UPEI Faculty of Nursing celebrates first-year students during Scrub Coat Ceremony

The UPEI Faculty of Nursing, in collaboration with the PEI Department of Health and Wellness, held its Scrub Coat Ceremony on February 27, 2024, at the UPEI Performing Arts Centre. The ceremony was a celebration of 67 first-year undergraduate nursing students and 16 first-year accelerated nursing students.

Dr. Patrice Drake, Interim Associate Dean, UPEI Faculty of Nursing, led the ceremony. Guest speakers included Dr. Judy Clark, UPEI Elder-in-Residence; Dr. Greg Keefe, Interim UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor; Hon. Mark McLane, Minister of Health and Wellness; and Marion Dowling, Chief Nursing and Professional Practice Officer for Health PEI. Families, friends, and other supporters of the students were also in attendance.

“Students, you have joined our nationally accredited nursing program at a very exciting time as we are advancing many leading-edge health professional programs at UPEI,” said Keefe. “These include not only the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, accelerated BScN program, and the nurse practitioner program in your faculty—but also, among others, the Doctor of Psychology program, the BSc in Paramedicine program—and the newest under development—the joint Doctor of Medicine degree program, with Memorial University of Newfoundland. Our Faculty of Nursing is an extremely important component of our health professions programming at UPEI. It is our job—and our privilege—to ensure that you receive the knowledge, skills, and support you need to be outstanding members of the nursing profession.”

In his address to students, McLane told the students that nurses are an integral part of the plan to enhance health services across the province.

“When people look back on experiences, they or a loved one have had in the health care system, they often think of a nurse who supported them through. By entering this vital profession, you will be there for your patients and their families. You’ll provide health-care support, but you’ll also provide comfort and compassion. I am so pleased to soon welcome you all to the health care system and hope you will consider a future here in PEI.”  

Students were presented with white scrub coats during the ceremony. They will wear the coats, which identify them as UPEI nursing students, throughout their 1,650 required clinical hours.

After the scrub coat presentations were completed, Dowling delivered closing remarks. She welcomed students to the program and profession, noting that she is a graduate of the UPEI School of Nursing’s first class. Speaking from her own experience, she assured students that faculty, clinical instructors, and nurses in the health-care system will support them on their journey. She added that she expects that the students will receive many job offers as their skills will be in high demand, but she hopes that they will consider working in health care on PEI.

Nursing student Bridget Judson said she is pleased to be a part of the UPEI nursing program and to have had the opportunity to participate in the ceremony and to receive a scrub coat. 

“It was an emotional experience having representatives from Health PEI, the Department of Health and Wellness, and our clinical instructors present, as it made me feel like my class was being accepted into a family who are excited about our future,” said Judson. “The faculty and staff of the nursing program at UPEI are very encouraging and continuously support us through our lectures, labs, and clinical practice. Whether it is on or off campus, our instructors are there to support our learning.”