Sponsored Education Programs
Island Health offers a variety of education opportunities for healthcare professionals and students to develop a career path or specialize in an area of interest. Learn about our current education opportunities below.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Learning Pathways
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Learning Pathways are a means to incorporate specialty education or complex care education into the 4th year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a job at the successful completion of the pathway.
About the program
Island Health sponsorship includes paid wages while doing full-time training as well as funding affiliated course tuition and book costs.
Upon successful completion of the education, you enter a regular position on the sponsoring unit as required per NBA CA and complete an 18-month return of service.
Participating institutes
This Pathway is applicable to BSN students in their final preceptorship. Screening of eligibility criteria will occur first at the post-secondary institution and then at Island Health. Upon completion of the BSN and advanced training curriculum, students will be qualified to practice in the respective advanced practice setting as a new graduate.
Learning pathways are available to select BSN students who attend the Vancouver Island post-secondary institutes:
- University of Victoria / Camosun College
- Vancouver Island University
- North Island College
Program scope & delivery
Applicants apply to their post secondary institute for a BSN learning pathway.
Shorter BSN learning pathways will be completed post BSN graduation and within three to seven weeks after being hired as a New Graduate in the specialty area (i.e. Perioperative, PACU, Renal, MHSU Psychiatric Emergency Services). Longer BSN learning pathways are completed post-graduation and can take up to 9 months to complete (i.e. ED, CCU/CVU/ICU, NICU).
Areas of opportunity
Education opportunities in specialty areas that may offer a BSN learning pathway include, but are not limited to:
- Adult Critical Care – Coronary Care and Cardiovascular Unit (CCU/CVU/ICU)
- Emergency Services (ED)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES)
- Perioperative / Operating Room
- Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU)
- Renal Services – Nephrology
Upcoming education opportunities
If you are interested in learning more about upcoming Specialty/Sponsored Education opportunities, visit VI Hire to view current postings or connect with the Program Manager or Clinical Coordinator of your specialty area of interest.
Post-secondary institute criteria for entry
- Commitment to a specific specialty unit at Island Health
- GPA of B+ or higher
- Good standing registration
- No practice non-mastery or repeats
- No current learning plan for unsatisfactory performance
- Endorsement from faculty
Island Health criteria for entry
- Commitment to a specific specialty unit at Island Health
- GPA of B+ or higher
- Good standing registration
- No practice non-mastery or repeats
- No current learning plan for unsatisfactory performance
- Endorsement from faculty
Contact the Specialty Education team
Contact the Specialty Education team at [email protected]
Health Career Access Program
The Health Career Access Program (HCAP) provides a path for applicants with no health care experience to get hired and receive on-the-job training while they are attending school. The program was set-up in partnership with the Ministry of Health to address Health human resources challenges in long-term care, assisted living and home support.
There are two HCAP pathways: you can train as a health care assistant or become a mental health and addictions worker. Both options offer rewarding and varied work with the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives every day.
Co-Op Students
Our Co-op Student Placement Program for non-clinical students provides dynamic work environments in which students work with managers to create personalized learning objectives. Our objective is to incorporate each student’s academic knowledge into hands-on learning opportunities in varied work environments. We are always looking for new talent!
View opportunities
Visit VI Hire and select “Student/Summer Positions” in the categories section. Set up a profile and create a Search Agent to receive automatic notification emails of new job postings you may be interested in.
You can also regularly review co-op work opportunities on your school website.
Salary & relocation
Salary information for individual co-op opportunities can be found on the job opportunity posting. Generally the salary is posted as a range. Where the successful candidate is placed in that range will be based on previous work experience and education level (e.g. certificate vs. bachelor’s degree, vs. master’s degree).
Relocation assistance is sometimes available at the discretion of the hiring manager. This should be discussed at the time of interview.
Contact the Recruitment Services team
For more information about the Co-Op student program, contact the Recruitment Services team at [email protected]
Employed Student Nurse Program
The Employed Student Nurse (ESN/ESPN) program provides nursing employment, under the regulatory supervision of an Island Health RN/RPN/NP, to work in a clinical setting for 275 hours of hands-on experience with pay. These hours will support you to apply your nursing theory and build clinical skills in a team environment and gain exposure to a career within Island Health. In many cases, you can apply your earned seniority towards your first RN/RPN job with us!
Hiring intakes
Island Health offers year-round employment. With two hiring intakes per year, nursing students can experience a variety of practice environments.
Application criteria
Review the Application Criteria
- Be continually enrolled full-time in a recognized Registered Nursing or Registered Psychiatric Nursing program in Canada, and be in good standing.
- Have successfully completed Year 2 of a British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives entry-level RN or RPN education program or equivalent nursing program from another jurisdiction.
- Meet eligibility criteria for Employed Student registration with British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
- Have certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support.
Preparing your application
Prepare Your Application
- Consider your first choice of program/specialty area and desired location by reviewing our locations.
- Prepare your Cover Letter to tell Island Health about yourself and your passions and interests in nursing.
- Organize your Resume to showcase your experience and highlight recent clinical placements.
- Identify at least two References (ideally a post-secondary institution Clinical Instructor and personal/work reference).
- Review British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives’ Employed Student Nurse webpage to get started in applying for your Employed Student license.
Apply
Apply via VI Hire
Employed Student Nurse positions are posted on VI Hire in the spring and fall. Apply through the Expression of Interest (EOI) posting.
To apply on VI Hire, you will need to:
- Create a VI-Hire account/profile.
- Upload a resume and cover letter.
- Set up an account to receive email auto-alerts for new job postings.
- Apply to the ESN Expression of Interest posting.
- Visit the VI Hire website for more information.
Contact us
For questions related to practice, contact the Employed Student Program at [email protected]
For questions related to the application process, contact the Recruitment Services team at [email protected]
Pharmacy Practice Residency Program
In affiliation with the University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Island Health Pharmacy department is proud to offer a 52-week post-graduate residency program that offers experiential training specifically focused on the development and refinement of skills required for clinical pharmacy practice.
About the program
The Pharmacy Practice Residency is a 52-week experiential learning program that provides a solid foundation for a career in clinical pharmacy. Through a variety of rotations in areas ranging across the spectrum of direct patient care, drug distribution and pharmacy administration, residents develop and refine skills pertaining to clinical pharmacy and are challenged to pursue excellence in their practice, both in the Residency Program and beyond. Upon completion of the Residency Program, our graduates are competent clinical pharmacy practitioners, qualified for practice in a diversity of clinical settings.
Accreditation
As a reflection of our program’s commitment to excellence, it has been accredited by the Canadian Hospital Pharmacy Residency Board (CHPRB). Our preceptors are respected experts in their field and have been recognized both within and outside the health authority. We have been training Pharmacy Practice Residents since 2005 and currently accept three residents per year into our program.
How to apply
Please visit the UBC Pharmacy Practice Residency Page for details on how to apply.
Contact Us
For more information, contact:
Dr. Sean Spina – Program Director
250-370-8191 ext. 18191
[email protected]
Dr. Reginald Smith – Program Coordinator
250-370-8111
[email protected]