Canadian and International Professional Practice Application Process

You must meet all criteria in order to be eligible for these unique Professional Practice Placements.
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 placement as outlined below. 

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 

Step 1: Create Your Application Profile

Your profile will consist of the following documents:

A) Application Profile 
B) Letter of Interest
C) Resume

A) Application Profile 

Available under the “Forms” section 

B) Letter of Interest

The Letter of Interest must meet the following criteria:

• 3-page maximum
• 1" margins
• 12-point font
• single-spaced
• Addressed to Joanna Pierazzo, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Nursing Program 

The Letter of Interest should address the following subjects:

• Geographic preference and rationale for a Northern or Global Placement 
• Clinical Area of Interest, including Knowledge of the health system are care needs of the patient population 
• Describe your plan to prepare for this experience including: course work, knowledge of the nursing role in this health/geographic context, potential facilitators/barriers for learning  

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

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: 'Canadian or International Health Placement Application - YEAR - YOUR NAME'.

Email file to bscnad@mcmaster.ca  with subject line "Canadian or International Health Placement Application - YOUR NAME"

Step 2: The Interview

In this interview, we will review your application, including interests, goals and attributes for success.   

​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: Letter of Reference

For Basic (A) Stream students: Letter of reference from a clinical tutor (from Level III)

For ​Post Diploma RPN (E) Stream students: Letter of reference from a clinical tutor.

For Accelerated (F) Stream students: Letter of reference from clinical tutor. 

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

​You must attend a Pre-departure Orientation Workshop organized by the School of Nursing at the McMaster site. At this workshop you will be required to complete other forms as needed by the School.

 Step 4: Re-entry Session

Professional Practice Placement Forms

Application Process Forms 

• Application of Interest of 2022
• Application Profile 2022
• Atypical-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

• International Student Services (ISS)
• 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 Placement Office. 

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.

Region	Location		Agency
Africa	Zambia	Macha	Macha Mission Hospital
Asia	Nepal	Dhulikhel	Dhulikhel Hospital
Latin America & Caribbean	St Vincent and the Grenadines	Villa	St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College
	Grenada	St. George’s	Ministry of Health and Social Security
Canadian North / Outpost	Ontario	Kenora	Lake of the Woods District Hospital
		Moose Factory	Weeneebayko Area Health Authority
		Attawapiskat & Associated Northern Ontario Locations
		Sioux Lookout	Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre
		Manitoulin Island	Manitoulin Health Centre
	Yukon	Dawson City	Yukon Hospital Corporation
		Whitehorse	Yukon Hospital Corporation
	Northwest Territories	Fort Smith	Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
	Australia* Indigenous Health	Any	Any