Jessy John (left), Ramandeep Kaur (right)
In May 2024, Ramandeep Kaur was well on her way to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in Canada. Ramandeep was a practicing RN in her home country of India and became licenced as a Registered Practical Nurse following her move to Canada. She had been working at Kensington Health’s long-term care home since 2022.
To register as an RN in Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) requires applicants to have 140 hours of practical experience in the nursing class to which they are applying. Since Ramandeep had not practiced as an RN since moving to Canada, she was faced with a dilemma. Should she return to India – where she was licenced to practice as an RN – for four weeks, or find a way to work the required hours closer to her new home?
For Ramandeep, the answer was clear. The Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) program offered a chance to continue her journey towards her RN licence right here in Ontario. SPEP is a collaboration between the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), Ontario Health and health care organizations that helps aspiring nurses and nurses returning to practice meet their Evidence of Practice or Language Proficiency requirements. At the time that Ramandeep was considering her options, Kensington was pending approval to register with SPEP. As of July 2024, we are proudly participating in SPEP across all our programs and services, including long-term care, hospice and palliative care, community care, and our ambulatory clinics including eye care, endoscopy and diagnostic imaging.
Ramandeep became the first SPEP candidate on campus and successfully completed the program in August. Her journey through SPEP was enriched by the guidance of experienced RN and mentor Jessy John, who has been a nurse at the Gardens since 2002. With Jessy’s support, Ramandeep completed her 140 practice experience hours across almost twenty long-term care nursing shifts. Both spoke highly of their experience with the SPEP program.
“I was already working as an RPN on the floor but felt like I was still missing some skills. I learned so much more when I was working with Jessy – she is a great nurse. She loves working at Kensington, and I admire how she approaches her care,” says Ramandeep.
Jessy says Ramandeep is being modest, saying that Ramandeep “came with lots of knowledge and empathy towards the residents. She knew all about Kensington and our policies and was receptive to new learnings.”
Jessy has a long-held belief in the importance of mentorship.
“It is an honor to pass on what I know,” she says, “bedside nursing is my calling, and it is always rewarding to see students learn.”
The SPEP program is more than just a stepping stone for our nursing staff. It is a reflection of our commitment to creating a better life for everyone. As part of our three-year strategic plan, we prioritize supporting members of our team’s career growth by offering exceptional educational experiences and championing their professional goals through development opportunities on campus. To date, Kensington Health has hosted seven SPEP candidates.
For Ramandeep, the benefits of SPEP extended beyond professional development. Returning to India or seeking opportunities at another organization would have been logistically and personally challenging for Ramandeep, especially considering how much she has enjoyed working at Kensington for the last two years. Upon completing SPEP, Ramandeep was thrilled to have fulfilled her requirements for registration as an RN and was eager to get back to the people she cares for.
If you are interested in learning more about SPEP at Kensington Health, please reach out to us through our website. Additional resources and general information on the SPEP program can also be found on the CNO website.