The Network joins forces with UNB for mental health project
Campbellton, September 8, 2022 – The Restigouche Hospital Centre (RHC) in Campbellton recently established a partnership with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton that will allow it to offer placements for nursing students, therefore enabling them to acquire knowledge about mental health and to practise with the staff at the Restigouche Hospital Centre.
Partnership
In fall 2022, RHC will welcome four nursing students from the four-year Bachelor of Nursing program. “We are thrilled to be able to host these students and provide them with the opportunity to benefit from the experience of our staff and our facilities as they work to complete their studies in psychiatric care,” said Jacques Duclos, Vice President of Community Services and Mental Health for Vitalité Health Network. “This partnership with UNB supports our ongoing recruiting efforts in the Restigouche. These students also represent potential new employees for the organization, and they will definitely be an asset for improving mental health care in New Brunswick,” he added.
UNB is clearly thrilled as well. “The Restigouche Hospital Centre represents a community that cares about the people they serve,” said Dr. Lorna Butler, Dean of UNB Fredericton’s Faculty of Nursing. “Together, we are teaching students to be leaders in mental health nursing for our future workforce. Our work with RHC supports a new certificate in mental health nursing beginning this fall.”
Registered psychiatric nurses
The new initiative also aligns with a feasibility study for the creation of registered psychiatric nurse positions. “Right now, there are no registered psychiatric nurses in Atlantic Canada. With mental health needs steadily on the rise, we are studying the possibility of educating these types of nurses to meet the increasingly complex needs of clients. If such an initiative is approved, RHC would be the ideal location to host placement students,” said Mr. Duclos.
Ongoing plan
Mr. Duclos is excited about the possibility of continuing this initiative on an ongoing basis. “If everything goes well, the objective is to offer mental health placements at RHC to eight students, three times a year. We want to demonstrate our leadership in mental health, and we want to share our expertise in the field provincially and nationally,” he concluded.
From left to right : Martha Paynter, Assistant Professor ; Alisha D. Keough, Strategist, Clinical Programming & Teaching Professor; Lorna Butler, Dean, Faculty of Nursing; Renee Gordon, Teaching Professor, Clinical Resource Strategist.
