Mohawk College educates and serves more than 32,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at four campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk. Mohawk College is among the top 10 colleges for applied research in Canada.

Mohawk – Health healthcare careers range from helping people stay physically and mentally healthy to saving lives. Students in all our health programs learn from professional faculty in the most advanced simulation labs, and apply their skills in real-world clinical placements. From diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and wellness, Mohawk’s interprofessional programs will give you the skills and experience you need to fulfill your calling in your chosen career.

Nursing (BScN) Four years or more

Prepare to practice in a wide variety of health care settings while promoting nursing as a caring, client-centred, scientifically-based profession. Collaborative program of Mohawk College and McMaster University. You may choose to attend one of the three sites and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree from McMaster University.

The Collaborative BScN program is unique in that it utilizes a problem-based learning (PBL) approach which involves small-group, self-directed learning that emphasizes interpersonal skills, independent learning, and leadership qualities. The study of nursing, the physiological, psychological and social sciences, and the humanities are interrelated and span the entire program.

For further information about the program please review BSCN Basic Stream at McMaster’s website.

Practical Nursing Two years

Become a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and pursue an exciting health care career that offers diverse opportunities. The PN Program is a hybrid program to support study-life balance, with both online courses and in-person courses. Theory courses each semester are online with mandatory in-person midterm and final exams. Lab-based courses each semester have a 2hr in-person weekly lab on campus. Attendance at in-person lab is mandatory.

Practical Nursing (PSW to PN Bridging Stream) Two years (16 months)

Progress from a Personal Support Worker (PSW) certificate to a nursing diploma and the professional designation of a Registered Practical Nurse upon completion of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Exam. Integrate into the second semester of the full-time Practical Nursing program after one semester.

Personal Support Worker One year or less (8months)

Develop a broad range of abilities to reflect the sensitivity and respect required to provide valuable service to clients. Apply combined theoretical knowledge with practical skills to work as a team member with clients, families, nurses, physicians and other support services. Program is taught using a variety of methods including online, classroom lecture, clinical and lab experiences and field placement.

School of Nursing Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The School of Nursing makes no explicit commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Mohawk College

Strategic Plan, 2022-2025 (extended to 2027): 

Aspirations (One of six): Meaningfully Advance Truth and Reconciliation

The path towards Truth and Reconciliation is sharing and understanding the truth of Indigenous history and people, working towards decolonization and Indigenization, and building relationships in order to do good reconciliation work.

Strategic Direction

• Commit to including Indigenous knowledge, culture and history in all areas of the college experience, both in and out of the classroom, including the integration of Indigenous Learning Outcomes into programs of studies throughout the college.
• In partnership with Indigenous communities, create a Centre of Indigenous Knowledge to support increased Truth and Reconciliation. This Centre will increase our leadership and support of learning, research, Indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation in education.
• Develop an Indigenous knowledge program for faculty and staff, including an on-boarding process for new employees, and develop a training model for both public and private sectors.
• Working alongside Indigenous communities, evaluate our effectiveness on meeting our commitments to the Colleges and Institutes Canada Indigenous Education Protocol and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.
• Work with Indigenous communities to provide leadership for protection and access to clean drinking water.

Call to Action # 24

We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Mandatory Course: Yes

Basic Stream. Yes

NURSING 3IH3 – Introduction to Indigenous Health Policy and Practice 3 unit(s) 

This course is designed to provide an introduction to a number of Indigenous health policy and practice topics. This course introduces the factors and context, both historical and current that determine the health of Indigenous populations in Ontario, Canada, and beyond. The role of the nurse, particularly in providing care for Indigenous Peoples will be integrated. The major components of the course include: (1) overview of Indigenous health policy and practice situations and matters; (2) analysis of the structure and organization of the health care system and the distal determinants of health for Indigenous Peoples (such as colonialism, racism, self-determination, political will and the Indian Act); and finally (3) consideration of interventions, strategies and approaches that impact the health outcomes of Indigenous Peoples from a distal determinants of health perspectives.

Practical Nursing and PSW to PN Bridging Stream. Yes

INDS 10050 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing PN 3 credit(s)

Personal Support Worker. Yes

INDS 10049 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing – PSW 3 credit(s)

INDS 10049 and10050 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing PSW and PN 3 credit(s)

This course will prepare the healthcare student in the development of a professional therapeutic relationship, advocacy and professional practice skills that are ethical, equitable, non-judgmental, respectful, and trauma violence informed in response to the values, beliefs, cultural practices, and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Through independent and classroom study, discussion and self-reflection, the healthcare student will practice reflexivity by exploring personal bias, social discrimination, racism, stereotypes and how these assumptions and colonization contribute to the harm of clients, families, communities and populations. The healthcare student’s ability to provide strengths based, culturally safe Indigenous health care that is determined by the client, family or community will be developed through knowledge and insight gained by learning about Indigenous culture, history, traditions, and Western versus Indigenous worldviews. By the end of this course the healthcare student will: possess foundational knowledge, be able to provide culturally safe care, engage in lifelong learning, cultural humility, and use their voice to influence policy and healthcare change that addresses inequities in health care outcomes of Indigenous Peoples.

School of Nursing Commitment to Call to Action # 24: 5 out of 5 = 60%

1. Aboriginal health issues	Aboriginal health issues
Yes. See mandatory course description.
2. The history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. See mandatory course description.
3. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes. Required course reading.
4. Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes. Video assigned in course and discussed throughout the course.
5. Indigenous teachings and practice
Yes. See mandatory course description.

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing’s “Statement” of apology for colonial harms resulting from nursing education

Dec.11, 2023: CASN apologizes to Indigenous Peoples of Canada for Colonial harms resulting from nursing education…CASN is committed to a process of self-reflection, learning, and transformation. We will take the following steps to address the harms:

1. Anti-Racism, Cultural Safety, and Humility: Promote education, resources, and practices that address anti-Indigenous racism, supporting decolonization, cultural humility, and cultural safety for nursing faculty, staff, and students. Promote institutional policies and processes that address systemic racism to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
2. Curriculum Revision: Promote a review of nursing education curricula to ensure a strengths-based focus and trauma-informed approach, the inclusion of content on the continued impact of colonialism and racism on Indigenous health, as well as Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being.
3. Community Engagement: Establish meaningful partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities to ensure their voices are heard in shaping nursing education policies and practices.
4. Recruitment and Retention: Promote strategies that create culturally safe and supportive learning environments including pre-admission supports, in-program supports, and services that are developed in partnership with Indigenous communities.
5. Ongoing Accountability: In collaboration with Indigenous partners, establish mechanisms to monitor progress and address concerns raised by partners, Indigenous nursing students, and faculty.

Land Acknowledgement: 

At Mohawk College, we encourage staff and faculty to consider their own identities, relationships with the land, and commitment to Indigenous communities as an individual, as well as part of the Mohawk College community. We have developed and delivered a number of workshops relating to the significance of land and why we do acknowledgements. Many staff members have taken the opportunity to consider how they can practice reciprocity with the land and with Indigenous communities. We share a number of land acknowledgements drafted by employees on the Land Acknowledgements webpage of the Mohawk College website.

Located on the Indigenous Students Home Page

Mohawk College is situated on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabeg nations, within the lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement, and is currently home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island.

Learn more about the traditional territory where we live and work.

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The Mohawk College Faculty of Health School of Nursing reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Research Assistant:  Timothy Maton