Licensing & Employment

ESN Program Goals

The goals of the ESN program are multifaceted. We’re all here to work collaboratively to strengthen your nursing practice and professionalism. This is achieved through consolidation of skills from your nursing education in a safe environment, so you are ‘job ready’ as a new graduate. Being employed also provides the opportunity to experience the reality of being an active member on the healthcare team, in a complex health environment. Finally, as a VCH employee, we hope you will consider employment opportunities on your unit, or within VCH, upon graduation.    

Student Registration Licensing Process

In order to legally work as an ESN, you are required to have a current practicing license.

Licensure is renewed:

ESN(RN Students) ESPN(RPN Students)
Annually prior to March 1st Monthly or by number of months paid

If you want to work ESN hours in March you must renew your Employed Student Registrant license and send your professional association’s (CRNBC or CRPNBC) confirmation email to your Regional Clinical Educator prior to the end of February. This is because the “licensing year” is from March-February. Please take the time to review the CRNBC or CRPNBC Employed Student Registrant pages, as appropriate.

Contract Information

You are now a member of either the BC Nurses Union (BCNU) or Health Sciences Association (HSA)*. The following guidelines must be followed as stated in the ESN Letter of Understanding** between HEABC and BCNU:

  • You must always be supernumerary (above baseline staffing) to the existing staffing complement for the unit/ward/program in order to facilitate a safe work experience
  • You are a casual employee
  • You should NOT be on a short casual call-in list
  • You will accumulate seniority hours based on hours worked
  • Within 12 months post-graduation, you may use your seniority to post into positions with VCH. You cannot use your seniority prior to graduation.

*Note that the HSA does not have a Letter of Understanding for ESPNs between HSA and HEABC.
** A Letter of Understanding is an agreement reached between the union and the employer, and is legally binding

Program Guidelines

As an ESN, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

  • School is your priority! You must remain in good standing in a full-time nursing education program to continue working as an ESN
  • If anything changes and you are no longer a full-time nursing student, are on probation, or have changed your nursing program, you must report this to your Regional Clinical Educator immediately
  • You may only perform those practice activities for which competence has been achieved through your nursing program and then only if authorized by the supervisory nurse. This will be explored more in-depth later on in the module
  • You are responsible and accountable for your own actions and decisions
  • You can only work as an ESN in one health authority at a time

Orientation

As a new VCH employee you will complete Regional Online Orientation prior to attending Regional Clinical Orientation. Information regarding this process was sent to you in your New Hire Package from recruitment, as well as via e-mail from the Clinical Education deparment.

Unit Orientation is organized by your unit Manager, Clinical Nursing Educator or delegate. He/she will connect with you regarding this schedule.

For Regional Clinical Orientation, business casual dress is appropriate. For unit based orientation, wear clothing appropriate for that clinical setting.

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Reflection Package