How does it work?

The Clinical Teaching Scholars (CTSs) and Clinical Teachers (CTs) apply for a temporary assignment and are jointly selected by the CTC partners with the endorsement of their home clinical unit. After completion of a five day course, they will be qualified to provide clinical supervision and teaching of nursing students for up to two clinical courses per year while maintaining their employment, salary and benefits without interruption. Opportunities and incentives provided by the academic institutions include educational preparation for the responsibilities of clinical teaching roles and a tuition waiver and credit for one course toward a master’s or bachelor credential.

The program is open to RNs employed in the Calgary area of Alberta Health Services who are interested in teaching undergraduate nursing students or practical nursing students on their own or on a similar unit. Participants will collaborate with course coordinators from the educational programs to accept responsibility for supervision and evaluation of groups of students and will provide clinical teaching for a maximum of two clinical courses per year.

Prerequisites for participation include proficiency in nursing practice in one of the following areas: - Medical, Surgical, Mental Health, Neuroscience, Women’s Health or Pediatric nursing (including employees in Alberta Children’s Hospital). They should be familiar with their unit’s clinical population, policies and procedures. Applicants will submit an Expression of Interest (soon to be available online) and undergo a personal interview prior to being selected.

The project will provide salary replacement to AHS to cover replacement staff to enable participation in the educational course and in the clinical teaching of students. The length and time commitment required for teaching will vary depending on the course(s) and the overall teaching time will not exceed 0.3 full-time equivalency (FTE) over a one year period. Staff will continue to work as much of their regular full-time or regular part-time positions as can be coordinated with the teaching role. Hours of work for RNs will be scheduled in accordance with Article 7 of the Collective Agreement (UNA).