Role Expectations

Role Expectations: Guiding Principles 

When working on the unit, the following apply:

  • Choose an appropriate patient assignment. Your patient assignment begins with one patient then increases in alignment with your ability, education, experience and learning goals. We encourage you to aim for 75% of a New Grad patient assignment. Talk to your supervising nurse to ensure that your patient assignment is appropriate and manageable.  
  • Report changes to your supervisory nurse ASAP. Report a change in patient condition to your supervisory nurse; document both the assessment and the reporting of it.
  • Tell people who you are. Always introduce yourself using the title “Employed Student Nurse” and inform others that you are practicing under a supervisory nurse.
  • Sign as an ESN. All documentation requiring your signature must include your first and alst name as well as the "ESN" or "ESPN" designation.
  • Remember, you are still a student. You cannot supervise other workers or students at anytime.
  • You are supernumerary. Being supernumerary means you always take your breaks and leave work on time. You cannot claim overtime for missed meal breaks and/or leaving late.
  • Keep your student roles clear. You are not able to be a nursing student representing an academic institution and an Employed Student Nurse representing VCH at the same time or on the same unit. It is your responsibility to inform your School Clinical Placement Coordinator where you are working as an ESN.

Missing Work

Click here to view more content!

If you've been scheduled to work, and cannot make it due to any reasons:

Sickness & Absence Injury Updates
Call the Absence Call Line @ 604-639-4297 and following the instructions from the call line. Choose "other" as the reason for your absence. If you are injured at work, you need to call the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre at 1-866-922-9464. Follow their instructions regarding contacting WorkSafe BC and the Absence Call Line.
  • If you are injured outside of work or require surgery, a medical clearance form must be completed prior to returning to work.
If you’re cancelling a shift for a reason other than illness, or if you are injured at work, e-mail your Regional Clinical Educator to explain the situation.

Communications

As an employee of VCH, you’ll quickly realise that there are many people here to help support you throughout your experience. Sometimes, this means that you’ll be in contact with multiple people. To make sure communication goes smoothly, keep the following in mind:

E-mail Setup E-mail Access
You will be set up with a VCH email address by Clinical Education. If you’ve received the instructions but continue to have difficulty with VCH e-mail, contact the Helpdesk @ 604-875-4334. E-mail esnVCH@vch.ca if you continue to have problems. Check your VCH email weekly for communication from your unit, Regional Clinical Educator, and the organization. It is accessible from home: https://webmail.vch.ca/
  • Domain/username: VCH/username
  • Password: Your password
Once your VCH email address is set up, any VCH-related communication must to be done through your VCH email address. Tip: If you use Internet Explorer to check your VCH email at home, you’ll be able to see the e-mails in their original fonts & colours.

Support & Leadership

Unit leadership (Manager, Educator, Patient Care Coordinator) and Regional Clinical Educators - who does what?

Regional Clinical Educator Unit Leadership
  • Partners with the unit manager/leadership team to interview and welcome you to unit
  • Signs your CRNBC Form 10.1/CRPNBC Confirmation of Employment Offer, both initial and renewal
  • Connects with you during regional and unit orientation
  • Provides a group ESN Program Orientation
  • Connects with you to complete a Continuous Competency Assessment document
  • Liaises with the unit leadership regarding the consolidation of your theory to practice and becoming part of the health care team
  • Is a resource & support during your employment
  • Supports professional development which includes professional goals and organization requirements
  • Follows up with Absence Calls as needed
  • Provides an opportunity to discuss New Grad employment processes
  • Schedules unit based orientation
  • Unit Orientation is organized by your unit educator or delegate. He/she will connect with you regarding this schedule.
  • Informs you of the process to book shifts
  • Supports you during employment in achieving their learning goals
  • Checks in with you and staff to obtain feedback on your experience and team integration
  • Informs you of unit specific protocols and skills and communicates any changes and updates
  • Identifies any unit specific protocols and procedure that you cannot perform
  • Provides feedback to the ESN and the Regional Clinical Educator

Role Expectations Quiz Time

Role Expectations Case Studies

Reflection Question

Open up your pdf copy of the “ESN Reflections” file. Take some time to answer Questions 6-8:

6. Think back to the statement, “We encourage you to aim for 75% of a New Grad patient assignment”: Why might this be, instead of aiming for a full New Grad patient assignment?

7. Why do you think it’s important to clearly identify yourself as an “Employed Student Nurse” and that you’re working under a supervisory nurse, to both the patients/clients/residents and the healthcare team?

8. What do you think being “supernumerary” means, as an ESN?