We Deserve More, We Deserve Answers

In the midst of the York University and CUPE 3903 Strike at York University, nursing students emotions, and patiences are beginning to run thin. Although many other programs are feeling the 'heat' as well, the Fourth Year Collaborative BScN students are asking for more from their Faculty and Professors. We are asking for answers to questions which they have had six weeks to find. When paying $3,500, we expect certain things from the Institution, and so far, we have been nothing short of disappointed.

This letter was written by a fourth-year Collaborative student who is demanding more, and demanding fair treatment of remediation options, as well as consideration of us as more than students... but consideration of us as the PEOPLE we are, whether it is a mother, father, wife, husband, child etc. We deserve MORE, and we deserve ANSWERS

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a fourth-year student at York University in the Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. I am reaching out on behalf of myself, and my large group of dedicated peers in regards to the ongoing labor disruption at York, and the negative impact it has had on our lives, and our education.

We have been facing a six-week long strike that has impacted our final and most crucial semester. We are required as nursing students, to complete an Integrated Practicum placement during the eighth semester of our program. During this placement, we apply theory to practice for an entire semester. We are required to complete a specified number of hours as instructed by the School of Nursing (S.O.N) at York University; this number was originally 432 hours.

However, following a six-week-long strike with still no end in sight, most of us held out hope that this number would be adjusted accordingly prior to applying any “assessed grade” option (wherein you are graded based on 70% or 50-60% of the course work, or in this case, hours).

Despite our high hopes, we received an email this afternoon informing us that we are indeed expected to have completed 70% of the original 432 hours. We were not given any instructions about what is expected if you do NOT have 70% of these hours (302 hours). By instructions, I mean that we were not told what our remediation options would include, or whether or not we would have to extend our semester beyond May 1st. We are requesting that the S.O.N adjust the 432 to a reasonable number that reflects the ongoing labor disruption at York that has left most of us feeling helpless and anxious.

We need the assistance of the media and other officials in order to make a public statement that will be heard by S.O.N officials. We are nursing students, but we are also mothers, wives, Registered Practical Nurses, PSW’s, children, etc. Our lives have already been put on hold and some of us cannot mentally, financially, or physically deal with having to return to York or our clinical agencies for remediation. Furthermore, the agencies in which we were placed will be accommodating summer semester students from other educational institutions (Georgian College, Ryerson, etc.) and from what we understand, most of our preceptors who were teaching us prior to the strike will no longer be available to take us on as students, creating yet another barrier to our success.

This may impact our graduation, our ability to write the NCLEX (registration exam), and any/all potential employment opportunities, including New Graduate Initiatives. We are asking the S.O.N to provide a realistic and more considerate option to its fourth-year, final semester students, who have worked far too long and too hard to be told that it is not enough. We were not in control of a labor disruption; nor should we suffer because of it.

Sincerely,

(HOPEFULLY) Future Nurses of Ontario