Celebrating over 50 years of innovative nursing education at George Brown College

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As we celebrate the professionals who are the backbone of the Canadian health care system for National Nursing Week (May 6 – 12, 2024), George Brown College is proud to continue preparing nurses to transform health care and seize opportunities for innovation and leadership. 

The 2024 National Nursing Week theme is "Changing Lives. Shaping Tomorrow," which showcases the strengths of health care workers and the aspirations of the educators who prepare them for the profession. 

For over 50 years, the Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing at George Brown has played a vital role in advancing the nursing profession with high-quality programs, fostering innovation through simulation-based education, research, and scholarship. Together, expert faculty and collaborative partnerships prepare students for success.   

"George Brown nursing graduates are ready to make a difference. They are prepared to be integral members of interprofessional teams and will lead in a variety of health care settings thanks to the high-quality programming we are proud to deliver."

-Dr. Wendy Ellis, Academic Director, BScN, Bridging and Postgraduate Programs, and Simulation Centre  

High-quality programs and lifelong learning 

With more than half a century's experience providing exceptional nursing education, George Brown continues to expand and evolve its offerings. The Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing offers a range of credentials with opportunities to ladder up skills and specializations, including our postgraduate offerings in critical care, perioperative care, and neonatal intensive care. 

In 2020, we launched the fully online Interprofessional Complex and Long-Term Care postgraduate program, which was created to address challenges in the long-term care sector. In 2021, the Registered Nurse – Operating Room Perioperative postgraduate program achieved reaccreditation status by the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC). In 2023, our collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program achieved reaccreditation status by the Canadian Association for Schools in Nursing (CASN). 

Leaders in simulation 

At George Brown, we're proud leaders in health care simulation. Ours was Canada's first simulation centre and nursing school to earn accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in teaching and education. We received reaccreditation status in 2024. 

The 23,000-square-foot Simulation Centre replicates various health care settings, including the home, clinic, hospital and long-term care and simulation-based education is integrated across programs.  

"Working in the Simulation Centre helps you with critical thinking," Practical Nursing student Susan Kihara said about interacting with responsive mannequins and live actors at the facility. "It opens your mind on what you will do in the field." 

Partnerships that set students up for success 

Over the decades, we have and continue to develop strong hospital-based, long-term care, and primary health care partnerships.  

"George Brown has an incredible legacy of excellence in nursing education," said Dr. Paula Crawford, Associate Dean for Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker and Pathway Programs. "We are excited to continue the legacy and help shape the future of nursing in Ontario as the profession of nursing continues to evolve." 

Patricia Chorney Rubin, Dean of the Centre for Community Services and Early Childhood and the Centre for Health Sciences, says, "Our priority is the people we serve, and we look forward to continuing to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of nursing leaders.”  

Learn more about nursing programs at George Brown College. 

 

Personal Support Worker student

 

Nursing students working with a mannequin