UCalgary Nursing members present at international nursing education conference in Singapore

Last month, a small contingent of UCalgary Nursing faculty and staff travelled to Singapore to present at the nursing education conference NETNEP 2024 Oct. 27 to 30. NETNEP conferences are designed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience of nursing, midwifery and healthcare education worldwide. 

“Having a diverse representation from our Faculty of Nursing at an international conference like NETNEP underscores the institution’s commitment to advancing nursing education on a global scale,” says Dr. Lorelli Nowell, associate dean, graduate programs and associate professor, Faculty of Nursing.  

From UCalgary, Nowell was in attendance along with Dr. Andrew Estefan, associate dean, curriculum development and program; Dr. Heather Bensler, assistant dean, academic partnerships; Dr. Michelle Scott, associate dean, Indigenous education; Elder Evelyn Goodstriker and Alix Westgard, program evaluator, Faculty of Nursing. 

“Our faculty members showcased the innovative strategies and programs we are implementing here while providing opportunities for us to learn from our international peers,” says Nowell. 

"The NETNEP conference in Singapore highlighted the importance of fostering resilience and adaptability in nursing students to better prepare them for dynamic health-care environments."

Nowell says there was a strong focus on mentorship and leadership development as essential strategies to sustain the nursing workforce and encourage professional growth during the three-day event.

For Westgard, the highlight of the conference for her was connecting with other international colleagues and experts. She observed that challenges we’re facing as a nursing school are universal and appreciated learning about the different ways other institutions are addressing those challenges.

“It shows how UCalgary really is at the leading edge of nursing education from our unique and innovative Doctor of Nursing program to our intentional and relational Bachelor of Science in Nursing,” says Westgard. “We’re purposefully pushing beyond the status quo to positively impact student experience.”

Here’s a summary of the presentations by our members in our Faculty of Nursing community at NETNEP: 

• Disrupting Healthcare Systems Through an Innovative Doctor of Nursing Program (Lorelli Nowell, Tracie Risling)
• Teaching, learning, becoming, and sustaining: Curriculum innovations to address students' mental health, well-being, and professional identity (Andrew Estefan, Shannon Parker, Tracey Clancy, Kathleen Davidson, Amanda O'Rae, Catherine Laing)
• Decolonizing the Evaluation of a Canadian Undergraduate Nursing Program (Alix Westgard, Michelle Scott Paul, Evelyn Good Striker)
• A four elements framework: Embedding Indigenous ways of knowing throughout an undergraduate nursing curriculum (Michelle Scott Paul, Heather Bensler, Evelyn Good Striker)
• Collaborative partnerships: Working together to increase Indigenous representation in nursing education in Canada (Heather Bensler, Michelle Scott Paul, Shelly Franklin)