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Born in Boston and raised in a small town south of the city, I always assumed my love for Massachusetts would keep me in my home state for my college years. However, when I was applying to nursing programs, I decided to look at every available opportunity. As a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States, I had a wide range of options I could explore.

As a current university student with three years of biological sciences under my belt and no degree at the time, Canadian schools became more attractive. Most advanced nursing programs in the U.S. require students to have an undergraduate degree, while some Canadian programs do not.  

My school search led me to Cape Breton University (CBU), located on the small island of Cape Breton Island. This was the clear choice for me as they offer three programs for students looking to become an RN: three-year direct entry from high school, a two-year advanced Standing Pathway, and an LPN to BScN Pathway. The two-year advanced option really appealed to me because with nursing being my passion, I wanted to immediately start chasing my dreams.

An important factor when deciding on a Canadian nursing school was the NCLEX® officially being offered in Canada. With this expansion, I could receive my NCLEX-oriented education in Canada and have the option to work in both countries.

With the NCLEX implemented in Canada in 2015, CBU’s nursing education faculty knew they needed to start adapting their learning plan to the NCLEX requirements. Elsevier, a global information analytics company specializing in science and health, had the resources CBU was looking for and the partnership began.

After the first year of utilizing Elsevier’s resources, CBU students produced a passing rate of 92% on their first NCLEX exam, with the national average, according to the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators, being just a 69.7% for first time test takers. If that doesn’t make a nursing student jump for joy, I don’t know what would!  

I am currently in my second semester of the program and am already preparing to attend my second clinical rotation on a Cardiac Med-Surge floor. As I continue my education at Cape Breton University, I am constantly receiving affirmation for my decision in choosing this school. CBU, along with the partnership with Elsevier, has designed their semesters to optimize student success. I am excited to see where my nursing career will take me and I am grateful to be surrounded by the resources I need to build the foundations of a great nurse.