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PHSA’s Employed Student Nurse (ESN) program provides educational opportunities for nursing and psychiatric nursing students to work in a clinical setting for 200 to 400 hours of hands-on experience with pay. These hours will help consolidate theory and skills you have learned in your nursing programs, participate as a valued team member, and learn about different practice environments and interdisciplinary teams. In many cases, you can apply your earned seniority toward your first RN/RPN job with us.

This hands-on experience will prepare you for a career specializing in neonatal, perinatal, pediatrics, child & youth mental health, adult mental health, or oncology nursing. You may also be able to use this experience as a stepping stone to acquiring a preceptorship at BC Children's Hospital, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, or BC Cancer as part of your fourth year. For details on areas/locations that are accepting ESNs within these programs, see below!

You qualify to apply if you:

• Have successfully completed your medical/surgical instructor-led rotation or relevant rotation in your program of choice;
  
• Are a student member of the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) or are eligible for student membership;
  
• Have current certification in CPR;
  
• For candidates who are interested in applying to BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, please note you must have completed your maternal/newborn rotation to be eligible to apply​;
  
• For candidates who are interested in the NICU at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, please note you must have had completed at least Neonatal Theory I prior to commencing work. You may start Neonatal Theory II once you start your ESN placement;
  
• For candidates who are interested in the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital under BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, please note you must have completed your mental health/psychiatry rotation to be eligible to apply​.