Nursing Student Sponsorship Program

The Bachelor of Nursing Student Sponsorship Program was launched in 2000 with 18 students accepted into the program. Over the past decade, interest in the program significantly increased, and a large number of nursing students signed sponsorship agreements and remained on Prince Edward Island to practice. The sponsorship agreements have a two year commitment from the new graduate to work in the Health PEI system. The objective is for the nurse to remain working in PEI’s health system permanently. The program has been a huge success with close to one in five registered nurses working in the health system today have participated in the BN Sponsorship Program.

Eligible applicants to the Bachelor of Nursing Student Sponsorship Program must be enrolled in an accredited Canadian Bachelor Degree in Nursing program. Preference will be given to applicants with an overall average of 80 per cent in their nursing courses. The required transcripts will include years one to three of the nursing program or, for a student in an accelerated program, transcripts will include all nursing courses up to May 1 of the application year.

The applicant may be invited to write a monitored on-line test in June. This test will be completed in Charlottetown, PEI. Exact time and location will be provided to the eligible students. For eligible students studying outside Prince Edward Island, arrangements can be made to conduct the monitored on-line test in another province. 

Sponsorship will be offered to the top candidates.

Frequent questions about the BN Sponsorship Program

1.  What is the BN Sponsorship program?

 The BN Sponsorship program is an initiative to support Health PEI in filling vacant RN positions. The new graduates will be guaranteed full-time employment for two years (3900 hours) in accordance with the PEINU Collective Agreement, Appendix H in exchange for $4800.

 

2. What are the eligibility requirements?

Eligible applicants to the Bachelor of Nursing Student Sponsorship Program must be enrolled in an accredited Canadian Bachelor Degree in Nursing program. Preference is given to applicants with an overall average of 80% in their nursing courses. The required transcripts will include years 1-3 of your nursing program or, if you are a student in an accelerated program, transcripts will include all your nursing courses up to May 1 of the application year.  The applicant may be invited to write a monitored on-line test in June.

 

3.  How are students selected?

Selections are based on a competitive process. Selections are based on students’ academic marks, the mark on the on-line test, and references. Sponsored students must successfully pass the NCLEX and an employment interview as a condition of employment.

 

4. If I am in the four year BN program and graduate in spring of 2018, what is the deadline to apply?

June 1, 2017

 

 5. If I am in the accelerated BN program and finish the program in December 2017, what is the deadline to apply?

June 1, 2017

 

6.  How many students will receive sponsorships?       

The number will be determined based on the projected needs of the facilities within the PEI health system.

 

7. What facility will I be working at during my return-in-service commitment?

The facility where you will initially begin your return-in-service commitment, will be based on the facilities (and units) which have projected needs. As well, during the interview, you will have the opportunity to indicate your top three preferred facilities and units which will also be taken into consideration.

 

8. Is preference given to Prince Edward Island residents?

 Yes.

 

 9. How is it determined that PEI is your legal residence?

The applicant must identify on his/her application the province of legal residency.  To be considered a resident of PEI, you must have graduated from a PEI high school, or are a dependent student whose parents are PEI residents, or have lived in PEI for greater than or equal to 12 months while NOT a student at any post-secondary institution.

 

10. Am I eligible if I am enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program in an university outside PEI?

Yes. (Preference is given to PEI residents, regardless of which Canadian university they are attending).

 

11. How much are the sponsorship funds?

The funds will be $4800 with a two year (3900 hours) Return-In-Service (RIS) Agreement. 

 

12. If I am selected for sponsorship, when would I know?

You will be notified in August of your final year of the nursing program.

 

13. If I am selected for sponsorship, when do I receive the $4800?

The sponsorship funds will be available in one payment in September of your final year of the nursing program.

 

14.  If I do not receive a sponsorship, can I still attain employment in the provincial government’s health system when I graduate?

 Nursing positions in the government health system are advertised at www.healthjobspei.ca