Mandatory placements for BScN students in Long-Term Care (LTC) Homes

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that RNAO advocates for mandatory placements for BScN students in Long Term Care (LTC) Homes composed of fourteen (14) shifts spread throughout the four (4) year program.

Action

RNAO staff members met with RNAO board members Una Ferguson and Julie Rubel and RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun to explore approaches to advance this resolution. In its response to the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s pre-legislative consultation in September 2021, RNAO recommended that nursing programs incorporate a mandatory 14-shift practicum in an long-term care (LTC) setting as a part of the curriculum, as a step to increase staffing and improve quality of care in LTC homes.
In response to this resolution, RNAO launched two new programs on May 12, 2022. The Nursing Student and Preceptor for Long-Term Care program will provide support and resources to preceptors and students in LTC, and help develop positive student learning experiences and promote the leadership role of preceptors. And, the Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship (ACPF) program has developed a new LTC stream with a focus on supporting fellows to develop resources, approaches and programs to support student clinical placements in LTC homes.
RNAO has also raised this issue directly with academic institutions and LTC organizations, highlighting the benefits of senior-level baccalaureate nursing placements in LTC. The association has called for academic institutions to promote required LTC placements for senior-level students and for LTC organizations to host student placements. Advocacy efforts on this issue also pointed to RNAO resources to support quality LTC placements, including videos for LTC preceptors and students, the LTC Best Practices Program, RNAO’s LTC best practice coordinators and LTC Best Practices Toolkit.