - International Experience
• International Student Services (ISS)
• Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships (McMaster)
• Financing Your Future at Mohawk College
• Financial Aid & Awards at Conestoga College 

Potential Placements

Availability of placements is dependent on our placement partners. Please note all placements must be initiated by and arranged through the Global Health Education Committee. 

The following organizations are potential placements where students have been placed in previous years or have potential new placement. 

Note: The placement must be safe for Canadians to travel to; must agree to taking level 4 students and must agree to an Affiliate Agreement.

For countries and organizations not specified on this table, please contact Nina Cavey (ncavey@mcmaster.ca) Chair of the  Global Health Education Committee to discuss the suitability of the potential placement. ​

Your placement will be selected by the GHEC committee and will meet the following criteria:

1. Is approved as a placement site by the GHEC committee.

2. Is in a low- or middle-income country (preferably)
If your focus is on indigenous peoples’ health, you can choose an outpost placement within Canada or select a rural setting with a large indigenous focus in a high-income country (e.g., Australia* if available)

3. Is preferably in a community setting to explore the role of the nurse in primary health care.  Placements within Canada may have another focus, but rationale should be provided in the Letter of Intent (see application process form) 

4. Is able to accommodate your clinical placement for the entire semester (Summer or Fall term)

5. Is able to provide a registered nurse as a preceptor who: 

• has experience in the field 
• has preferably a BScN or equivalent degree
• speaks English and the language of care 
• is willing to assess you at midterm and end-of-term; and 
• is able to facilitate learning experience 

6. Has a formal affiliation agreement in place between McMaster University and the Clinical Placement Agency

Housing and Transportation

Global placements require students to arrange and pay for housing and transportation so you will need to research some options. When you are introduced to your host organization you should address the availability of safe and affordable accommodations near your clinical setting, as well as transportation arrangements. ​

Internet Connection

Access to Internet with reasonable bandwidth is necessary to facilitate communication with your tutor at McMaster.