TORONTO, May 19 /CNW/ - A new initiative announced today by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) and Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) aims to prepare nursing students for practice in modern, technology-enabled clinical environments. Canada's nursing faculties and students will be involved in a three-year effort to strengthen learning on effective uses of information and communications technologies (ICT), now essential tools in clinical practice.

"Through the use of information and communications technology, nurses have timely access to health information enabling them to practice in a more informed way to improve the care experiences and outcomes of patients, clients and residents," said Maureen Charlebois, Chief Nursing Executive and Group Director, Clinical Adoption Canada Health Infoway. "Providing nurses-in-training with a solid foundation on the effective use of these tools in practice will enable them to provide enhanced patient and family-centered care."

CASN, in partnership with Infoway, aims to support faculty and nursing students with the knowledge, tools and support they need to teach and practice in a technologically-enabled practice setting. The program will engage educators, informatics experts and students at the 91 nursing degree-granting colleges and universities across Canada. Key program components will focus on the development, evaluation and sharing of curriculum-based resources and e-learning tools.

"Creating a culture within nursing education in Canada that embraces the integration of ICT in the curriculum will make a lasting and positive impact on the nursing profession," said Cynthia Baker, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. "By helping nursing schools embed training on effective use of technologies into their programs, the next generation of nurses will be equipped with the tools they need to support their work, enabling them to provide a better standard of patient care."

Infoway's investment in the CASN nurses in training program is supported by the $500 million in new funding provided by the Government of Canada in its 2010 Budget. This project is the second initiative of its kind launched by Infoway designed to enhance the effective clinical use of ICT among future health care providers.

About Canada Health Infoway

Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of information and communications technology projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.

About Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing

The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) is the national voice for nursing education, research and scholarship and represents baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs across Canada. CASN's objectives are to lead nursing education and nursing scholarship in the interest of healthier Canadians.

For further information:
Dan Strasbourg
Director, Media Relations
Canada Health Infoway
Tel.: (416) 595-3424
dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca

Dr. Cynthia Baker
Executive Director
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
Tel: (613) 235-3150 Ext. 26
cbaker@casn.ca