George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
From classroom to community
For recent Practical Nursing graduate Rossana Cheng, returning to school was a step toward a goal she had put on hold.
Through the PSW-to-Practical Nursing pathway, she describes a learning experience shaped by faculty support and applied clinical education.
“It was very challenging, and there were definitely a lot of ups and downs,” she says. “But there were professors who really empowered me and helped me believe that I could succeed.”
During clinical placement, she supported a patient whose family initially struggled to understand dietary requirements linked to swallowing difficulties.
“Through my education, I understood the risks and was able to explain it in a way the family could understand,” she says. “Once they understood, they followed the care plan. That’s how we can transform health, by sharing knowledge.”
She adds that nursing also requires patience and presence.
“Listening to patients and respecting their needs, even when it takes more time, is part of providing good care.”
Evolving how nurses learn
Faculty member Salwa Musa’s approach to teaching is shaped by years of experience across clinical practice, graduate education, and research, including a focus on health system gaps and patient outcomes.
“I’ve worked across different clinical and academic spaces, and what stands out is how quickly health care is changing,” she says. “Students need to be prepared not just for today’s system, but for what it’s becoming.”
“We assume students are already engaging with AI in some form,” she says. “The focus now is on using it critically and responsibly, and always connecting it back to evidence-based practice.”
She highlights the Adaptive Health Bridge (Body Interact) simulation platform, which allows students to work through virtual patient scenarios.
“It lets students gather information, plan care, and work through complex cases in a safe environment,” she says. “It helps bridge theory and practice.”
Musa says the goal is also to build systems thinking.
“Nurses are positioned to understand both patient care and system gaps,” she says. “That’s where change starts.”
Preparing for what’s ahead
Faculty member Brianna Bakker brings more than a decade of experience in critical care into her teaching. For her, education is a rewarding way to pass that knowledge on to students.
“It’s incredible to see how far students progress,” she says. “By the end, they’re able to put everything together and contribute to patient care in a meaningful way.”
Bakker continues to work in critical care alongside her teaching, which helps her stay current with clinical practice.
“You’re able to bring real examples into the classroom,” she says. “Students can see how what they’re learning applies in practice.”
She has also seen how nursing education is changing. Simulation is playing a bigger role, giving students the chance to build confidence before entering clinical placements.
“We can recreate real scenarios so students can practise and get comfortable before they’re working with patients,” she says.
At the same time, the broader system is shifting. Technology is more present, and patients are coming in with more information and questions.
“That means we need to be strong communicators,” Bakker says. “It also means working closely as a team to support patients in the best way possible.”
Advocacy in practice
At George Brown, students are also encouraged to think critically and understand their role in the health-care system, that includes advocacy.
“Nurses have a responsibility to speak up,” Cheng says. “Whether it’s for a patient or something larger in the system, that’s part of the role.”
There are ongoing challenges across the sector, including staffing pressures. Even so, students and faculty continue to focus on delivering safe and thoughtful care.
As National Nursing Week highlights the impact of the profession, George Brown Polytechnic continues to prepare nurses who are ready to step into the field and contribute to a stronger healthcare sector and healthier communities.
Find out how impact meets care with George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing
