minimum Nurse to Patient Ratios (mNPRs)

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is proud to be part of the provincial implementation of minimum Nurse to Patient Ratios (mNPRs), an initiative aimed at enhancing nursing practice and strengthening quality of care across the health system. mNPRs set the minimum number of nurses providing care to patients on a given unit. In British Columbia, mNPRs are developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) and health organizations. Guided by our values: We Care for Everyone, We Are Always Learning and We Strive for Better Results, we remain committed to fostering quality practice and learning environments where nurses can grow and thrive.

Salary Details

The salary range for this position is CAD $32.13/Hr. - CAD $32.13/Hr.

Job Summary

Come work as an Employed Student Psychiatric Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)

Our Employed Student Nurse (ESPN) program provides a nursing employment opportunity to work in a clinical setting of up to 400 hours of hands‑on experience with pay. As an ESPN you provide direct nursing care to both stable and unstable patients/residents/clients appropriate to the level of education and training you have received to date in your nursing program. ESPN educators and unit staff support your transition from student to new graduate nurse. Our program is unique and the ESPN opportunities are different depending on the geographical location from small towns to major cities.

Our diverse sites include:

- Richmond Hospital (Richmond)
- Lions Gate Hospital (North Vancouver)
- Vancouver General Hospital (Vancouver)
- Squamish (Sea to Sky)




- UBC Hospital (on the grounds of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver)
- qathet General Hospital (Powell River)
- Sechelt Hospital (Sechelt)
- Bella Coola Hospital (Bella Coola) and ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital (Bella Bella)
- Community programs in various locations

Qualifications

Education & Experience

To be considered you must:

- Have successfully completed of 2nd Year of your RPN program or equivalent*, prior to your start as an ESPN
- Have successfully completed at least one Adult Psych rotation in your RPN program, prior to your start as an ESPN
- Be continually enrolled in a recognized nursing education program in BC, and in valuable standing
- Be registered (or eligible for registration) with BCCNM as an Employed Student Registrant (must be obtained before you start as an ESPN)
- Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support (Healthcare Provider CPR).

Please note:

- To be considered for this ESPN intake your nursing program final preceptorship date must be September 2027 or later (we cannot accept ESPN students who will be in their final preceptorship concurrent to an ESPN placement)
- Nursing students should not hold ESPN positions with more than one health authority, concurrently





* Equivalency to be determined with nursing education program in which student is registered.

Knowledge & Abilities

- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to organize assigned workload and set priorities.
- Ability to think critically and problem solve.
- Ability to deal effectively with a variety of internal and external contacts including co-workers, physicians, community agency representatives, patients/residents/clients, and families.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Closing Statement

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly‑funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process. Why Join Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH):VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and 'going first' when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients

📌 Employed Student Psychiatric Nurse (Canada)
🏢 Vancouver Coastal Health
📍 Canada