Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP)

About

In January 2022, UHN partnered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and Ontario Health (OH) to participate in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEP). SPEP provides paid, supervised work placements for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) and other eligible learners. This partnership provides an opportunity for applicants to complete their supervised practice experience in Ontario to help meet registration requirements to practice nursing in Ontario. Learn more about SPEP from the CNO.

At UHN, the SPEP program provides each learner with a minimum of 140 supervised hours. As each learner's needs will differ, we provide varying hours for each learner to demonstrate safe practice. The program includes an assigned preceptor who provides coaching and professional development throughout the learning experience. The end goal is to demonstrate current nursing knowledge, skill, judgement, and language proficiency skills.

Process

The overarching framework of the onboarding process is illustrated below:

Recruit & Coordinate

Placements

Check-In

Evaluation

Potential Onboarding

Employment

Benefits of Completing SPEP at UHN

Exposure to specialized patient populations
A wide range of clinical areas
Access to a multitude of clinical and online learning resources
The opportunity to work with talented interprofessional teams
Weekly scheduled reflection and check-ins with a dedicated SPEP Advanced Practice Nurse Educator (APNE)

Our Stories

During my SPEP at UHN, I really appreciated the mentorship and the supportive team atmosphere. Working with experienced nurses in the GIM/Oncology unit helped me pick up practical skills and build my confidence. Getting regular feedback made a big difference—I could see where I was doing well and where I needed to improve. Plus, being part of team discussions really helped me understand how to care for patients more holistically. Overall, the guidance and teamwork made my experience a lot more rewarding"

One part of the SPEP process that I found especially helpful in contributing to my success was the consistent support and feedback from my preceptor. Her guidance not only helped me build confidence in my clinical skills but also encouraged critical thinking and reflection, which allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. Additionally, the opportunity to apply theory into real patient care in a supportive environment really strengthened my clinical judgment and time management."

The process that was so useful was the clinical duty, having an exposure to the real setup of the healthcare made me realize the difference in some of my practices back in the Philippines that I need to unlearn and adapt to how it is being done here in Canada. The full-day orientation before the clinical duty was also very helpful for the SPEP learners to prepare themselves before the clinicals."

Some of the most helpful resources during my SPEP placement were the unit-specific policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, and online learning modules provided by UHN. These tools helped me understand Canadian nursing standards and reinforced safe, evidence-based care. In addition, my Preceptor's guidance, access to the electronic charting system, and team huddles were great learning opportunities that supported both my clinical skills and communication within the interprofessional team."

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to be eligible to apply for SPEP at UHN?

Confirmation of eligibility to participate in SPEP provided by the CNO is required as part of your application.

Can I apply for SPEP if the "Authorization to Work" requirement on my CNO profile is about to expire?

At UHN, all CNO requirements—except police clearance—must be valid for at least six months. Police clearance must be valid throughout the placement period.

Contact Us

For more information, contact us.

Email: PBEnursinglearner@uhn.ca

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