Student Practice Education
This page provides information to faculty and students involved in student placements at BC Children’s Hospital.
Priorities
A program's capacity to accept practicum requests is based on operational requirements and abilities. Due to our limited capacity, we give priority to local students first.
Our hospital accommodates thousands of students annually. We prioritize placements as follows:
- Schools in greater Vancouver and the surrounding area
- Schools throughout BC
- Schools in the rest of Canada
- Schools outside of Canada
Please see the Provincial Practice Education Guidelines of BC for more information (Section 1-1: Placement Process).
Affiliations
We require a signed affiliation agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities between the school and BC Children’s Hospital and/or BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. This agreement addresses the risks in the relationship for both organizations and their employees, patients, clients, residents and students.
To set up an agreement, your school should contact the academic practice coordinator at studentplacement@cw.bc.ca three to six months prior to a placement start date.
Your school should provide the coordinator with:
- A link to the school website
- The program outline and learning objectives
- Contact information of the individual with signing authority
If we approve your program, we will send the provincially approved affiliation agreement to the school. We do not sign agreements that have been prepared by schools; we only sign our provincially approved affiliation agreements.
Review the terms of the Affiliation Agreement Template.
Find more information on the PHSA Student Practice Education web page and Provincial Practice Education Guidelines of BC (Section 1-1: Placement Process).
Coordination
We coordinate placements through the Health Sciences Placement Network of BC (HSPnet).
Schools seek placements on behalf of students through HSPnet. We do not accept placement requests directly from students. Schools that are not HSPnet users, or schools based outside of British Columbia, should email us at studentplacement@cw.bc.ca.
For more information about provincial expectations, see the Practice Education Guidelines of BC.
Disciplines
Each discipline we support may have unique procedures relating to the placement process or orientation. Please choose your discipline to see specific information.
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine organizes all medical student placements in British Columbia. Students from other medical schools must contact them.
Orientation
Orientation is divided into three sections. Please take the time to read through each section carefully, and complete and submit all required documents.
Every student and instructor placed at our hospital must complete the components outlined below.
All orientation requirements need to be completed and current before you begin your practicum. We may request proof of completion. Unfortunately, if any component applicable to you is not completed or current, we may ask you to pause your placement until you have met all requirements.
Part 1: Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO)
All students and faculty entering a Lower Mainland health authority for a practice education experience must complete the following online courses before starting the placement.
- Student Practice Education Core Orientation
- Workplace hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Infection Control
- Waste Management
- Code Red
Part 2: PHSA Student Orientation - Mandatory
- Read the PHSA core policies
- Complete the Privacy and Security module
- CST Cerner training (will be emailed to the student)
- Photo identification: students must wear school ID (photo preferred) on the left upper chest and ensure it is visible at all times while on their placement
- Computer training: all students in a clinical placement will need access to CST Cerner, the electronic patient records system. The CST training team will email a customized CST Cerner Learning Journey to the student's school-issued email address once the placement is confirmed
- Hand Hygiene Policy (PDF)
- Communicable diseases outbreak: in the event of an outbreak, we implement specific infection control protocols. During outbreaks, restrictions for students may be required in order to help contain and prevent the spread of infection as well as protect the health and safety of the student. Review the Practice Education Guidelines of BC for more information
- Dress code: dress must look professional and adhere to safe standards of care. All students and faculty are to be appropriately groomed: neat, clean and tidy at all times. Students must download and read the full Dress Code Policy (PDF) and adhere to it at all times
- Personal use of social media (PDF).
- Discipline-specific information: ensure you complete all applicable orientation requirements before starting your placement by reviewing the discipline’s heading above
- Students: your instructor, preceptor and/or supervisor will orientate you to the site
- Guidelines: know our expectations of you by reviewing the provincially approved Practice Education Guidelines of BC
- Getting around: visit our Parking and Transportation and Get Around the Hospital pages for information on transit and bike racks, as well as security on campus
- Booking education rooms: academic partners may book meeting rooms on-site within 7 days of the desired date. Please contact CWMeetingrooms@cw.bc.ca for further information. Fees may apply
- Education for non-staff: classroom-based education and e-learning modules/courses are listed in the Learning Hub under Workshops and Courses.
- Simulation Program: the Simulation Centre in the E6 wing of the Shaughnessy building includes several rooms that closely resemble a typical emergency or acute care environment. High-fidelity, sophisticated baby, child and adult computer-based human-patient simulators are available, as well as other low and medium fidelity simulators and task trainers
- Food and amenities: visit our On-site Services page for more information
- Lockers and showers: lockers for students are very limited and not available in all areas. Your practicum supervisor will provide you with further specifics. We strongly advise students not to bring valuables with them on their practicum. Shower facilities are available on-site. Speak to your practicum supervisor about the nearest location to your assigned work area
- Study and learning commons collection: resources for health professionals at BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre
Faculty members who are new to our hospital or returning after an absence greater than one year must be oriented before starting a placement. Another faculty member with previous experience on the appropriate site/unit must do this. If this is not possible, please contact us at studentpractice@cw.bc.ca to arrange for site orientation at least 3 weeks before a placement is scheduled to begin.
Faculty guidelines and expectations
- Instructor orientation and preparedness - groups (PDF)
- Instructor orientation and preparedness - preceptorship (PDF)
For pediatrics
Contact us
Please do not contact units or hospital staff directly about placement opportunities or to follow up on outstanding requests.
Email: studentplacement@cw.bc.ca
Address:
Michelle de Jaray
Academic Practice Coordinator
New Knowledge and Innovation
Room E423
4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3N1