Ontario Second Entry Nursing Fall 2020

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Hey, I used to creep these forums for the past few years and they helped affirm my decision to apply to nursing school for Fall 2020. I didn't see one started for next year so I thought, why not start one?

I graduated a while back so I'm a bit older, but my top three choices are:

1. Queen's

2. McMaster

3. York

4. Humber-UNB

4 hours ago, HappyGuarantee123 said:

Has anyone received any scholarship updates/info from U of T yet? Last I heard they had said we'd hear back beginning of May.

I still haven't heart back from them yet either. I just double-checked the e-mail and they said that they would begin notifying successful applicants on an ongoing basis starting early May.

1
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For anyone that was accepted to McMaster's accelerated program, do we have to do anything yet? Since being accepted I haven't received any information regarding tuition deposits or other administrative details. Am I missing something? My Mosaic account still looks the exact same even after accepting my offer on OUAC.

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Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice. I got an acceptance to Queens AST on Wednesday and I've also been accepted to UofT nursing so I'm very torn between the two. I was wondering, for those of you who have decided on either school/are attending either school - why did you pick it? What are everyone's opinions on both programs? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Clinical Research.
3 minutes ago, RNcirca2022 said:

Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice. I got an acceptance to Queens AST on Wednesday and I've also been accepted to UofT nursing so I'm very torn between the two. I was wondering, for those of you who have decided on either school/are attending either school - why did you pick it? What are everyone's opinions on both programs? Thanks in advance!

Congratulations! It's a big decision to make so I'm sure you will have a lot of thoughts going through your head, so I would sleep on it before making any final decisions.

Toronto is a hotspot for COVID-19 right now -- I'm working at one of the downtown hospitals and I don't know how long social distancing measures will be kept up. I'm in contact with a few nursing students who are completing their consolidation right now as nursing sims. Kingston is isolated, has all of their COVID cases resolved, and has less competition for nursing placements compared to the GTA programs.

But even before all this happened, Queen's was my first choice. When you look at the NCLEX pass rate for Queen's AST compared to other schools, the pass rate is close to, if not, 100%. Solid mix of placements in all areas (including "rare" ones like ob/gyn, paeds, mental health) rather than random assignment/ranking. I also just like Kingston, it's a cute town. These are some of the factors for me.

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1 hour ago, RNthrowaway2020 said:

Congratulations! It's a big decision to make so I'm sure you will have a lot of thoughts going through your head, so I would sleep on it before making any final decisions.

Toronto is a hotspot for COVID-19 right now -- I'm working at one of the downtown hospitals and I don't know how long social distancing measures will be kept up. I'm in contact with a few nursing students who are completing their consolidation right now as nursing sims. Kingston is isolated, has all of their COVID cases resolved, and has less competition for nursing placements compared to the GTA programs.

But even before all this happened, Queen's was my first choice. When you look at the NCLEX pass rate for Queen's AST compared to other schools, the pass rate is close to, if not, 100%. Solid mix of placements in all areas (including "rare" ones like ob/gyn, paeds, mental health) rather than random assignment/ranking. I also just like Kingston, it's a cute town. These are some of the factors for me.

Thanks for the reply!! Good point, I hadn't considered the COVID-19 impact as much as I should considering it will probably be a factor for the whole 2 year program.

As far as I can tell you also get all placements at UofT? Or am I just reading the course descriptions wrong? I really want to work in Maternity so if uoft can't guarantee a placement in og/gyn then thats a huge plus for Queens

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17 hours ago, helgurk said:

For anyone that was accepted to McMaster's accelerated program, do we have to do anything yet? Since being accepted I haven't received any information regarding tuition deposits or other administrative details. Am I missing something? My Mosaic account still looks the exact same even after accepting my offer on OUAC.

I was wondering the same thing. I haven't received any details about that sort of stuff either. I am not even sure if we are online like the other programs or if we are included in the exception.

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Specializes in Clinical Research.
12 hours ago, RNcirca2022 said:

Thanks for the reply!! Good point, I hadn't considered the COVID-19 impact as much as I should considering it will probably be a factor for the whole 2 year program.

As far as I can tell you also get all placements at UofT? Or am I just reading the course descriptions wrong? I really want to work in Maternity so if uoft can't guarantee a placement in og/gyn then thats a huge plus for Queens

Sure, so these are the Queen's AST placements:

Year 1:

NURS 206 -- Chronic/Acutely Ill/Elderly Adults = 120 hours per term

NURS 371 -- Maternal/Child Family-Centred = 192 hours per term (one rotation in maternal/child family health (I.e. pregnancy, labour, pre/post partum) and one rotation in paeds)

NURS 405 -- Community Health Promotion = 192 hours per term

Year 2:

NURS 345 -- Psychiatric Mental Health + Med/Surg = 192 hours per term

And then your integrated practicum/consolidation, which is 400 hours over 10 weeks.

You also take courses in maternal child nursing care, med/surg, psychiatric mental health, community health, gerontological nursing and others.

U of T Year 1:

NUR 360 (Year Long) Childbearing Years + Older Persons and Their Families (not sure how many clinical placement hours)

NUR 371: Acute Care Nursing for Adults (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 372: Mental Health Nursing (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 373: Nursing Care of Children and Families (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

U of T Year 2:

NURS 460 (Year Long) Chronic Illness, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you get sim lab experience, seminar format:

- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cardiovascular Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Surgical Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cancer
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Health Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Children and their Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Childbearing Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Older Patients with Complex Health Conditions

NURS 461 (Year Long) Primary Health Care, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you I'm not sure how placements work:

- Gender and Health
- Family and Health
- Migration and Health
- Aging Adults and Health
- Indigenous Health
- Mental Health
- Child and Youth Health
- Home and Health
- Global Health

NURS 470: integrative Nursing Practicum/Consolidation: This is from mid-April to end of June, 11 weeks long.

If you want to work in maternity, I'm sure either/or will work fine for you, it's more so the consolidation that I would look for so you specialize in that area and hopefully get a job in the unit you do your big 400 hour practicum in. I also know that Queen's students don't necessarily have to do their practicum in Kingston, some folks do it in Toronto, some in their hometowns, some have even flown out to BC, etc.

I didn't apply to UofT, I did my undergrad there and a sample viewing of the course timetable looked too academic for my liking, from talking to the students, but whatever place you choose to go, I'm sure you will become a fantastic nurse ?

Best of luck!!

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1 hour ago, RNthrowaway2020 said:

Sure, so these are the Queen's AST placements:

Year 1:

NURS 206 -- Chronic/Acutely Ill/Elderly Adults = 120 hours per term

NURS 371 -- Maternal/Child Family-Centred = 192 hours per term (one rotation in maternal/child family health (I.e. pregnancy, labour, pre/post partum) and one rotation in paeds)

NURS 405 -- Community Health Promotion = 192 hours per term

Year 2:

NURS 345 -- Psychiatric Mental Health + Med/Surg = 192 hours per term

And then your integrated practicum/consolidation, which is 400 hours over 10 weeks.

You also take courses in maternal child nursing care, med/surg, psychiatric mental health, community health, gerontological nursing and others.

U of T Year 1:

NUR 360 (Year Long) Childbearing Years + Older Persons and Their Families (not sure how many clinical placement hours)

NUR 371: Acute Care Nursing for Adults (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 372: Mental Health Nursing (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 373: Nursing Care of Children and Families (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

U of T Year 2:

NURS 460 (Year Long) Chronic Illness, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you get sim lab experience, seminar format:

- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cardiovascular Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Surgical Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cancer
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Health Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Children and their Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Childbearing Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Older Patients with Complex Health Conditions

NURS 461 (Year Long) Primary Health Care, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you I'm not sure how placements work:

- Gender and Health
- Family and Health
- Migration and Health
- Aging Adults and Health
- Indigenous Health
- Mental Health
- Child and Youth Health
- Home and Health
- Global Health

NURS 470: integrative Nursing Practicum/Consolidation: This is from mid-April to end of June, 11 weeks long.

If you want to work in maternity, I'm sure either/or will work fine for you, it's more so the consolidation that I would look for so you specialize in that area and hopefully get a job in the unit you do your big 400 hour practicum in. I also know that Queen's students don't necessarily have to do their practicum in Kingston, some folks do it in Toronto, some in their hometowns, some have even flown out to BC, etc.

I didn't apply to UofT, I did my undergrad there and a sample viewing of the course timetable looked too academic for my liking, from talking to the students, but whatever place you choose to go, I'm sure you will become a fantastic nurse ?

Best of luck!!

Hi! I'm a second year student at U of T and just wanted to clarify some things regarding the second year placements. For NUR 460 and NUR 461 you'll only be able to choose one section per course; you either do community first in the fall and then acute care in the Winter or vice versa. Both NUR 460 and NUR 461 have clinical days twice per week for the entire 3 month rotation (12 hours per day for NUR 460 and usually 8 hours for NUR 461). Unfortunately there's no guarantee that you'll get the section you want, especially if it's popular (pediatrics and labour & delivery). Course selection opens up at 6am on the selection day and everyone just tries to click their choices as fast as possible. ?‍♀️ First year maternity is usually one 12 hour day per week on a postpartum floor with one shadow day on L&D. To do a final consolidation placement in L&D you have to apply and be interviewed (and selected) by the unit manager. That being said, I'm not sure when placements will resume again due to the pandemic but best of luck in what you decide either way! ?

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University of Toronto has one of the finest nursing programs in the world. (no 3). Queen's is no 100.

https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2016/nursing

I'd pick U. of T. Much more impressive when you go to get a job

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6 hours ago, RNthrowaway2020 said:

Sure, so these are the Queen's AST placements:

Year 1:

NURS 206 -- Chronic/Acutely Ill/Elderly Adults = 120 hours per term

NURS 371 -- Maternal/Child Family-Centred = 192 hours per term (one rotation in maternal/child family health (I.e. pregnancy, labour, pre/post partum) and one rotation in paeds)

NURS 405 -- Community Health Promotion = 192 hours per term

Year 2:

NURS 345 -- Psychiatric Mental Health + Med/Surg = 192 hours per term

And then your integrated practicum/consolidation, which is 400 hours over 10 weeks.

You also take courses in maternal child nursing care, med/surg, psychiatric mental health, community health, gerontological nursing and others.

U of T Year 1:

NUR 360 (Year Long) Childbearing Years + Older Persons and Their Families (not sure how many clinical placement hours)

NUR 371: Acute Care Nursing for Adults (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 372: Mental Health Nursing (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

NUR 373: Nursing Care of Children and Families (8 hour shifts on Thursdays and Fridays for 7 weeks, roughly 112 hours)

U of T Year 2:

NURS 460 (Year Long) Chronic Illness, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you get sim lab experience, seminar format:

- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cardiovascular Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Surgical Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Cancer
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Patients with Complex Health Conditions
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Children and their Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Childbearing Families
- Nursing Issues in Caring for Older Patients with Complex Health Conditions

NURS 461 (Year Long) Primary Health Care, you have to choose two sections (one per term) and you I'm not sure how placements work:

- Gender and Health
- Family and Health
- Migration and Health
- Aging Adults and Health
- Indigenous Health
- Mental Health
- Child and Youth Health
- Home and Health
- Global Health

NURS 470: integrative Nursing Practicum/Consolidation: This is from mid-April to end of June, 11 weeks long.

If you want to work in maternity, I'm sure either/or will work fine for you, it's more so the consolidation that I would look for so you specialize in that area and hopefully get a job in the unit you do your big 400 hour practicum in. I also know that Queen's students don't necessarily have to do their practicum in Kingston, some folks do it in Toronto, some in their hometowns, some have even flown out to BC, etc.

I didn't apply to UofT, I did my undergrad there and a sample viewing of the course timetable looked too academic for my liking, from talking to the students, but whatever place you choose to go, I'm sure you will become a fantastic nurse ?

Best of luck!!

Thank you so much this is very helpful! I was definitely reading the UofT descriptions wrong!

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5 hours ago, danaryn said:

Hi! I'm a second year student at U of T and just wanted to clarify some things regarding the second year placements. For NUR 460 and NUR 461 you'll only be able to choose one section per course; you either do community first in the fall and then acute care in the Winter or vice versa. Both NUR 460 and NUR 461 have clinical days twice per week for the entire 3 month rotation (12 hours per day for NUR 460 and usually 8 hours for NUR 461). Unfortunately there's no guarantee that you'll get the section you want, especially if it's popular (pediatrics and labour & delivery). Course selection opens up at 6am on the selection day and everyone just tries to click their choices as fast as possible. ?‍♀️ First year maternity is usually one 12 hour day per week on a postpartum floor with one shadow day on L&D. To do a final consolidation placement in L&D you have to apply and be interviewed (and selected) by the unit manager. That being said, I'm not sure when placements will resume again due to the pandemic but best of luck in what you decide either way! ?

This is so helpful thank you! So there is a guaranteed placement in first year and a first-come-first-serve placement in second year? And then also the consolidation period? So theoretically I could end up in maternity throughout all of second year?

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2 hours ago, RNcirca2022 said:

This is so helpful thank you! So there is a guaranteed placement in first year and a first-come-first-serve placement in second year? And then also the consolidation period? So theoretically I could end up in maternity throughout all of second year?

Yes, there will be a guaranteed maternity placement for either your first or second rotation in Year 1! However that said, placements/consolidation at U of T have been cancelled since mid-March and may not be resuming as normal this fall either. Theoretically you could do your acute care placement and consolidation in maternity/L&D however most of the community placements aren't in hospital. Community would be half of your second year, either the fall or Winter semester, and acute care (ex. L&D) is the other half). There may be the opportunity to request something like a new baby wellness clinic however. I did know one person who was placed on a lactation team at SickKids as well so there are a handful of maternity-related opportunities in the community rotation.

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