Knowing someone has your back at work when you’re unsure, need a brainstorm session, or require a refresh makes for a more comfortable workplace with confident employees.
That’s exactly the role of Providence Care Clinical Scholar Kiley McRae. The registered practical nurse (RPN) works at Providence Care Hospital and spends her shifts on call, ready for nurses to reach out if they have a question or need assistance.
“I really love this role,” explains Kiley. “It’s something I wish I had when I was a nurse starting out. I’m here so nurses feel more confident in the care they’re providing and to improve patient outcomes, which is a goal we all have as nurses. This also helps with retention too, if you feel supported and confident you have someone to lean on when you need it, you’re going to feel better in your role.”
With additional government funding, Providence Care’s Professional Practice has added six new temporary Clinical Scholars to the organization, working from January 12 to March 31. Within those six new roles there are two full-time registered nurses (RNs), and four part-time registered practical nurses (RPNs), who work day shifts and evenings at Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre.
“I’m helping new hires, internationally trained nurses, or nurses who’ve been here awhile but just need a confidence boost with charting, using our electronic health record Lumeo, or with a procedure they haven’t done in a while, like a blood transfusion.”
Outside of the six new Clinical Scholar positions, an Academic Educator role and a student Clinical Extern have also been added. In collaboration with Professional Practice Leadership, the Academic Educator supports the development of an interprofessional education framework, curriculum design, research, and quality improvement initiatives.
The Clinical Extern, meanwhile, is given opportunities that extend beyond traditional bedside care. Together, these eight new roles join the established Professional Practice team, helping to implement best practices, expand educational opportunities, support staff, and contribute to research and quality improvement across the organization.
“We want to diversify people’s experience on the unit to give them opportunities with research, projects and quality improvement,” says Academic Clinician and Nursing Research Lead, Sarah Moore-Vasram.
“There’s not always predictable funding pockets, but we want to start offering people more opportunities outside of direct care provision that will complement our ability to enact projects and research pieces, making sure that they are practical and align well with what’s happening on the units,” she adds.
From Kiley’s perspective, as a temporary Clinical Scholar, she has already had lots of positive feedback from the staff she is working with on the units.
“I worked with a nurse who hadn’t done a patient admission before and she was really nervous. We went through the steps together and I was there to walk her through it and the next day she let me know how much she appreciated it and how she was way more comfortable knowing she wasn’t alone in it.”
Based on staff surveys, Sarah says clinicians are eager for more one‑on‑one support and greater access to education. With Clinical Scholars available across Providence Care’s hospitals, staff are receiving timely, at‑the‑elbow guidance that strengthens the quality of care for both patients and nurses.
“It would be nice to see the Scholar roles sustained with additional funding over time. With so many sites and varied unit specialties, having more resources would allow clinicians to receive support right when they need it.”
It’s support that Kiley says pushes her to be the best version of herself.
“This role challenges me daily because I need to be up to date in my skills and abilities, you know, making sure everything I’m teaching or leading is based on evidence-based practice. The challenge pushes me to be more of a leader, which is eventually what I’d like to be.”
While the six Clinical Scholar roles are temporary for now, they are supported by a permanent RPN Scholar and dedicated weekly time from the Academic Educator. Together, these roles broaden the reach of the Scholar program and expand available support to staff. Even in a short window, the initiative is strengthening the care nurses provide while building a more connected, confident work community.
When staff feel supported and know they’re not alone, the whole team functions better—and that means patients and clients receive the highest‑quality care possible.
0 thoughts on “Expanding support and strengthening care through the Clinical Scholar role”
I really appreciate and love this role Kiley and Harman are really a big help while we have a busy day with lots and lots of questions and concerns they try to help us out. They are very approachable
Thankful to both of them