Northern nursing program achieves Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing accreditation

The Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing program is now officially accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

The program is a partnership between UNBC, Northwest Community College and the College of New Caledonia.

While they’re already an approved program under the BC College of Registered Nurses, chair of UNBC’s School of Nursing Martha MacLeod says they’re very pleased to have received this additional recognition.

“We’re just delighted to be able to work in collaboration with our college partners to have a program that is recognized nationally for its excellence,” says MacLeod. “This is the first accreditation that we’ve had from this national body, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. It’s a voluntary accreditation and we seek that in order to test ourselves against national standards of excellence.”

MacLeod says increasing numbers of students are interested in investing in their education in an accredited program. The accreditation from CASN lasts for five years.

MacLeod says the program has been training registered nurses since 1990.

“We’ve had more than 1200 registered nurses come out from our program. We have one coordinated curriculum that the students go through. They take the first two years at the college and the second two years at the university.”

The program has locations in Prince George, Terrace and Quesnel. MacLeod says 70% of graduates from the program end up working in the Northern Health region.

“In many areas of the north, we now have graduates who have been in practice for quite a while mentoring the new graduates who are coming through,” she says. “I believe we’ve contributed to the strengthening of the health care system across northern BC.”

The Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing program has a focus on care in rural and remote communities, offering a unique perspective on supporting healthcare northern communities, according to MacLeod.