FAQs Graduate
Is there a Graduate Student Association at the School of Nursing ?
There is a Graduate Students in Nursing Assocication (GSNA) that is quite active on campus. To get intouch with the GSNA please contact gsna@nursing.ubc.ca
Is there a Graduate Student Orientation?
Each year we do have a Graduate Student Orientation for all of our graduate program. It is typically held for one day during the week before classes commence.
What are my options if I cannot find an approved N95 certification provider?
Please make your best effort to get fit-tested according to the guidelines stated. However, should you not have access to fit-testing providers that can meet the identified standard, you will be asked to indicate that to the BSN program at the time of certificate collection. If you do not have a valid certificate which meets the school’s requirements, when the school arranges for testing, you will be responsible for testing cost, and you will also be required to participate at the scheduled time designated by the BSN program.
Please note, it is in your best interest if you have access to appropriate vendors, to get tested before the start of the term (i.e. September 3, 2020 Winter 1). Alternatively, for students who were not able to get fit-testing certificates, the School of Nursing will arrange testing, as early as September 8th . There will be limited flexibility in the fit-testing sessions at UBC and students will not be able to select a time. Appointments will be scheduled in tandem with other scheduled on-site activities.
What are the Nursing Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses?
BCCNP's four Professional Standards for registered nurses and nurse practitioners fall under the umbrella of all BCCNP RN and NP Standards of Practice.The Professional Standards include an introduction that explains what standards are, why they are important and who has responsibility for them. It also defines Professional Standards and Indicators (i.e., how each Professional Standard is met).
The section on Professional Standards presents each of the four standards
Download the full Professional Standards (PDF)
Introduction
- Standard 1: Professional Responsibility and Accountability
- Standard 2: Knowledge-Based Practice
- Standard 3: Client-Focused Provision of Service
- Standard 4: Ethical Practice
***Please familiarize yourself with the policy documents linked in the above post***
What are the payment options for tuition?
To view fees and make payments can be done through your Student Service Centre (SSC) account.
Fees and tuition can be paid with Interac Online, Online Banking and by Cheque. For more information and video tutorials on tuition payments, please visit: http://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/tuition/payment
What are the steps for Conflict/Issues Resolution?
In the event of a conflict or issue at the School of Nursing, we suggest you follow these guidelines:
- Identify the issue and start keeping objective notes for yourself.
- Approach the person most directly involved with clear, non-judgmental feedback and request for a discussion of your concerns.
- If appropriate, involve your program's Student Advisor early in the process for support and help with accessing required resources.
- If not satisfied with the outcome, go to the next appropriate individual and inform the person you initially consulted that you are doing so.
- If no resolution occurs at this level, take you concerns to the Associate Director and inform the individuals involved that you will be doing so.
- If still not satisfied with the resulting decisions, contact the Director of the School of Nursing and inform the individuals involved that you will be doing so.
Please familiarize yourself with the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) Resolving Professional Practice Problems resource for more information.
What awards are available to Graduate Students?
UBC School of Nursing Internal Awards:
Several awards that recognize academic achievement are granted annually by the UBC School of Nursing to incoming and continuing graduate students. The School is grateful to the generous donors who make these awards available. These awards are administered by the Graduate Programs Awards Committee and no application is required. These are often referred to as "Departmental Awards" by the university.
Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards:
In addition to the above mentioned awards, the Faculty of Graduate Studies is responsible for administration of additional awards competitions.
These applications are best completed in collaboration with your provisional advisor or supervisor. Other members of the faculty are ready and willing to assist with the application process. Please note the deadlines and ensure that you plan well in advance.
For details on some of the major award competitions, please visit: https://nursing.ubc.ca/graduate/award-competitions
SSHRC & CIHR Canada Graduate Scholars Competition - Doctoral & Masters Students:
The Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides financial support to outstanding students pursuing Master's or Doctoral studies in health sciences. The School of Nursing supports MSN & PhD Students in their CIHR Award Applications through a series of workshops, an internal review process, and individualized application support from the Office of Nursing Research & Teaching Scholarship (ONRTS). For information please contact onrts@nursing.ubc.ca
Outstanding Completion Competitions:
Awards are given annually in recognition of the outstanding research conducted by graduate students in the School of Nursing.
These awards are announced and acknowledged at November & May Congregation, and nominees may come from students graduating in May or November of each calendar year. These nominations are submitted by the research supervisor and the competition is administered by the Graduate Awards Committee.
- Outstanding PhD Dissertation Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the PHD program in recognition of outstanding dissertation research. Students must be nominated by their research supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance. For Dissertation Award nominees, a copy of the external examiner’s report should be included by the supervisor in the nomination package.
- Outstanding MSN Thesis Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MSN program in recognition of outstanding thesis research completed in NURS 599. Students must be nominated by their supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.
- Outstanding MSN SPAR Project Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MSN program in recognition of outstanding Scholarly Practice Advancement Research (SPAR) Project research completed in NURS 595. Students must be nominated by their supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.
- Outstanding MN Primary Care Culminating Project Award: One or more annual awards will be given to a graduate of the MN program in recognition of outstanding culminating primary care project completed in NURS 596. Students must be nominated by their culminating project supervisor and they will have completed all requirements for graduation. Nominations should include a statement of support from the supervisor, and statements may include additional comments from committee member(s). Statements of support should describe the ways in which the work is outstanding in terms of originality, scope and relevance.
In addition to the School of Nursing awards for outstanding final projects, the Faculty of Graduate & Post-doctoral Studies (G+PS) creates opportunities for participation in national dissertation award competitions for doctoral program graduates. These competitions include:
What can I do to prepare before I start at the School of Nursing/UBC as a graduate student?
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has a Checklist for New Graduate Students that can assist you.
What do I do if fail a course?
Doctoral Student
A minimum mark of 68% must be obtained in all courses taken as part of a qualifying year for a doctoral program. When repeating a failed required course, a minimum mark of 74% must be obtained. Higher minimum marks may be required by the graduate program or the Faculty of Graduate Studies. For doctoral students registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Fail (F) for individual courses is defined as below 68%. Some graduate programs may require a higher passing grade for specific courses.
Masters Student
A minimum of 60% must be obtained in any course taken by a student enrolled in a master's program for the student to be granted pass standing. However, only 6 credits of pass standing may be counted towards a master's program. For all other courses, a minimum of 68% must be obtained.
When repeating a failed required course, a minimum mark of 74% must be obtained. Higher minimum grades may be required.
However, only 6 credits of pass standing (60-67%) may be counted toward a master's program. For all other courses, a minimum of 68% must be obtained. Some graduate programs may require a higher passing grade for specific courses.
If a course is repeated, both marks will appear on the transcript. The higher mark will be used to determine promotion in a program and in any decision to admit or withdraw a student from a program. For all other purposes, averages will be calculated using both marks.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are facing low scholarship, the first course of action is to speak with your instructor, and the next course of action is to speak with the Graduate Program Coordinator.
What do I do if I encounter negative behavior or bullying in clinical practice settings or instruction-related issues?
The Practice Education Guidelines for BC has clear guidelines around Negative Behaviour in the Practice Setting. If a student experiences any form of negative behaviour with a Health Care Organization (HCO) staff member, patient or other student, they should:
- Not ignore it or assume it will go away by itself.
- Tell the person that the behaviour is unwelcome and request that the behaviour(s) stop, if the student feels safe to do so.
- Immediately report the situation to the Post Secondary Institution (PSI) Educator or Health Care Organization Educator.
- Keep a record of all relevant facts including the date, time, and location of the incident(s). If possible, obtain the names of any witnesses.
- If a request to stop does not resolve the matter or if the student is not able to address the problem with the individual concerned, the student should bring the complaint to the supervising PSI Educator or HCO Educator for immediate investigation and follow-up.
- If the student feels unsafe in the practice environment, they should immediately inform the HCO Educator and/or HCO Unit Manager and leave the environment. In this situation, the student must immediately inform the PSI Educator or Liaison.
All of the clinical instructors are professional nurses and work within the BCCNP Professional Standards and take student concerns seriously.
In case where you feel that practice related issues have not been resolved, or cannot be addressed directly, refer to practice leader (in the larger clinical courses) or course leader (in the smaller clinical courses).