Nursing graduates have been provided with temporary licenses so they could be hired immediately.
Ninety-four fourth-year nursing students at the University of New Brunswick graduated a little earlier this spring.
Cathy O’Brien-Larivee, the chair of nursing and health sciences at UNB Saint John said it was the same process used as other years, it just happened more quickly.
“We looked at what we could do to expedite our students getting into the workforce sooner than later,” she said.
O’Brien-Larivee said because of the working relationship between UNB and the Horizon Health Network, they were able to sit down and discuss what were options.
“The nursing students back in February/March were in their final practicum and our first priority was to ensure that they would graduate with all the skills and competency that were required,” she said.
Melissa Ann Whitney, a graduate nurse working in Saint John, said she never thought she’d be entering the nursing profession in the middle of a pandemic.
“Our final setting was supposed to be thirteen weeks ending on April 12 and instead we were pulled out on I believe March 16th due to the current situation with COVID-19,” she said.
Whitney said there’s been a lot of support and that people are really willing to go the extra mile to make the nurses smile.
“There’s been a lot of gratitude. I mean yes there’s been a lot of stress, but I think people ave also been especially grateful for healthcare workers, I mean which is something that people are anyway,” she said.
Whitney said she doesn’t know what the profession holds for her in the future but she says there’s plenty of choices.
“I feel beyond proud about the work that I’m doing right now. I feel an incredible sense of professional duty and obligation. This is something I care very deeply about with my whole heart. I wouldn’t trade it for a thing,” she said.
O’Brien-Larivee said the experience of getting the graduates out into the workforce was a flurry, but as a nurse herself, she’s accustomed to dealing with crises.
“As UNB faculty and as nurses, we really do want to be able to support and address any community needs particularly in this pandemic situation.”
