FAQs Graduate

Professional conduct is required of all students in the School of Nursing.  Students are in a program that ensures that graduates can meet the BCCNP Professional Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners and maintain the practice competencies required to be eligible for professional licensure as Registered Nurses in the province of British Columbia. As future members of a profession, current students are required to act professionally.

"Plagiarism, which is intellectual theft, occurs where an individual submits or presents the oral or written work of another person as his or her own. Scholarship quite properly rests upon examining and referring to the thoughts and writings of others."  (From UBC Academic Calendar: Academic Misconduct)

To monitor your progress and requests specific to your graduate program, the School of Nursing devised a secure, online database called the Student Tracking Service (STS). 

STS is a UBC database that allows you and your supervisor(s) to keep track of your student progress and to ensure your successful completion of the program. To log on to STS, please use your Campus Wide Login (CWL). Students experiencing problems with STS should contact the Student Support Office at student.services@nursing.ubc.ca.

"Academic honesty is essential to the continued functioning of the University of British Columbia as an institution of higher learning and research. All UBC students are expected to behave as honest and responsible members of an academic community. Breach of those expectations or failure to follow the appropriate policies, principles, rules, and guidelines of the University with respect to academic honesty may result in disciplinary action." (From UBC Academic Calendar: Academic Honesty)

Students are responsible for informing themselves of the guidelines of acceptable and non-acceptable conduct for graded assignments established by their instructors for specific courses and of the examples of academic misconduct set out below.

Academic misconduct that is subject to disciplinary measures includes, but is not limited to, engaging in, attempting to engage in, or assisting others to engage, in any of the actions described below. 

***Please familiarise yourself with the UBC Academic Misconduct Policy and the School of Nursing Policy on Student Misconduct**

The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) is B.C.'s nursing regulatory college. As of Sept. 4, 2018 — CLPNBC, CRNBC and CRPNBC joined together to become BCCNM. There are Standards of Practice for each designation of nursing: LPN, NP, RN and RPN. These standards assist nurses to provide safe, competent and ethical care by setting the requirements for practice.​

In 2005 the College of Registered Nurses of BC (CRNBC) was formed. Prior to that nursing in BC had been regulated through the Registered Nurses Association of BC (RNABC), which was replaced by the CRNBC. Under provincial legislation (the Health Professions Act), it is the duty of College of Registered Nurses of BC (CRNBC) to protect the public through the regulation of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and licensed graduate nurses.

 "The Canadian Nursing Students' Association (CNSA) is the national voice of Canadian nursing students. …..As a member of CNSA, you have the opportunity to interact with other nursing students on educational, professional, and social levels. CNSA members connect with each other through annual national and regional conferences, CNSA member forums, Facebook, and Twitter."

Please visit the CNSA Website to learn more.

All UBC BSN Students have the opportunity to join the CNSA.

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - Leave of Absence policy

See step-by-step instructions on starting a leave of absence request.

As a requirement for practice, each student must be fitted with an N95 respirator prior to the start of practicum, by a certified provider.

BSN program students are also required to submit N95 mask fit-testing certification annually, regardless of the expiry date listed on their previous certificate. N95 re-certification needs to be valid until at least May 2024, so it takes students through to the end of preceptorship/graduation in May 2024.

A respirator is a mask worn over one’s nose and mouth to keep airborne contaminants out of the wearer’s respiratory system and provides a safe air supply while wearing it. The N95 respirator is a specially fitted mask required for use in the care of patients with Airborne infection control precautions.

An “N-95” mask means it is Not resistant to Oil is at least 95% efficient at removing particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter from the air while being used in the course of care and with proper fit and use. Fit testing certification for an N95 mask is to be renewed annually by an approved provider.

Some Suggested N95 Fit Testing Locations include:

Link2Life
2378 Alberta Street Vancouver, BC
Ph: (604) 428-1870
Email: office@link2life.ca
Please click on link below to sign up for a session.
Sign up for N95 Mask Fit Testing

EMTEC Environmental Consulting Ltd.,
#121-8680 Cambie Road, Richmond, B.C.
Ph: 604-232-3365
Email: info@EmtecEnvironmental.com
Sign up for N95 Mask Fit Testing

Vida First Aid
Phone: (604) 351-6639
Email: info@vidafirstaid.com
Training Location: 7818 6th Street, Unit 304, Burnaby, BC
Sign up for N95 Mask Fit Testing

NB: This list is not exhaustive, as new suppliers and brands may be updated from time to time.

The above companies are recommended but is not an all an exclusive list. Outside the lower mainland you may find N95 Fit testing services for health facilities in your own community. The service you need is N95 respirator fit testing services conducted in accordance with the CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4.02. The masks generally supplied in the relevant clinical placements in the BC Health Authorities include: 3M Aura 1870+ (3M 1870 to be phased out by 2016), 3M 1860, 3M 1860S, Kimberly Clark Regular, Kimberly Clark Small.

Furthermore, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a US agency that approves respirators. According to WorkSafeBC, NIOSH-approved masks are also approved for use in the Canadian healthcare setting, as they meet the similar safety standards.

KN95 mask are respirator masks made according to China’s standards, and although very similar, there have been some differences in the breathability, and observed inconsistencies in the level of particulate filtration, which have been found upon testing conducted in Ottawa and the US (See quote and reference links below). So, while KN95 masks may be acceptable for average consumer use, it is not considered safe for healthcare standards where a nursing student/ healthcare provider would be working in an environment with a high risk of direct exposure to various microscopic infective particles. Furthermore,

“Health Canada indicates the N95 and KN95 standards are similar "with respect to design, filtration, performance and materials standards."  However, it says that "recent testing performed by the CDC resulted in concerns with some KN95 respirators (specifically those with ear loop design) that pose a difficulty in achieving a proper fit, which is essential for use."  (Source: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/7306…)

With that said, at this time we must continue to adhere to the list of healthcare provider approved masks referenced above. Please also ensure that your mask fit-testing provider is utilizing masks approved for Healthcare provider use and that their testing services are conducted in accordance with the CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4.02.

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. Alternatively, for students who were not able to get fit-testing certificates, the School of Nursing will arrange testing. 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.

The Practice e-Portfolio (PEP) is a tool for students to record and manage their experiences in the clinical setting. It is also a tool for instructors to track progression of their students in the clinical setting.  

For instructions on how to request an extension to your program end date, please read: Request an Extension to your Program End Date

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - Program Extension policy