Nipissing SPP 2018

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Hi there! Just wanted to get in conctact with other applicants who are applying to the Scholar Practioner Program at Nipissing University.

We could use this thread to talk about different components of the application.

Cheers :)

Hey guys! I created a closed FB group: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Let me know if it works! like I said... not the most technical person!

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Hi @ltruong! So for the 3 hour reflection seminars once a week, there is no need to prep anything for them in your first year. You are coming together once a week to discuss how everything is going in your placements and to share stories. Unless you are at SickKids, the reflection seminars are not a formal thing. There is quite a bit of work to do outside of your placement. You will have a Learning Plan and a Narrative Learning Portfolio (which is your final project) to complete each semester where you decide what you want to learn for the semester, and then you will also have essays and assignments to complete, as well as a test here and there just to make sure you are keeping up with your skills. I have found that even though you are technically only taking one course, the amount of work is the same as if you were taking 5 courses in your undergraduate degree. Especially because on top of your assigned school work, you are expected to be doing your own studying and researching on the side to be able to have the knowledge and skill to be a student nurse in your placement. I hope that this helps! The amount of work is manageable, but I have not done a lot of studying outside of school yet because I have still been getting a handle on how the program runs!

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Hi @tamaraago! There are 6 semesters in total, with 3 semesters per year. Each semester is 3 months, and then you get a month or so break in between each semester (Breaks are December, April and August of each year). You are given the syllabus before the semester starts so you can prepare during your month break.

In terms of textbooks, you need to choose what basically speaks to you and how you learn best. I have quite a few textbooks online, and one physical pharmacology textbook I bought off of a Nursing friend who is in the 4 year program at UWindsor. Any textbooks by Potter and Perry, or by Jarvis are well known ones. The RNAO also has a lot of policies and procedures you can look up and study from on their website, as well as the CNO. The "Competencies for Entry-Level Register Nurse Practice" from the CNO is like the holy bible in the program and what you should be basing your studying from throughout the program. (It lists all the competencies that are expected of you when you graduate and become an RN). When I found out I got into the program, I began watching the YouTube channel RegisteredNurseRN and taking notes from the beginner skills videos like auscultating the heart, lungs, head to toe assessments, vital signs, etc. I found I learned best by watching these videos, but again, what the program preaches is you need to figure out the ways that you learn best, whether it's reading and taking notes from a textbook, reading journal articles online, watching YouTube videos, etc.

On a side note, it's not really talked about, but it will be expected when you start in September that you have a stethoscope, scrubs and shoes already. The program does not have requirements or specifications for these, apart from that the shoes need to be close toed, and they cannot have the "mesh" on them like some running shoes have, it has to be a solid material that will prevent anything leaking right through into your socks for safety reasons, and they should be preferably non-slip. Sketchers or Asics are always a good bet for running shoes! For stethoscopes, go to stethoscope.ca and order your stethoscope from there! You save a ton of money with them and you have tons of time to order them now. Everyone in my year wished they had known about it beforehand because they went out to the University of Toronto to buy theirs, and it cost them $150-$250, where on stethoscope.ca you can get stethoscopes for as low as $88 with a free engraving! (You definitely want to get your stethoscope engraved, or figure out a way to mark it as your own, because they can go missing pretty easily in the hospital because other healthcare professionals steal them from students). You can get any scrubs you want, and if you are at SickKids it's encouraged to get scrubs with fun characters on them, because it makes a world of difference! (They usually have a big back to school sale near the end of the summer on scrubs!). These are things that the faculty did not tell us until a week before we were due to begin our placements, so some people were scrambling and paying a lot of money for stethoscopes, scrubs and shoes. So I'm giving you guys a heads up in case you guys decide to choose this program! Other schools have different protocols for these types of things, so what I'm saying only applies to Nipissing's SPP. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Hi @tamaraago! There are 6 semesters in total, with 3 semesters per year. Each semester is 3 months, and then you get a month or so break in between each semester (Breaks are December, April and August of each year). You are given the syllabus before the semester starts so you can prepare during your month break.

In terms of textbooks, you need to choose what basically speaks to you and how you learn best. I have quite a few textbooks online, and one physical pharmacology textbook I bought off of a Nursing friend who is in the 4 year program at UWindsor. Any textbooks by Potter and Perry, or by Jarvis are well known ones. The RNAO also has a lot of policies and procedures you can look up and study from on their website, as well as the CNO. The "Competencies for Entry-Level Register Nurse Practice" from the CNO is like the holy bible in the program and what you should be basing your studying from throughout the program. (It lists all the competencies that are expected of you when you graduate and become an RN). When I found out I got into the program, I began watching the YouTube channel RegisteredNurseRN and taking notes from the beginner skills videos like auscultating the heart, lungs, head to toe assessments, vital signs, etc. I found I learned best by watching these videos, but again, what the program preaches is you need to figure out the ways that you learn best, whether it's reading and taking notes from a textbook, reading journal articles online, watching YouTube videos, etc.

On a side note, it's not really talked about, but it will be expected when you start in September that you have a stethoscope, scrubs and shoes already. The program does not have requirements or specifications for these, apart from that the shoes need to be close toed, and they cannot have the "mesh" on them like some running shoes have, it has to be a solid material that will prevent anything leaking right through into your socks for safety reasons, and they should be preferably non-slip. Sketchers or Asics are always a good bet for running shoes! For stethoscopes, go to stethoscope.ca and order your stethoscope from there! You save a ton of money with them and you have tons of time to order them now. Everyone in my year wished they had known about it beforehand because they went out to the University of Toronto to buy theirs, and it cost them $150-$250, where on stethoscope.ca you can get stethoscopes for as low as $88 with a free engraving! (You definitely want to get your stethoscope engraved, or figure out a way to mark it as your own, because they can go missing pretty easily in the hospital because other healthcare professionals steal them from students). You can get any scrubs you want, and if you are at SickKids it's encouraged to get scrubs with fun characters on them, because it makes a world of difference! (They usually have a big back to school sale near the end of the summer on scrubs!). These are things that the faculty did not tell us until a week before we were due to begin our placements, so some people were scrambling and paying a lot of money for stethoscopes, scrubs and shoes. So I'm giving you guys a heads up in case you guys decide to choose this program! Other schools have different protocols for these types of things, so what I'm saying only applies to Nipissing's SPP. Let me know if you have any other questions!

WOW! Thank you so much for this info!! This is crucial stuff lol! I will definatly start watching YouTube and looking into those books! As I stated before, I found some "quick read" books on Amazon about pathophysiology and pharmacology -- would you say these would be beneficial as well?

Where can we get scrubs and shoes? Thank you so much for the heads up about the stethoscope!

Did you find it difficult to stay on top with hours or keeping in sync with the Nurse you were assigned to shadow? Why are reflections more formal with SickKids versus the other placements?

Thank you again for helping us all out! I feel way more organized already! You truly rock! Lol

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@futurenurse612 Thank you so so much for all your help!!!

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WOW! Thank you so much for this info!! This is crucial stuff lol! I will definatly start watching YouTube and looking into those books! As I stated before, I found some "quick read" books on Amazon about pathophysiology and pharmacology -- would you say these would be beneficial as well?

Where can we get scrubs and shoes? Thank you so much for the heads up about the stethoscope!

Did you find it difficult to stay on top with hours or keeping in sync with the Nurse you were assigned to shadow? Why are reflections more formal with SickKids versus the other placements?

Thank you again for helping us all out! I feel way more organized already! You truly rock! Lol

I love ASICS! They have a huge outlet at Vaughan Mills mall - if anyone is in the GTA. You can get some really nice shoes for a good price.

I always got my scrubs from Marks (good price, you can return them - up to a year, even if you've worn them! I remember I had a pair that got a bleach stain and the company exchanged mine no questions asked!!). The other company I got them from is a place on Gerard St in Toronto (close to Sick Kids hospital) - they are typically more expensive - better quality. BUT they go on sale at the start of the school year.

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@futurenurse612 Thank you!! This is so generous of you to share with us. Super good to know!

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Thanks so much for all this information :) I have a question, my offer on Web Advisor says 'offered conditional admission". I am still finishing my 4th year of undergrad so does that just mean I need to send them proof that I completed my degree? Or would there be something else?

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Thanks so much for all this information :) I have a question, my offer on Web Advisor says 'offered conditional admission". I am still finishing my 4th year of undergrad so does that just mean I need to send them proof that I completed my degree? Or would there be something else?

Yeah that would be the reason why! You need to send in final transcripts. I am in the process of finishing up my A&P course and also have a conditional offer (the condition is that we have to finish :))

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Yeah that would be the reason why! You need to send in final transcripts. I am in the process of finishing up my A&P course and also have a conditional offer (the condition is that we have to finish :))

It'll also probably say in your package that you get in the mail. I remember when I applied to my undergrad. It was conditional, pending I kept my average above 80% - so it'll probably outline it in there.

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Hi @ltruong! So for the 3 hour reflection seminars once a week, there is no need to prep anything for them in your first year. You are coming together once a week to discuss how everything is going in your placements and to share stories. Unless you are at SickKids, the reflection seminars are not a formal thing. There is quite a bit of work to do outside of your placement. You will have a Learning Plan and a Narrative Learning Portfolio (which is your final project) to complete each semester where you decide what you want to learn for the semester, and then you will also have essays and assignments to complete, as well as a test here and there just to make sure you are keeping up with your skills. I have found that even though you are technically only taking one course, the amount of work is the same as if you were taking 5 courses in your undergraduate degree. Especially because on top of your assigned school work, you are expected to be doing your own studying and researching on the side to be able to have the knowledge and skill to be a student nurse in your placement. I hope that this helps! The amount of work is manageable, but I have not done a lot of studying outside of school yet because I have still been getting a handle on how the program runs!

Hi! Thank you so much for answering my questions. I really appreciate the honesty and all the helpful tips. :) I'll definitely be looking into those shoes and the scrubs in addition to the resources you've listed. Those videos sound like a wealth of practical information!

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Hey guys! I posted it earlier in the thread (I think its on the previous page) but I made an SPP 2018 facebook group if your interested in joining!

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