This fall, Niagara College will welcome its inaugural class of 60 students to the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program. The program is designed to expand educational options for nursing students while addressing the urgent need for more registered nurses in Niagara and beyond. With a strong focus on caring, social justice, and primary healthcare, the BScN program aims to prepare graduates for the complex and varied roles they will encounter as registered nurses.

At the helm of this new program is Dr. Holldrid Odreman, a long-time professor in NC’s School of Nursing. Dr. Odreman, who has been with the college since 2009 in various roles, officially assumed the position of the BScN Program Coordinator in January 2024. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for nursing education to this pivotal role.

We caught up with Dr. Odreman to learn more about his new role at NC, the unique features of the BScN program, and his vision for its future.

Background & Career

Dr. Odreman’s 25-plus year nursing journey began in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Hamilton Health Sciences, where he experienced a wide range of complex patient cases.

“It was in that environment that I developed a love for teaching,” he recalls. “I realized I had the chance to share what I learned with others and always took the opportunity to mentor nursing students who were shadowing me during placements and help them see the potential in their future careers.”

In 2009, Dr. Odreman joined NC as a core faculty member of the Practical Nursing diploma program. With a small cohort, he found it to be an excellent opportunity to refine his teaching skills, particularly in nursing. During this period, he also pursued a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Healthcare Education, Adult Learning, and Leadership. From 2011 to 2019, Dr. Odreman also served as the Program Coordinator for the Practical Nursing program at NC. He has also expanded his teaching experience by instructing nursing at the university level outside of the college.

“There was a great community need for NC to offer this degree program, so when the college was exploring the possibility of launching a Nursing degree program, I knew I had to be involved,” he said.

Leadership in the Program Coordinator role

As the Program Coordinator for the BScN program, Dr. Odreman is enthusiastic about its potential to benefit both students and the broader community.

“What excites me most about this program is the opportunities it presents–not just for our students, but also for the Niagara community and beyond,” he said. “In this role, I get to combine faculty leadership with academic research, creating a unique environment where students can thrive.”

His role involves overseeing the program’s curriculum and providing leadership to both the program and the faculty who teach within it.

Dr. Odreman is also eager to enhance the program’s research capacity both within the College and at a broader level. He is committed to representing the program internally and nationally, engaging with faculty, students, and accrediting bodies to elevate the program’s impact and reputation.

Connecting Nursing students with the needs of today’s society is also a top priority for Dr. Odreman.

“As we prepare future generations, it’s vital that they understand how society relates to them and to their roles as nurses,” he said. “We aim for the program to be both intuitive and intimate in these aspects,”

Unique features of the BScN program

Dr. Odreman’s vision for the BScN program is clear: to provide students with an education that is both academically robust and deeply rooted in the principles of diversity, equity, inclusivity.

“These are the key pillars of our program,” he said. “My role is to ensure that our curriculum is relevant and that it aligns with these values, reflecting the current and evolving needs of our society.”

One of the unique features ingrained in the BScN program is the community feel that NC offers.

“Our students will receive their nursing education at a degree level but within the more intimate environment of our college,” says Dr. Odreman. With a cohort of just 60 students, the program allows for more personalized attention to students and a strong sense of community.

Students will also gain realistic clinical experiences while studying and practicing in the program’s state-of-the-art simulation labs.

“What really sets us apart is our highly specialized equipment that allows students to truly feel as if they’re taking care of real patients,” said Dr. Odreman. “The labs are furnished in ways that allows students to disconnect from reality and feel that they’re practicing in the hospital or clinical settings they will soon enter through placements and in their professional careers.”

With Virtual Reality (VR) becoming an increasingly integral part of healthcare education, students will have the opportunity to care for patients in a simulated VR environment. This advanced VR software allows both students and faculty to immerse themselves in patient care scenarios within a virtual hospital room, navigating the complexities of care and communication while reinforcing key concepts learned throughout the nursing program.

Building on findings from a Practical Nursing research study, Dr. Odreman integrated VR technology into the nursing curriculum as part of a simulation program he developed for students in their final term.

“The VR education within the simulation program helps students experience patient care scenarios that enables them to develop confidence, psychological safety, and critical thinking skills before graduating,” said Dr. Odreman, “As a result, the VR-integrated healthcare education within the simulation program prepares students for the nursing profession in hospitals, nursing homes, and the community.”

The program also offers students unique experiences through various community partnerships, allowing them to practice in diverse settings during their placements and gain valuable community-based nursing experience.

“It is crucial for student nurses to have enough time for hands-on practice while completing their education, so we have incorporated many placement hours as a core component of the program,” said Dr. Odreman.

To support students in their academic and professional journeys, NC also offers a wealth of resources, including counseling, academic advising, and mentorship opportunities.

Recognizing the need to assist students in high-stress programs, the College recently introduced targeted interventions for those in the Paramedic, Personal Support Worker (PSW), Practical Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. These interventions aim to help students better cope with academic and occupational stress and anxiety as the College works to graduate more students in these fields.

This fall, more than 200 first-year healthcare students will receive mental health support through the ConfideNCe program, launched by a milestone partnership with the McCall MacBain Foundation, in support of NC’s Together Campaign. The program offers a range of resources aimed at reducing healthcare student attrition rates, including stress management workshops, mindfulness training, and wraparound supports to promote academic success and wellbeing.

“We want to ensure that our nursing students not only succeed academically but also manage the challenges they may face during their studies,” said Dr. Odreman.

Preparing students for diverse nursing careers

Beyond the solid theoretical foundation and hands-on placement experiences, students will gain a comprehensive view of the diverse environments where they can practice nursing.

“Traditionally, most people associate nursing with hospitals or nursing homes, but the field extends far beyond these four walls,” Dr. Odreman explained. “Nursing thrives in communities, leadership roles, and even government settings. Our program aims to expose students to the vast opportunities available in clinical, community, and international settings, giving them a true understanding of what it means to be a nurse.”

His goal is to ensure students “world-ready,” by providing them with opportunities to study and practice abroad, so they graduate with a well-rounded understanding of what it means to be a nurse in today’s world.

Future vision for the BScN program

Looking ahead, Dr. Odreman is optimistic about the future of the BScN program. He envisions it becoming a leading force in nursing education, preparing graduates for a wide range of roles in the healthcare sector.

He believes the program is well-positioned to support graduates pursuing further education, whether at the master’s level or in leadership roles. He also sees significant opportunities for the program to expand into additional areas of study.

“We are fortunate to have highly qualified faculty within the nursing division, who bring valuable experience and expertise that will be instrumental in fulfilling these long-term goals,” said Dr. Odreman.

To learn more about NC’s new Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program launching this fall, read the August 2023 InsideNC article here.