Georgian College

Research studies undertaken by faculty in the Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BScN) degree and Practical Nursing (PN) diploma programs at Georgian College are helping nursing students and faculty recognize ways that Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) can enhance intra- professional collaboration and ultimately the quality of patient care and patient safety. Faculty members Dr. Jacqueline Limoges (BScN) and Kim Jagos (PN) conducted research on how education influences the way BScN and RPN students interact and work together. They were recently recognized by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) for best research related to teaching, learning and student success. Limoges and Jagos knew before they started the project that the RPN and the BScN students studied in silos. Typically, degree and diploma nursing students rarely interact during their time at school, yet once they graduate it's their fellow nurses they work with most of the time. Both designation of nurses share many similarities, and sorting out the differences can ensure that each patient has the type of nursing expertise they require. As part of the research study, diploma and degree students were brought together for joint education sessions to learn how to collaborate to provide quality patient-focused care. "The students who participated in the joint education developed stronger communication skills and respect for each other's contributions to patient care," says Dr. Limoges. "These sessions also helped students break down barriers to effective team work by addressing myths and misconceptions about the other designation. The students appreciated being removed from their siloed education and stated that more such events would be very helpful to them." And Georgian is also leading the conversation with schools across Canada to look at ways to improve collaboration between the two nursing groups. "With all our faculty researchers, we have developed quite a bit of expertise," says Limoges. Dr. Sara Lankshear, Georgian nursing faculty, has conducted research that focused on the barriers and enablers to optimizing full scope of practice for both registered and practical nurses in the practice settings. The study was funded by the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario and the results were recently published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. Another study, launched in the fall of 2015, was undertaken by a five-person research team within the BScN and PN programs, including Limoges, Lankshear, and Jagos, along with Deb Witmer and Research focuses on intra-professional collaboration of RNs and PRNs Georgian faculty members Dr. Jacqueline Limoges (left) and Kim Jagos have done groundbreaking research on how education influences the way BScN and PN students interact and work together. Georgian is leading the conversation with schools across Canada looking at ways to improve collaboration COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS 8 GeorgianCollege.ca/CARI

• Cover