Mission Statement

• Generate, advance and disseminate knowledge for excellence in nursing
• Create an environment which encourages creative and critical inquiry
• Prepare competent practitioners grounded in the principles of Primary Health Care
• Provide leadership to a changing system of health care.

History

In 1986 the Association of Nurses of Prince Edward Island voted unanimously at its annual meeting to accept the Canadian Nurses Association resolution to have a baccalaureate degree in nursing as the minimum requirement for entry into the practice of nursing by the year 2000. In 1986-87 a study was conducted by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission on the feasibility of a baccalaureate program in nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island, (Fraser-Davey, 1987) and in 1988 a second study was conducted by the Provincial Hospital and Health Services Commission to examine the cost and needs of nursing education within the province (MacIntosh, 1988). (These reports are available on site for review.) In October, 1988 the Prince Edward Island Provincial Executive Council approved the recommendations of these reports in principle and in November, publicly announced its approval of establishing a baccalaureate program in nursing at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Nursing education had begun in Prince Edward Island in 1891 with the establishment of the Prince Edward Island Hospital School of Nursing in Charlottetown. Two other hospital schools of nursing soon followed: the Prince County Hospital School of Nursing, in Summerside, in 1912, and the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing, in 1920. These three diploma schools continued to provide separate programs of nursing education until 1969 when they were amalgamated to form the Prince Edward Island School of Nursing. That program ceased with the graduation of the final class of students in June, 1994.

Throughout this time, persons wishing to pursue a university education in nursing were forced to leave the province to study as there was no baccalaureate program in nursing provided at the single provincial university. Other baccalaureate programs in nursing within the Maritime region were already heavily oversubscribed and unable to propose long range accommodation for large numbers of prospective students from Prince Edward Island in either basic or post-diploma baccalaureate programs.

In 1988, a Transition Committee was established by the provincial government with representation from the government, the diploma school of nursing, the provincial nursing association, the university and the Hospital and Health Services Commission to oversee the transition from diploma to degree nursing education. In July 1990, the committee hired a nurse educator as Director of Program Development. This person, who subsequently was appointed as the Founding Dean of the School of Nursing, was given the responsibility to develop the program, its philosophy, curriculum, resources, and role within the university and the province.

In December, 1990, the Senate of the University of Prince Edward Island approved the establishment of the School of Nursing and in June, 1991, the University Senate approved the four-year program with the distribution of courses and credits leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N).

In September 1992, the University of Prince Edward Island admitted its first class of students into a four year generic baccalaureate program in nursing. In May 1996 that first class graduated marking the beginning of a new era in nursing education in the province.