Nursing Practice Requirements

Nursing practice experiences in health agencies are essential in the nursing program. It may not be possible to arrange nursing practice experiences in the location and at the time preferred by students. Students must arrange their own transportation. Travel and accommodation arrangements and costs associated with practice experiences are the responsibility of the student. Students are not permitted to transport clients, field guides, instructors, etc. when using their own vehicles for practice.

Agency Orientation/Instruction

If not already completed, or as mandated by the agency prior to or at the start of a practice experience, students must fulfill the requirements for staff orientation, and health records and medication management instruction.

Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice

All students must adhere to the Canadian Nurses’ Association (CNA) Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses and/or to the professional and practice standards (or equivalent) of the Registered Nurses’ licensing organization in the jurisdiction in which they are undertaking their practice experience. Students who fail to adhere to these codes and standards may be required to withdraw from the program.

Please refer to the Faculty’s Guidelines for Professional Conduct and Regulations Concerning Practica.

Regulations Concerning Practica

General Practicum Policies

The faculty reserves the right to approve any agency or institution that provides placements for student practica, and to change any placement assigned to a student. The student, however, has the right to be informed in writing of the reasons for any change in placement. While the faculty accepts a responsibility to provide a sufficient number of practicum opportunities to serve the needs of all registered students, a student may be required to withdraw from a practicum course if none of the available practicum agencies will accept the student. It is the responsibility of the course instructor to inform students of the criteria by which unprofessional conduct will be judged in the practicum setting.

Practica Dates

The dates of practica will be established by each School or program, and will be announced to the students involved at the beginning of each term.

Attendance

Attendance at practicum activities is required. Students are expected to notify the placement agency whenever practicum appointments cannot be kept, and also to inform the course instructor. Failure to do so may result in a student being withdrawn from the practicum setting.

Denial and Withdrawal

Denial

Students will be denied the practicum experience if their preparatory work is considered unsatisfactory.

Temporary Withdrawal of Students Pending Report

A student may be required to withdraw temporarily from a practicum if, during the course of a term, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the conduct or lack of competence of a student enrolled in the practicum has adversely affected or may adversely affect:

• clients or pupils, or
• personnel, including students associated with the practicum

The student will be required to withdraw temporarily pending the receipt of a report on the conduct and lack of competence of the student. This written report from the course instructor will normally be provided to the student within 10 business days of the withdrawal.

Withdrawal

After giving the student an opportunity to be heard, the Instructor may require a student to withdraw from the practicum if the Instructor is satisfied that the student’s conduct or lack of competence may adversely affect members of any of the groups identified in the paragraph above.

Voluntary Withdrawal

Students seeking voluntary withdrawal from a practicum whether permanent or temporary, must first speak with the academic advisor.

Termination of Practicum by Placement Agency

In situations where a practicum is terminated by the agency, the student will be informed in writing of the reasons for termination, by the Instructor of record within 15 business days of the termination. After giving the student an opportunity to be heard, the Director or designate will determine appropriate action: 1) withdrawal from the School; 2) additional preparatory work; 3) placement in a different practicum setting.

Practicum Evaluation Documentation

If a student withdraws from practicum or is required to withdraw from practicum by their School, all practicum evaluation materials to date of withdrawal will remain on their student file and may be taken into account in determining whether their preparatory work is satisfactory to enter a subsequent practicum.

Readmission

Students who have withdrawn from a practicum for whatever reason who later wish to reenter the practicum must apply for readmission to the course and should not assume that readmission is guaranteed.

Appeals

The normal avenues of final appeal are available to students who have been required to withdraw from a practicum. Students in the Faculty of Human and Social Development may follow regular appeal procedures within the faculty.

Criminal Record Reviews

Most practice agencies require the completion of a Criminal Record Review/Check prior to accepting the student's placement in the agency. Any costs related to this are the responsibility of the individual student. Students who do not complete the Criminal Record Review are usually unable to obtain a practice placement.

Registered nurses in BC have a Criminal Record Review completed with their CRNBC registration. Registered nurses undertaking practice experiences in a jurisdiction outside BC are responsible to ensure they have a Criminal Record Review or equivalent if required by their practice experience agency.

Registered nurses applying to, or registered in, the program with criminal convictions are advised to contact the appropriate registered nurses' association with regard to specific questions involving criminal convictions and ability to register as a nurse in the jurisdiction in which they are undertaking their practice experience.

Continuing unlicensed on-campus students should contact the Student Adviser about the current process to follow, and are required to provide documentation upon application to the BSN program.

Current Basic Life Support Certificate

All students must provide evidence of successful completion of a basic life support level-C course or higher. Current CPR level-C certification or higher must be on file in the School of Nursing for students to remain registered in the program. CPR certification is valid for two years beginning from the date of issue. All costs and responsibilities associated with this are the responsibility of the individual student. Continuing unlicensed on-campus students must ensure that the CPR certificate is valid through completion of term six.

Health Insurance Coverage

All students must maintain basic and extended health care insurance coverage throughout the duration of the program.

Immunizations

Many agencies require proof of current immunizations. All costs and responsibilities associated with this are the responsibility of the individual student and must be provided to the agency upon request.

Oath of Confidentiality

Some agencies may require students to take an Oath of Confidentiality.

Personal Respirator Fit Testing

Students must be fit-tested before initial use of their personal respirators and annually thereafter while in the BSN program, and they must provide evidence of a personal respirator quantitative fit-test prior to attending any practice placement and to remain registered in the program.

Practicing Registration (Post-Diploma students only) and Malpractice Insurance (Post-Diploma USA students only)

In addition to the above requirements, all post-diploma students must have active practising registration as a Registered Nurse or the equivalent registration for the jurisdiction in which they are undertaking their practice experience. Periodically, information provided by students will be checked. Please note that students studying outside of BC are required to submit verification of active practising registration to the School of Nursing annually. Students studying in the US must also provide proof of current malpractice insurance, annually, for the duration of the program.

Post-diploma students may complete practice requirements in their place of work during paid working hours if arrangements have been negotiated with the workplace according to School of Nursing guidelines. Appropriate documentation must be submitted to the School of Nursing prior to practice commencement. Contact the Practica Coordinator for further information and guidelines.