[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Crowe_Cathy-colour-photo.jpg” caption=”An honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be given to Cathy Crowe, a registered nurse and vigorous national advocate for the homeless and affordable housing.”]McMaster University will grant degrees to 259 nurses from the McMaster-Mohawk-Conestoga Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Program, at its very first convocation ceremony on Thursday, June 9.

The collaborative degree program, with students from McMaster University and Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology in Hamilton, and Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Kitchener, began in September 2001.

The new program was developed in response to changes in provincial legislation, which required that all new applicants for professional nurse registration in the Province of Ontario must have completed a university baccalaureate nursing program as of January 1, 2005.

John Kelton, dean and vice president of Health Sciences, says: “When changes in provincial legislation were made, McMaster University and its partner colleges stepped up to the challenge. The collaborative program that was formed is one of the largest programs in the Province, having approximately 2,000 nursing students enrolled across the three sites.”

The four-year, fully-integrated program is based on the McMaster curriculum and a problem-based and small group learning approach. The content is identical at all three sites.

At the convocation, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be given to Cathy Crowe, a registered nurse and vigorous national advocate for the homeless and affordable housing.

Crowe has had a remarkable influence on nursing in Canada and has brought attention to the extent of homelessness and the poor health conditions associated with it to the Canadian public, says Catherine Tompkins, associate dean of the School of Nursing.

Crowe, street nursing pioneer and recipient of the third Atkinson Economic Justice Award, has also argued forcefully that this situation can be prevented, by simply providing housing for those in need.

“As a role model to our graduates, Cathy has shown how it is possible to combine a professional career in health with a powerful and eloquent voice as a social advocate for those who are most disenfranchised by society,” Tompkins said.

Rosemary Knechtel, Mohawk College's, executive dean, Health Sciences and Human Services, says, “Mohawk College is proud to be a part of this partnership with McMaster and Conestoga and we celebrate the convocation of our first BScN degree graduates. This is a flagship program integrating the strengths of the college nursing faculty and the university faculty through out the four years of the program.”

Bill Jeffrey, associate president, School of Health Sciences, Community Services and Biotechnology at Conestoga added, “The collaborative partnership between McMaster University, Mohawk College and Conestoga College is viewed provincially as one of the largest and more positive nursing partnerships. Thank you to McMaster University for creating this opportunity for partnering in the delivery of nursng education, as we witness for the first time graduates of the collaborative degree program.”

Convocation will take place at 9:30 a.m. at Hamilton Place, 105 Main Street West, Hamilton.

Informal pinning ceremonies will follow later in the day. While convocation marks the end of university education, pinning marks the entry into the nursing profession.

Throughout the world, each school of nursing has its own unique pin and nurses wear their pin when they are in uniform caring for patients. While white nursing caps are no longer worn, the pin remains the one symbol that is unique to registered nurses.

At the pinning ceremony, students will be receiving in course awards and there will be a number of speakers, many of whom will reflect on what it means to be a nurse. In addition, at each ceremony, one practicing nurse will be awarded a newly initiated preceptor award for their contribution to the clinical education of a graduating student.

McMaster and Mohawk's pinning ceremonies will both be held at Carmen's Banquet Centre, 1520 Stone Church Road, Hamilton, at 2 p.m.

Conestoga's will take place at the Walper Terrace Hotel in Kitchener at 6:30 p.m.