The inaugural group of nurses in a joint educational initiative between the University of New Brunswick and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education is nearing graduation, with many expressing a desire to work in New Brunswick post-graduation.
Della Raju, a nursing student from India, is eager to return to New Brunswick upon completing her studies, citing the province’s ongoing nursing shortage as a motivation. The collaborative dual-degree program involved 25 students primarily studying in India, supplemented by virtual learning sessions and visits from UNB nursing faculty.
Currently, 19 of these students are in Fredericton for a six-week clinical placement, split between a Shannex nursing home and the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. Following this placement, they will return to India for further training before taking their national council licensure examination to become registered nurses.
Lorna Butler, the dean of nursing at UNB, expressed confidence that all students seeking employment in New Brunswick will be able to secure positions, with the program accommodating a total of 99 nursing students from UNB and Manipal. The initiative aimed to address ethical concerns surrounding international nurse recruitment and ensure that the education received is valued equally in both countries.
The program’s design included efforts to bridge the gap between the healthcare systems in India and Canada, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of both contexts. Cerene Mathew, a fourth-year student from India, highlighted the more manageable nurse-to-patient ratio in New Brunswick compared to India and noted technological differences as part of her learning experience.
Both Mathew and Raju aspire to work in New Brunswick, inspired by their mothers who were nurses. Mathew shared her admiration for her mother’s dedication to patient care and teaching, influencing her own career choice in nursing.
