New Graduate Student
Congratulations on your achievements and welcome to the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.
This web page is dedicated to providing you with information on what you can expect from the time of offer of admission to registration in your courses this fall. This web page will be updated throughout the spring and summer. Please bookmark this page and visit us often. We will also send you reminder emails throughout the spring and summer.
- Steps for New Students
- Important Dates
- International Students
- Contacts
- UofT Services
- Announcements & FAQs
Steps for New Students
Click on the + on each step for complete information.Important Dates
Date Event November 1, 2021
Applications for all graduate programs for September 2022 intake open. January 15, 2022 Early application deadline for all graduate programs. Deadline for applications to be submitted for consideration for awards. April 30, 2022 Final application deadline for all graduate programs. International Students
The Faculty of Nursing welcomes international students.
To help you prepare for your arrival, you may find the information helpful on the following University of Toronto websites:
School of Graduate Studies International Graduate Student portal
Contacts
Contacts are subject to change
Name Role Email Address Roles Heather Thomson Director of the MN Program (and Post-Masters NP Diploma) Email Academic advising Katherine Trip NP Program Coordinator Email Academic Advising Lisa Cranley MN HSLA Field of Study Program Lead Email Academic Advising Kim Widger MN Clinical Field of Study Program Lead Email Academic Advising Lesley Mak Assistant Dean & Registrar Email Registration and Enrolment Kate Galvin Coordinator of Enrolment and Registration Email Enrolment and Registration Aidan Gray Financial Aid and Awards Officer Email Financial Aid Shahryer Ahmed Associate Director Recruitment and Admissions Email Recruitment and Admissions David Kim Admissions and Graduate Program Assistant Email Admissions and Program Support Elena Luk Director – Clinical Education Office Email Clinical Education Sharon Lee Student Placement Coordinator Email Police Record Check, CPR, mask-fit testing, HSPnet, Synergy Kong Ng Student Placement Coordinator Email Police Record Check, CPR, mask-fit testing, HSPnet, Synergy Kavita Kandhai Clinical Education Support Team Email Immunization Form UofT Services
New graduate students may be interested in visiting the following University of Toronto websites for helpful advice and support:
Announcements & FAQs
Check back here frequently for news & announcements!
Immunization
I have a previously documented positive TB test was positive and I had a chest x-ray a couple of years ago. Will you accept my chest x-ray?
Chest x-ray results from the current year are required.
If I provide my health immunization information to UofT, can I assume they will share this information with all my practicum placements?
No, the Faculty of Nursing does not share personal information, such as health records or date of birth to practicum agencies. The Faculty of Nursing checks annually to ensure students are fit for practicum but individual agencies reserve the right to have students complete their own agency-specific forms. In some cases, the agency will ask the Faculty of Nursing to confirm that the student has been vetted. In most cases, students will need to submit their own information to the agency where they are placed for practicum.
Am I exempt from the TB test if I am considered low risk status?
We do not waive the TB requirement for students. It is required to ensure students meet the requirements of our teaching hospitals and other jurisdictions. Some regions may vary in their requirements but we do our best to ensure students are eligible for practicum in as many locations as possible.
Can I attach lab results to the University of Toronto’s immunization form and leave sections blank for Synergy’s evaluation?
All health information must be consolidated on our health template form. We will not accept blank sections of the form and give credit for attached documentation.
Is it true that if I provide a doctor’s note, I can leave parts of my form incomplete?
In most cases, students with incomplete forms will be have their forms rejected. Please consult our examples posted on our website for guidance on how to complete your form. Only a few exceptions apply for rare and extenuating circumstances e.g. a student is receiving medical treatment for a condition that prohibits vaccination. A doctor’s note indicating a student is receiving a second MMRV vaccine at a later date will not be accepted. Similarly, a doctor’s note regarding lab evidence for Hep B immunity in section A of our form cannot waive this requirement. The immunization form will not be accepted until either the date of the second dose for MMRV has occurred (or the student can provide positive blood test results) or all of Section A for Hep B is completed. However, students who have completed sections A and B for Hep B i.e. are non-immune to Hep B in Section A and HBsAg negative in Section B and must complete a 2nd series of 3 doses along with follow up lab evidence in section C will be granted an extension. They can submit your immunization/health record demonstrating they are receiving a second series but have not yet completed the 3 doses (i.e. show the first date and attach documentation to indicate the dates of next shots).
Police Records Checks
If I live in Toronto, do I need to come on campus to pick up a Toronto Police Record request form?
Student Placement Coordinators will mail this form to students who are Toronto residents in mid-June.
Will I need another police record check while in the program?
The Faculty of Nursing requires students to submit an updated police record check (vulnerable sector screening) by August 1 every year. In some cases, the agency where the student is placed may ask for a more recent police record check. Students are expected to comply with agency-specific requirements.
I am out of town this summer and I received my results for a vulnerable sector screening police record check end of November last year. Will this be accepted?
We would not accept your police record check valid until November. It is in your best interest to request an expedited service for Toronto Police Record check when you return end of July to meet our August 1 deadline.
Where can I get a letter on U of T letterhead stating that I require a vulnerable sector screening for program requirements? Students can contact Sharon Lee, Student Placement Coordinator at nursingstudentpracticum@utoronto.ca.
CPR
My BLS expires on June 12 so I will have to re-certify before then in order to avoid taking the whole course over again. Is this okay?
You should have valid certification that lasts for two years. We would advise you that it is in your best interest to arrange to re-do your certification so that you are covered for the full duration of your program i.e. after June 30. This will avoid having to book and pay for another appointment with Synergy prior to the end of June in the middle of your clinical placement. This can be very disruptive to your studies.
General Questions
What if I have a requirement that expires mid-year?
It is in your best interest to have all your requirements last throughout the entire duration of the academic year until June 30. Please note if health/immunization requirements lapse mid-year, it is your responsibility to ensure you keep your documents current and update them with Synergy. In order for you to do this you will be required to book and pay for a subsequent Synergy appointment prior to the documents expiration date. If you have more than one document expiring we suggest you update them together in one appointment to avoid further additional charges. Expired documents will impact your clinical experience.
Are there other hospital/agency requirements that I need to know about prior to starting practicum placements?
Many agencies will ask students to complete confidentiality forms, IT security clearance, and other forms 4-6 weeks prior to the start of practicum. Students should check their UofT email messages to ensure they do not miss this crucial step or they may be prevented from starting practicum. Students should also visit the website of the organization where they are placed to seek out the links to importation orientation materials.
How do I get my documents translated into English?
The onus is on the student to have certified translated documents. You can do a web search for various certified translation services in Toronto (or other cities).
I was on a leave of absence, why do I need to meet the same student preparedness requirements as new first-year students?
Any student who previously started our program and is returning from a leave of absence will need to update his/her information i.e. immunization, police record check, CPR, etc. by August 1.
Practicum-Related
If I am a new MN Clinical student, how do I find out more about my Year 1 fall term placement?
The MN Clinical curriculum includes a short 60-hour placement this fall with an APN or CNS. The goal of this first placement is to introduce you to the APN role. To this end, a few hours are spent in the simulation lab at our Faculty and the remaining hours are spent with an APN/CNS in a clinical setting. The placement typically runs between September to December. Please note the Faculty will send you further information regarding practicum placements. We will make our best effort to accommodate students. However, it can be challenging to find an available preceptor and it may not be possible to secure placements at preferred locations.
Can I have my practicum at my place of employment?
St. Michael’s Hospital will not allow students who are employed at St. Michael’s to have their practicum there. Other organizations will allow employees to be placed at their organizations; however, request the practicum occurs in a different department/unit. NP and MN Clinical students can request a practicum placement at their place of employment provided that they are placed in a different department/unit to avoid overlap with their work. MN Health System Leadership & Administration students are not permitted to be placed in their own organizations so that they are exposed to different administrative leadership than what they already have.
Can I find my own placement?
Some organizations (e.g. Sick Kids, The Ottawa Hospital, Niagara Health, Alberta Health Services) have centralized placement processes that restrict students from contacting potential preceptors directly. It is best to check with our Clinical Education Office prior to reaching out to potential preceptors. If an organization does not restrict students from contacting their staff, students can use their own professional network to find a preceptor. Final approval is made by the Faculty in terms of suitability of the placement. Please note that students can only be placed at organizations that have signed student placement agreements. A list of our placement partners is available on our website (subject to change as agreements expire and new agreements are created). If students would like to initiate a new student placement agreement, requests can be made by completing an online form.
Where can I find out more information on practicum placements?
A general overview and PDF documents are available on our website.
Can NP students have a physician preceptor?
Yes, NP students can have a physician preceptor in their during their first three practicum placements (up to a maximum of 500 hours). An NP Advisor will be assigned (students can make suggestions) for these placements with physicians. All final NP placements will need to be with an NP.
How difficult is it to find placements outside of Toronto?
For students outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), especially outside of Ontario, we may not able to secure placements close to where they reside. Students may need to relocate or travel to complete some or all of their practicum experiences. Agreements in the U.S. and other provinces in Canada have been particularly challenging to negotiate in the past due to liability, tax forms, and insurance issues. Depending on provincial and agency policies, there may be restrictions to place our students. Please note we currently do not have a signed agreement with health authorities for Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and PEI. As well, there is uncertainty as to other parts of Canada. Quebec does not accept Ontario NP students and some regions give preference to place their own undergraduate and graduate nursing students. If an out-of-town placement agency does not agree to sign with the University of Toronto a student placement agreement, a proposed placement will not be possible. We will explore new student placement opportunities when possible. Any negotiations with legal counsel resulting from changes to the existing UofT template for student placement agreements can take more than a year to resolve.