Dear Sylvia Jones,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to you as a concerned nursing student in Ontario, to bring your attention to a problem that has an impact on nursing students' financial security and well-being throughout their preceptorship.

Preceptorships, as you may know, are a crucial part of nursing school because they give students significant practical experience under the direction of experienced registered nurses. Although we recognize the value of this instruction, we also think that nursing students deserve to get just compensation for the time and work they put in during this time. 

Here are the reasons why we strongly advocate for nursing students in Ontario to receive at least minimum wage during preceptorship:

1. Financial Difficulties: A lot of nursing students, like myself, struggle with paying for living expenses, textbooks, and tuition. Students must devote 280 full-time hours to clinical placements, which frequently prevents them from working, even part-time, to help support themselves. Some of these financial difficulties could be reduced and students could solely focus on their studies without sacrificing their wellbeing if minimum wage was offered during preceptorships. Considering that it is expected of us to take this time off from work and not every student has family support or is eligible for OSAP. 

2. Equal Recognition: Nursing students contribute to the healthcare system by providing direct patient care, assisting with procedures, and participating in interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Their contributions are integral to the delivery of quality healthcare services. As you may know, there is a shortage of Nurses all across Ontario. Leaving Nurses to rely on nursing students to take on most, if not all, of their workload, including but not limited to: emptying urine bags, administering medications in the morning, afternoon and evening, dressing patients, feeding patients, showering patients, changing soiled briefs etc. Nursing students are at risk for encountering nosocomial diseases, encountering aggressive patients and sometimes not getting a break just like registered Nurses are. For example, Nursing students still work on floors with COVID-19 patients, which could hinder our education if we contract it. By providing minimum wage during preceptorship, we acknowledge the value of their contribution and ensure that they are recognized as essential members of the healthcare team. 

3. Professional Development: Preceptorship serves as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application. It is a crucial period for nursing students to develop their clinical skills, critical thinking abilities, and professional competencies. By receiving minimum wage, students will be motivated to actively engage in their learning experiences, leading to enhanced professional development and improved patient care outcomes.

4. Retention and Recruitment: As previously mentioned, there is a shortage of qualified healthcare workers in the nursing field. We can encourage more people to choose nursing as a career by providing the minimum wage during preceptorships. In addition to addressing the shortage, this program would make sure nursing students feel appreciated and encouraged throughout their academic careers, which will increase the likelihood that they will stay in the field.

In light of the aforementioned reasons, we kindly request your support in advocating for the implementation of minimum wage for nursing students during preceptorship in Ontario. We believe that this change will have a positive impact on the nursing profession, the healthcare system, and the overall well-being of nursing students.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your favourable response and the opportunity to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Comfort Kamanga, PN Student, WeRPN Member

Nursing Students of Ontario