Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada Program

The Prince Edward Island (PEI) Department of Health and Wellness has partnered with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to deliver the Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program to internationally educated nurses with the essential education, skills and training required for a successful transition to registered nursing in Canada. This program is also available to Canadian Educated nurses looking to re-enter the workforce as a Registered Nurse (RN).

This hybrid program combines online theoretical learning with in-person lab sessions and clinical practicum experiences, all aligned with the entry-level competencies established by the CRNMPEI.

You will:

• learn about the Canadian health care system
• study health assessment, health challenges, communications and care of the elderly
• study medical technology, terminology and drug therapy theory in Canada
• study regulations, ethics, safety and cultural competency
• explore issues generated by language barriers and cultural differences
• have your clinical skills assessed in comparison to techniques and equipment used in Canada
• take part in simulation labs and supervised clinical practice education, and
• prepare to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)

Prior to entering the program, the learner is required to provide proof of:

• Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector Check
• Immunizations (completed or in progress)
• CPR–C AED for healthcare professional or equivalent
• WHMIS certification

What is the PEI Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada (TRNC) program?

The TRNC is a 14-week program (subject to change) available to assist internationally educated nurses (IEN) transition into a Canadian nursing landscape. It is also accessible to Canadian Educated RN’s who are seeking to re-enter the nursing profession in PEI.

The courses are thoughtfully designed to enhance entry level competencies and ensure alignment with Canadian standards. 

Delivered in a hybrid format, all theoretical courses are available online, while skills lab and clinical are conducted in-person. Learners have access to online content for skills lab and clinical. 

The program requires full-time enrollment and is intensive in nature.

What courses does the program cover?

There are 4 theory courses. Each course is delivered online over a defined two-week period through a Learning Management System (LMS) called Brightspace. Each course has mandatory assessment points that need to be successfully completed. The courses are taken in the following sequence:

Weeks 1 to 8

• NRSG-121 Fundamentals of Canadian Nursing Practice: Your studies will focus on the fundamentals of Canadian nursing practice. You will analyze therapeutic communication for nursing practice in interprofessional healthcare settings. You will analyze the role of the nurse as a leader including appropriate conflict management styles and techniques for healthcare settings. You will utilize best practices with documentation and communication to enhance safe client care. You will analyze the nursing profession and healthcare system in Canada, legal and ethical issues in nursing, and foundational concepts of nursing practice and the nursing process. You will examine concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. You will analyze evidence-informed practice and nursing research and emerging trends of nursing practice in Canada.)
• NRSG-108 Pharmacology Review: Your studies will focus on pharmacology review. You will examine nursing roles and responsibilities related to safe medication administration in Canada. You will examine factors impacting medication administration. You will integrate critical thinking and clinical judgment with medication administration into caring for clients taking: anti-infective and anti-inflammatory medications; neurological, cardiovascular and renal medications; endocrine, respiratory, and gastrointestinal medications. You will explore the concept and management of pain. You will analyze cultural implications to medication therapy, including complementary and alternative medicine. You will analyze medication related issues and impact on special populations (older adult, maternal/child, pediatric, mental health).
• NRSG-123 Health Assessment: Your studies will examine growth and development of adults, including older adults and components of a holistic assessment. You will analyze techniques of a health assessment and nursing care, assessments of cardiovascular and renal systems, assessments of respiratory and neurological systems, assessments of genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, and nursing care required to support surgical clients. You will adapt nursing care to support clients experiencing various health alterations. You will integrate assessment, nursing care, and pharmacological or alternative therapies to support clients experiencing various health alterations.)
• NRSG-124 Nursing Care for Special Populations: Your studies will focus on nursing care for special populations. You will articulate the nurse’s role in supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges. You will analyze nursing care for clients experiencing a variety of mental health disorders. You will integrate nursing care and pharmacological interventions for mental health across the lifespan. You will analyze foundational concepts of maternal-newborn nursing. You will manage nursing care to support maternal-newborn clients. You will examine community-based nursing care for maternal-newborn populations. You will analyze foundational concepts, growth and development, and the nurse’s role of children from birth to adolescence. You will formulate nursing care, pharmacological therapies, and health teaching for pediatric clients experiencing a variety of health alterations. You will integrate intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration for client and family centered care.)

What happens after theoretical courses are successfully completed?

Following successful completion of the theoretical courses the learner will move into the following schedule:

Week 9: One week of in-person Risk Management and Training Week

The below requirements are provided during week 9:

• N95 fit tested
• Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) training: Transferring, Lifting, Repositioning (TLR
• Clinical Information System (CIS) training
• Point of Care (POC) equipment certification
• Simulation 

Week 10: One week of in-person Skills Lab is required. This lab will focus on practicing nursing skills and health assessments. Learners will have access to online content for skills lab:

• NRSG-125 Registered Nurse Clinical Skills Lab

Week 11 to 12: Two weeks (80 hours) of in-person instructor-led clinical is required.

Week 12 to 14: Two weeks (84hrs) of in-person preceptor-led clinical is required

Learners will have access to online content for both instructor-led and preceptor-led clinical:

• NRSG-109 Clinical Practice Education Experience

Who may be eligible for a referral to the PEI TRNC Program?

To be considered for the TRNC Program, you must be eligible or hold a registration with the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island (CRNMPEI) and be referred to the program through one of the following:

• the CRNMPEI
• an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer
• the TRNC Program Lead

Do I need to be a resident of PEI and/or Canada?

• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and 
• You must be a resident of PEI 
• Proof of Prince Edward Island residency (living on PEI) is required. You must be able to provide a copy of any two of the following:
  • Government-issued photo ID 
  • PEI health card
  • PEI residential lease/property deed 
  • Recent utility bill displaying your name and PEI address
  • Letter from provincial government/court (marriage license, divorce, government aid)
  • Bank statement showing name and address
  • PEI driver’s license/learner’s permit

What is the cost of this program?

Currently, Program fees are covered by provincial funding for all learners but may be subject to change without notice. 

How is the TRNC program delivered?

The programs is delivered through a hybrid format, all theoretical courses are available online, while risk training, skills lab and clinical are conducted in-person. Learners have access to online content for skills lab and clinical.

How do I apply for the TRNC program?

To be considered for the TRNC Program, you must be eligible or hold a registration with the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island (CRNMPEI) and be referred to the program through one of the following:

• the CRNMPEI
• an eligible PEI Healthcare Employer
• the TRNC Program Lead

How do I apply as an Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN)?

All nurses who are seeking registration to practice as a Registered Nurse on PEI must apply or contact the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island.

How do I apply as a Canadian-Educated nurse?

All nurses who are seeking registration to practice as a Registered Nurse on PEI must apply or contact the College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island.

Is there any financial assistance available?

The PEI Department of Health and Wellness has partnered with SkillsPEI to provide a stipend for those who qualify. For more information, contact the Program Lead, Michelle Pridham-MacNeill at mpridhammacneill@ihis.org  or 902-218-2963.

For more information on TRNC

For more information, contact the Program Lead, Michelle Pridham-MacNeill at mpridhammacneill@ihis.org  or 902-218-2963.