L’OIIQ takes a new step in its efforts to improve entry conditions into the nursing profession.
In a nearly 300-page brief sent to the Office des professions du Québec, theOIIQ specifically lists the proposed changes and highlights the dangers of the status quo.
According to this document, consulted by Radio-Canada, OIIQ doivent être de niveau universitaire, à l’issue d’un baccalauréat en sciences infirmières ou d’un parcours DEC–BAC“,”text”:”les seuls diplômes donnant accès au permis de l’OIIQ doivent être de niveau universitaire, à l’issue d’un baccalauréat en sciences infirmières ou d’un parcours DEC-BAC”}}”>the only diplomas that give access to the driver’s licenseOIIQ must be at university level, after a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a course DEC–BAK
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Currently a college education (DEC) of 2925 hours and a university education of 4635 to 4815 hours enable the same professional license to be obtained if the same professional examination is passed.
Corresponding’OIIQ, in particular, higher education does not prepare students to intervene in complex clinical situations […] and it is untenable to accept that nurses who have just graduated from a technical degree are engaged in high-risk occupations
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L’OIIQ even goes so far as to cite studies that report a reduction in in-hospital mortality as the proportion of nurses trained to the baccalaureate level increases.
Quebec has approximately 75,000 active caregivers.
The proportion with a bachelor’s degree in nursing is 50%, compared to 69% in Ontario.
A grandfather clause
The memory of theOIIQ also proposes various mitigation measures as well as a grandfathering clause.
Through a grandfathering clause […]all nurses who have already been licensed will remain nurses. [Elles conserveront leur permis] And they don’t have to graduate from high school
specifies the document.
L’OIIQ also provides a list of mitigation measures, including programs to financially support further studies, streamline distance learning across universities, and offer paid internships and residency programs at clinical facilities.
A transitional period of several years is also proposed. Ontario is cited as an example, where the new entry-level standard was phased in from 2001 to 2005.
Quebec remains the only province that still uses two distinct levels of education.
L’OIIQ notes with supporting figures that the obligation for first-year students to complete a university degree has had a positive effect on the attractiveness of the profession in the three Canadian provinces surveyed and in western Switzerland.
For their part, a coalition of the Fédération des cégeps and teachers’ unions rejects the projectOIIQ.
The Coalition for the Maintenance of DEC Qualifications in Nursing launched a campaign on social networks earlier this week to promote the degree and quality of training offered by the teachers of this program at CEGEP.
The Office des professions should make its recommendations to the government over the next year.