Application Process

Departure in Summer or Fall of 2012

Note: There will be no exceptions to the deadlines listed below. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their file is complete.

Step 1: Submit the following to Helen Buac (buacjh@mcmaster.ca) by 4:00 pm on the first Friday in November, 2011:

a letter of Intent (LOI)

• 1-page (250 words), 1" margins, 10 font, single-spaced
• indicate your geographic preference (country or region) and whether you are considering a hospital or community-based setting.
• your rationale for pursuing this type of placement.
• your language skills if relevant to the language of care.
• include your name, site, McMaster student number and McMaster e-mail address.
• indicate which term you plan on completing your placement (summer, fall or winter)
• indicate which professional practice course you are planning for (4J07, 4K07). Note N4K10 is not an option at this time.

a copy of your résumé (no more than 2 pages)

• include any previous international, cross-cultural or relevant experience.

Step 2: Your grade report will be reviewed by the Coordinator of Studies to ensure that you meet the academic criteria listed below. If your academic record does not meet the requirements, you will be informed by the Chair of the Global Health Education Committee.

All applicants should normally fulfill the following pre-requisites:

• successful completion of HTH SCI 2RR3.
• successful completion of Level III (including elective courses).
• successful completion of N4H03: Introduction to Issues in Global Health (offered in the Winter Term).
• successful completion of all the BScN program requirements for the Level IV clinical courses.
• a “PASS” in all clinical courses.
  

for Basic stream students:

• a cumulative average of 8.0 in all Level II and Term 1 of Level III.
  

for Post-RPN stream students:

• a cumulative average of 8.0 in Term 2 of Level II and Term 1 of Level III.

for Basic Accelerated stream students:

• a cumulative average of 8.0
• proof of having completed more than 70% of the content of N4H03 (Introduction to Issues in Global Health)

Step 3: Review the Global Health Clinical Preparation Checklist under the "Forms" section to help organize for your placement.

Step 4: Submit two Letters of Reference to Helen Buac (buacjh@mcmaster.ca) by 4:00 pm on the second Friday in January, 2012. Please use the referee form.

for Basic stream students letters of reference from clinical tutors, one from Level II and one from Level III.

for Post-RPN stream students one from a clinical tutor and one from an employer.

Step 5: Your completed application will be assessed by the Global Health Education Committee and if complete and successful, you will be contacted for an interview in late January. If successful, you will be contacted to proceed to the next step. In preparation for this interview, please consider the following:

• your understanding of BScN curriculum, the SON philosophy of learning and course   objectives as they relate to your planned practice placement.
• potential for professional and personal growth.
• your personal attributes for success, including interpersonal, problem-solving, group    skills, etc.

 

Step 6:The following will need to be submitted to Helen Buac (buacjh@mcmaster.ca) no later than 6 weeks prior to departure date:

• the liability agreement between yourself and McMaster University.
• a field trip application required by the Risk Management Office at McMaster University,

 

Step 7: The following will need to be submitted to Helen Buac (buacjh@mcmaster.ca) well in advance of your departure:

i) copy of travel itinerary, ii) proof of private medical insurance, iii) list of emergency contacts in Canada, iv) information where you can be contacted while at your placement (phone, e-mail, address).

 

Step 8: We strongly suggest that all students register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Canada <http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp>. Please submit e-mail confirmation of your registration to Helen Buac (buacjh@mcmaster.ca) and ensure that you have checked the travel reports and warnings for the country/region you are travelling to.

If you are travelling to an HIV/AIDS endemic region, the Faculty of Health Sciences will offer you the option to purchase an HIV 'PEP' (post-exposure prophylaxis) kit. Further details will be provided closer to departure date.

Step 9: Attend a 1-day, Pre-departure Orientation Workshop organized by the School of Nursing at the McMaster site (normally offered in April). At this workshop you will be required to complete other forms as needed by the School.

Note: Your course should normally begin at the start of Summer or Fall term. The fourth year Global Health Professional Practice Placement is normally 12 weeks in length.

Questions to consider:

• How would you cope with situations that trouble you, or you disagree with, and over which you have no control?
• How would you cope with a situation that does not fit your original learning objectives?
• Could you adapt easily to unexpected events and be prepared to make contingency plans?
• What impact do you anticipate having on the people and the organization where you choose to do your placement?
• How would you interpret and react to positive and negative attitudes toward you (e.g. people may assume you are very knowledgeable and competent or may discriminate against you for a variety of reasons)?
• What kind of living conditions do you anticipate? What could you live with? How do you expect to cope with your new living environment? Have you anticipated less privacy?
• What impact might your setting or placement experience have on your own health?