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FAQs Undergraduate
Are Clinical Instructors allowed to give students reference letters for being an ESN or HCA?
No. SON faculty nor staff are not allowed to give references for ESN/HCA to students.
The Son ESN/HCA policy states that “reference letter will not be provided and clinical evaluations from instructors must not be used as references.” We highly encourage you to review this policy before submitting your ESN/HCA application. Health Authorities are aware and have been recently reminded of this SON policy.
What the SON provides instead, is a Letter of Good Standing (LoGS), after successful completion of Term (NURS 361) in the Nursing program, and after thorough review of students overall academic and practice performance and other assessments. Clinical Associates have been oriented to this, and they are also aware not to provide references for students.
In the interim, an example statement that you may wish to use in the reference section when submitting your application might be, “As per UBC School of Nursing policy, reference letter from the clinical instructor is not permitted and instead, a letter of good standing can be requested from the school.”
At what point during the BSN program am I authourized to work an ESN/HCA?
After Successful completion of NURS 361, interested students will need apply for a letter of good standing by the established submission deadlines. Once all exams, papers and grades have been submitted, the BSN Progressions Committee Meeting determines whether students are in "good standing" - see definition. If you are planning to apply for an ESN role, please follow the process and timeline outlined on Canvas to request your Letter of Good Standing (just prior the completion of previous term). Completed Letters of Good Standing will be sent directly to students via their student e-mail.
Students who ESN/HCA need to also be currently enrolled in the program (i.e. not on a Leave of Absence). If ESN go on leave, they need to report to BCCNM, or if HCA, they need to report to BCCACHWR as well as their employer.
At what point in the BSN program am I authorized to work as an Employed Student Nurse (ESN)?
If you are planning on becoming an ESN once Term 3 has completed, you will be required to request a Letter of Good Standing to include with your Health Authority application.
Once all exams, papers and grades have been submitted, the BSN Progressions Committee Meeting determines whether students are in "good standing" - see definition here. If you are planning to apply for an ESN role, you may contact student.services@nursing.ubc.ca just prior the completion of Term 3 to request your Letter of Good Standing. The Letters of Good Standing will be sent directly to students via e-mail.
It is recommended that students review the UBC School of Nursing Policy for Students Working as Employed Student Nurses (ESNs), which outlines what is required by the UBC School of Nursing to become an ESN.
Each Health Authority recruits ESNs independently, and the Health Authority sets the recruitment timeline. To learn more about how to find ESN positions, and apply, please visit this FAQ.
Can I ESN on the same Unit where I have clinical practice?
No, students may not work on the unit where they are assigned for clinical practice, due to the inherent conflict of interest.
Students who are HCAs/ESNs must inform the School of Nursing’s Clinical Practice Placement Unit (CPPU) of the location and duration of all HCA/ESN experiences while in the UBC School of Nursing BSN Program. ESN/HCA students will therefore be required to report where they work via their Canvas cohort shell, listing work location, unit and contracted start & end dates. The CPPU will inform practice course leaders of which students hold ESN/HCA positions. The course leader will then ensure that students are not placed in a unit where they have worked, or currently work as an ESN/HCA.
Can I miss clinicals or classes to work my ESN/HCA shift?
Students are encouraged to prioritize their studies, and will be held accountable to their coursework and practice obligations based on UBC & School of Nursing Academic policies. Students will be held accountable to the policies and it is therefore recommended to review the ESN/HCA Policy and all other related policies namely:
Do I need to be an ESN to be successful in the Nursing program?
The decision to be an ESN or HCA is the sole choice and discretion of students.
How long can I work as an ESN?
Your ESN hours must be completed before the start of Preceptorship, i.e., Term 5 practice NURS 427.
If I am no longer a student or on leave from the program can I work as an ESN?
You may only work as an ESN/HCA while actively registered as a UBC School of Nursing student. Also, if your student status in the program changes while an ESN/HCA, you are required to notify the regulatory body of this.
What is an ESN and HCA?
ESN = Employed Student Nurse; HCA = Healthcare Assistant/Aide
An Employed Student Nurse (ESN) or Health Care Assistant/Aide (HCA) is a paid employment experience that allows students to gain work experience in the clinical setting. Choosing to work as an ESN is voluntary. However, please note ESN/HCA hours or experiences do not count towards course work or clinical hours in the BSN program.
What is the process to become an ESN/HCA?
UBC School of Nursing has very specific policies on working as an ESN. The first recommendation is to review this policy carefully prior to beginning your search or application for ESN roles. Both the updated ESN/HCA policy and timeline for applying for your Letter of Good standing, etc., will be communicated to all students in February 2023.