Student Practice Education

Welcome to BC Women's and thanks for choosing us for your placement! We look forward to having you and hope your experiences are challenging and rewarding.
Placement process

Priorities

A program's capacity to accept student placements is based on operational requirements and abilities.

Due to our limited capacity and support, we give priority to local students first.

 

Our hospital accommodates thousands of students annually. We prioritize placements as follows:

  1. Schools in the greater Vancouver and surrounding area
  2. Schools throughout BC
  3. Schools throughout the rest of Canada
  4. Schools outside of Canada

Need more information about priorities? Visit the Health Sciences Placement Network's Practice Education Guidelines of ;BC (Section 1-1: Placement Process).

Affiliations

For you to have a placement with us, your school must be in partnership with BC Women's Hospital.

Before we can confirm a placement, a signed affiliation agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities between both organizations is required. This agreement addresses the risks in the relationship for the organizations and their employees, patients, clients, residents and students.

 

To set up an agreement, have your school contact the academic practice coordinator at studentplacement@cw.bc.ca three to six months prior to a potential placement start date.

Your school should provide the coordinator with:

  • A link to the school website
  • The program outline & learning objectives
  • Contact information of the individual with signing authority

If your program is approved, we will send out the provincially approved affiliation agreement to the school. We do not sign agreements prepared by schools; we sign our provincially approved affiliation agreements only.

To get an idea of what an affiliation agreement covers, please see Affiliations.

Need more information about affiliation agreements? Visit the PHSA Student Practice web page and the Health Sciences Placement Network's Practice Education Guidelines of BC (Section 1-1: Placement Process).

Coordination

Placements are coordinated through the Health Sciences Placement Network of BC (HSPnet).

Schools are to seek placements on behalf of students and to submit the placement requests through HSPnet. We do not accept placement requests directly from students.

Schools that are not HSPnet users, or schools based outside of British Columbia, should email us at studentplacement@cw.bc.ca.

Need more information about provincial expectations? Visit the Practice Education Guidelines of BC.

Orientation

 

Every student and instructor placed at our hospital must complete the orientation components outlined below prior to starting a practicum. Proof of completion may be requested. Unfortunately, if any component applicable to you is not completed or up to date, you may be asked to leave your placement until all requirements have been met.

Part 1: Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO)

For all students and faculty entering a Lower Mainland health authority for a practice education experience:

Part 2: PHSA Student Orientation - Mandatory

 

 

Photo identification

School identification must be worn on the left upper chest and be visible at all times while on placement, preferably ID with a photo. Only instructors and preceptorship/internship students requiring access to locked units will be granted BCCH/BCW identification, unless otherwise indicated by the unit manager.

Computer training

All students in a clinical placement will require access to the electronic patient records system, Cerner. Refer to the Mandatory Training page for more detailed information.

Hand hygiene

Hand Hygiene Policy (PDF)

Communicable diseases outbreak

In the event of an outbreak, implementation of specific infection control protocols is necessary. During outbreaks, restrictions for students may be required in order to help contain and prevent the spread of infection as well as protect the health and safety of the student. The level of the restriction is based on the degree of the outbreak. If a whole facility is deemed an outbreak location, all students may be prevented from entering the facility. Need more information? Review the Practice Education Guidelines of BC.

Dress code

Dress must reflect a professional appearance and maintain safe standards of care. All students and faculty are to be appropriately groomed: neat, clean and tidy at all times. When giving direct patient care, hair longer than shoulder length is to be tied back and moustaches or beards are to be neatly groomed. Cosmetics should be moderate and jewellery limited to non-dangling small earrings, plain chain, plain rings and watches. Prosthetic nails are not acceptable. Shoes are to have the toe and heel closed. Scented products are to be avoided, i.e. lotions, perfumes, etc.

Discipline-specific information

Ensure you complete all applicable orientation requirements before starting your placement by reviewing the discipline-specific tab.

Faculty

Faculty that are new to our hospital or returning after an absence greater than one year must be oriented before commencing placement. This is to be done by another faculty member with previous experience on the appropriate site/unit. If this is not possible, please contact us at studentpractice@cw.bc.ca to arrange for site orientation at least 3 weeks before a placement is scheduled to begin.

Students

Your instructor, preceptor and/or supervisor will orient you to our site.

Guidelines

Know our expectations of you by reviewing the provincially approved Practice Education Guidelines of BC.

 

 

  • Directions and parking: Due to high demand for limited spacing, we encourage students to ride share or take transit. Directions if you are taking transit (PDF).
  • Bike rack locations (PDF): Bicycle racks are available for use near main entrances.
  • Booking education rooms: Academic partners may book meeting rooms on-site within 7 days of the desired date. Please contact Intercampus Operations for further information. Fees may apply.
  • Education for non-staff: Classroom-based education and e-learning modules/courses for non-PHSA staff are listed in the Learning Hub under Workshops and Courses.
  • Simulation Centre: The Simulation Centre, in the E6 wing in the Shaughnessy building, includes several rooms that closely resemble a typical emergency or acute care environment. High-fidelity, sophisticated, baby, child and adult computer-based, human-patient simulators are available, as well as other low and medium fidelity simulators and task trainers. Simulators allow physicians, nurses and other health care staff to practice clinical skills, interprofessional communications and teamwork, so that they become fully confident and competent to manage critical situations in health care. Simulations allow practice to a mastery level with no risk to patients.
  • Study and Learning Commons
  • Wi-Fi: Connect to the CWGuest network and accept the terms and conditions before browsing.
  • Cell phones: Cell phone use is permitted site-wide, unless otherwise indicated. Please use cell phones respectfully.
  • Food and amenities
  • Lockers and showers: Lockers for students are very limited and not available in all areas. Your practicum supervisor will provide you with further specifics. Students are strongly advised to not bring valuables with them on their practicum. Shower facilities are available on site. Speak to your practicum supervisor about the nearest location to your assigned work area.
  • Smoke-free: The entire grounds of BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre are smoke-free. This means that staff, patients and visitors are not permitted to smoke on our site.
  • Security: ​The security team is here to provide safety and security as it relates to staff, patients, and faculty assets including students and instructors. While on site, if you require assistance or an escort to your car during evening or early morning hours, please call Protection Services at (604) 875-2999.

 
Discipline-specific

Each discipline we support may have unique procedures relating to the placement process or orientation. Please choose your discipline t​o see specific information.

 

To be eligible for placement at a hospital in British Columbia, trainees from other medical schools must contact the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, as they organize all medical student placements in British Columbia.

 
  • Registered nurse (RN)
  • Registered psychiatric nurse (RPN)
  • Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
  • Specialty education
  • Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
  • Nurse practitioner (NP) (PDF)
  • Masters of Nursing (MN) programs
 

 
  • Social worker
  • Dietetic
  • Paramedic
 

 
  • Physiotherapist (PT)
  • Occupational therapist (OT)
  • Speech & language pathologist (SLP)

 
  • Music therapist
  • Psychologist/counsellor
  • Audiologist
  • Respiratory therapist (RT)

 
  • Cardiac technologist
  • Medical laboratory assistant (MLA)
  • Medical laboratory technician (MLT)
  • Nuclear medicine technician
  • Pharmacy technician
  • Sonographer
 

 
  • Unit clerk/coordinator (UC)
  • Medical office assistant (MOA)
  • Hospital support specialist (HSS)
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