Photo caption: Apple’s journey from learner to RN and leader at Mackenzie Health reflects the transformative impact of clinical education and dedicated mentorship in shaping confident, compassionate nursing professionals.
When Apple arrived in Canada from the Philippines, she brought nearly eight years of nursing experience, leadership roles and a master’s degree in nursing. But like many internationally educated nurses, she also arrived with uncertainty.
A new country, a new health care system and a new professional culture can make even the most seasoned clinicians feel like new practitioners again.
Her mindset, however, was clear: “Start scared… finish unstoppable.”
That philosophy would guide her through a professional transformation shaped by structured clinical education, dedicated preceptors and Mackenzie Health’s commitment to developing nurses at every stage of practice.
A Structured Pathway into Canadian Practice
After receiving her Registered Practical Nurse designation in 2021, Apple joined Mackenzie Health while planning her transition to becoming a registered nurse (RN). She successfully passed her RN exam, only to learn she still required recent clinical experience to meet Ontario registration requirements.
Apple had two options: return to the Philippines for updated experience or stay in Canada and complete the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) program.
“The choice was easy,” Apple says. “Completing SPEP with Mackenzie Health offered structure, mentorship and real integration into the Canadian health care system.”
Mackenzie Health’s Human Resources and Professional Practice teams supported Apple’s transition into SPEP within the Medicine program, ensuring she entered practice with clear expectations, educational oversight and access to experienced clinical mentors.
Apple was paired with a preceptor whose steady guidance helped her navigate unfamiliar systems, technology and workflows.
“Even with years of experience, stepping into a world-class Canadian hospital felt overwhelming,” she says. “The technology alone felt like a futuristic nursing universe.”
What made the difference was Mackenzie Health’s intentional clinical education. Nurse educators and Professional Practice leaders provided consistent coaching, feedback and opportunities to practice skills safely.
One moment stands out clearly for Apple.
Feeling anxious about performing a blood transfusion in a new environment, she shared her concern. Instead of being rushed, practice leaders brought her into the simulation lab at Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and coached her through the process step-by-step.
“There was no judgment, no rushing, just pure support,” she recalls.
Equally transformative was the support that empowered her to develop her professional voice.
Initially hesitant to speak up due to her accent and English proficiency, Apple gained confidence through encouragement from her preceptors and educators.
“Slowly, I stopped being shy. Slowly, I found my voice. Slowly, I transformed.”
From Supported Learner to Confident RN
After completing SPEP, Apple transitioned into the Nursing Graduate Guarantee (NGG) program, an initiative that extends the orientation period for newly registered and internationally trained nurses and provides them with the necessary supports to build confidence as they transition into practice.
Completing the NGG program with Mackenzie Health ensured continuity of mentorship and a seamless transition for Apple as she moved into her RN role. When the program concluded, she was offered a full-time RN position.
Within her first year, she was entrusted to work as charge nurse on the Medicine unit. She continued building her clinical expertise, earning both her Gerontology Nursing and Medical-Surgical Nursing certifications shortly after.
“They saw my capabilities. They saw my leadership. They believed in me – sometimes even before I believed in myself,” Apple recalls.
Paying it Forward
Now firmly established, Apple has come full circle. She is a preceptor for new graduate nurses, newly hired staff and nursing consolidation students, many of whom are navigating the same uncertainties she once faced.
“Everything I’ve achieved while at Mackenzie Health came from support. Support from my mentors, support from the leadership team and support from an organization that truly believes in empowering staff to grow,” she says.
As a preceptor, Apple models the patience, encouragement and psychological safety that shaped her own journey, reinforcing Mackenzie Health’s culture of learning and professional excellence.
“Mackenzie Health is truly the place to be for internationally educated nurses,” she adds. “Here, you’re not just hired. You’re supported, guided and developed into the nurse you were meant to be.”
Her message to the next generation of practitioners is simple but powerful: “You may feel scared or lost, and that’s okay. What matters is not where you start, but where you’re going. Start scared. Finish unstoppable.”