National Nursing Week is May 12 - 18 and Conestoga has a long history of nursing education to celebrate with the 50th anniversary of the Practical Nursing program.
Conestoga's Practical Nursing program is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“Conestoga is committed to nursing education: creating flexible pathways, meeting the growing demand for skilled health-care professionals and contributing to the health of our communities,” said Michelle Heyer, chair of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“Our dedicated nursing faculty deliver high-quality, hands-on education that prepares students for success in the classroom, in clinical settings and throughout their careers.”
The Conestoga College Stratford Nursing Division opened at the Stratford campus on Youngs Street after responsibility for the four regional schools of nursing was transferred to Conestoga in 1973 as part of a general transfer of nursing education to colleges of applied arts and technology.
Nearly 50 years later, Conestoga welcomed the first cohort to the college’s new standalone, four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.
This new degree offering at Conestoga was developed following the Ontario government’s decision in 2020 to allow both public colleges and universities to offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing to increase opportunities for students to access high-quality education. Conestoga continues to deliver the remaining cohorts of the collaborative BScN degree in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University, a collaboration that will sunset in 2027.
The first cohort was welcomed to join the new Conestoga Nursing Students’ Society (CONSS), which aims to provide support and opportunities for nursing students to help them learn and connect with each other and the community.
The college’s nursing programs continue to evolve and play a vital role in supporting health care in the community and beyond.
Conestoga offers several nursing programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Management, Practical Nursing, and the Enhanced Practice for Internationally Trained Nurses program.
Continuing education opportunities are also available for nurses to enhance and specialize their practice.
The School of Health & Life Sciences offers a range of credentials to assist individuals achieve their goal of becoming a health-care professional. From pre-health programs, through to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and degrees, the School of Health & Life Sciences delivers the most up-to-date training provided by expert faculty and staff in state-of-the-art facilities.