Accelerated program students make Professionalism Pledge
Jan 15, 2019
Guylaine Spencer
Photo above: Nursing students stand and recite the Professionalism Pledge together.
More than 80 BScN students took part in the first Professionalism Pledge Ceremony specifically for students in the Accelerated BScN Program on January 10.
“The accelerated stream is for students who have completed two years of undergraduate courses and meet other specific entry requirements. Unlike the basic stream students, who take eight semesters to graduate, accelerated students complete their BScN in just five semesters,” says Dr. Maria Pratt, the BScN Accelerated Stream Lead.
The incoming accelerated students began their program this past September. “We are doing the ceremony for this group in January because they are just about to enter their first professional practice placement in this second term,” Pratt explains. “Professionalism is an entry-to-practice requirement to graduate to ensure safe, competent and ethical care, according to the CNO. We want to ensure that students can commit to this practice standard earlier in their practice.”
Pratt invited two speakers to the event.
Senura Jayatunge, a level 4 accelerated student, spoke to the students about his experience in clinical settings, which included learning about the importance of being open to constructive feedback, making an effort to do self-care, and being ready to be an advocate for patients, even in the learner phase.
Dr. Sandra Carroll, Vice-dean, Faculty of Health Sciences & Executive Director, School of Nursing, spoke to the group about the importance of professionalism in nursing and the Faculty of Health Sciences highlighting the six tenets of the Faculty’s vision, namely: interprofessional collaboration, commitment to our communities, accountability/responsibility, excellence, integrity and respect, optimism.
Photo above: Dr. Sandra Carroll
Three key leaders in professionalism also attended to witness the students take their pledges: Dr. Joanna Pierazzo and Dr. Bernice Downey of McMaster School of Nursing, as well as Kristen Krull (VP, Quality & Performance, Chief of Nursing Executive at Hamilton Health Sciences).
After the pledge, students signed and witnessed the written pledge forms, which read: “This pledge represents my entry into the nursing profession and my lifelong commitment to uphold the values and standards of the profession. I agree to demonstrate the professional behaviours reflective of a learner committed to developing myself as a professional nurse within the global community.”
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