Global & Rural Health

UBC Okanagan undergraduate nursing students have the opportunity to work with diverse populations internationally in low- and middle-income countries. This consolidated practice experience is designed to provide opportunities for students to integrate, consolidate, and expand on concepts from previous learning.

This practicum will be in both Ghana or Zambia, however students will only attend one country for the duration of the program. Students will be required to indicate their country of preference on their application form. The global health practicum is focused on community development, providing students the opportunity to gain insight into global health issues and cultural safety.

Students choosing to participate in this practicum will work in a variety of settings, including: rural and remote community health clinics, government funded health centres, school and university settings, and a number of non-government organizations.

International practice placements cannot be guaranteed. If circumstances or political situations change, the experience may be cancelled, or students may be called back from the experience. If this occurred you would complete NRSG 434 in Canada and we would do our best to fully refund you of your program fee.

To apply, please complete the application form and submit it on Gateway (search for “Nursing GSP”).

2020 Nursing Application

Gateway

Review the Out of Region Practice Placement Experience. You must meet the out-of-region requirements to be considered for a Global Health placement. In addition, the following requirements must be met:

• Students in good academic standing that have successfully completed Nursing 431.
• Membership and evidence of participation in the Global Nursing Citizens club.
• GPA above 72%.
• Consistent satisfactory practice in all domains on midterm and final practice evaluations.
• Exemplary attendance record in practice courses.
• No records of unprofessional conduct.
• Proof of current CPR.

If you have any questions about eligibility email Jeanette Vinek from the School of Nursing (jeanette.vinek@ubc.ca).

Program fees will be between $2,700 to $3,300. The final fee is dependent on the number of students in the program.

Note: The program fee will be offset by $1,000 for UBC students qualifying for the Go Global Award (e.g. those students with a 70% average in their best 9 credits from Term 1 of the 2019-20 academic year). If you have any pass/fail courses, we will assess your average with advice from your faculty.

*Cultural performances, national parks entrance (site specific), and other group activities.

The general timeline for this five-week practice placement is early-March to mid-April, 2020 (including travel time). Anticipated dates are March 8 – April 10/15 (Zambia/Ghana). Exact dates will be confirmed by November. Prior to departure there is one week of mandatory seminars (3).

Week one:

Preparatory seminars and labs (Kelowna and then approx. three days travel time to location).

Week two to five:

Practicum begins. Students will be rotated through various settings throughout the four weeks in the country and then a debrief before coming home. Students may continue with personal travel following completion of the practicum in the country.

Practicum should be complete by mid-April 2020.

NRSG 439 (8):

Global Health Practicum

Advanced practicum provides opportunities to engage in an immersive global health experience in a variety of settings*. Students will practice in collaboration with global health partners. The focus is on application of global health and cultural safety competencies. Pass/Fail.

*Dependent on availability and cost of travel is in addition to course tuition.

Prerequisite: All of NRSG 421, NRSG 422, NRSG 429, NRSG 432, and approval of application

This unique learning experience provides nursing students with the opportunity to apply several nursing concepts and skills in a rural and/or remote setting in Canada. Placements include, but are not limited to: Haida Gwaii, Oliver, Osoyoos, Enderby, other local rural communities in BC, and in Dawson City, Yukon.

This nursing practicum placement aims to provide students with an opportunity to apply and further their knowledge and skills in the areas of community engagement, health promotion, community identified Indigenous health priorities, cultural safety, and acute care/emergency services.

This program also aims to contribute positively to communities that are under-served and experiencing disproportionately high levels of health inequities. Students will have a faculty supervisor, but will be primarily working with a nurse within the community.

This rich immersion opportunity aims to help students better understand the complex health challenges that impact people with limited healthcare resources. Many students will be living in the communities in which they are learning. Students may have access to student housing, while others will be living in hotels or motels within the community.

Students are expected to be immersed in the community, and will be expected to give back to the communities in which they are placed. Students will also be expected to complete pre-practicum modules specific to rural nursing, the ethics of global health practicums, and cultural safety.

General information on two communities and the offered health services:

Dawson City, Yukon
A town located on the Yukon River approximately a six-hour drive north of Whitehorse (or one hour by plane). Its population is about 1,400, approximately 500 of whom identify as First Nation. Dawson is a popular tourist destination and its population rises to about 10,000 in the summer months.
Dawson has a six-bed community hospital and offers ambulatory care, emergency services, and diagnostics. Unstable patients are transferred to Whitehorse General Hospital via air ambulance.

Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii is a group of islands located approximately 60 kilometers off the Northern Pacific Coast of Canada. Approximately 4,500 people call Haida Gwaii home and, of that population, almost half of the islands’ population belong to the Haida Nation.

Healthcare services:

Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre – Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay
The Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre (also known as Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay) offers a team approach to care. Services provided include: general practice, low-risk obstetrics, emergency coverage including closed reductions, minor surgery, and stabilization of trauma and critically ill patients for transport when necessary. Health Centre services include a health clinic, public health, home support, diabetes and chronic disease support, infant development program, mental health and addictions, and the Haida Gwaii Cancer Care program. The hospital has eight acute care beds. The major medical centre transfer place is Prince George.

Queen Charlotte Medical Clinic
The in-hospital clinic offers a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. The clinic has family physicians and nurse practitioner support.

Sandspit Medical Clinic
This community clinic offers multi-disciplinary care involving nurses, physicians, mental health counsellors, physiotherapy, and home care services.

Xaaynang.nga Naay/Skidegate Health Centre
This community clinic offers services provided by a multi-disciplinary team including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and allied health services. Programs include nurse practitioner and physician clinics, community health, maternal and child health, dietitian, mental health, and support with addictions.

The Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre
Located in Masset, the hospital services include: general medicine, laboratory, x-ray, community, public, and mental health services. The hospital is staffed 24/7.  The hospital has four acute care beds and four long-term care beds. There are limited emergency services, however the emergency department is open 24/7. The health care facility also offers prenatal care.

Only Nursing students can apply. Students must be in fourth year and must have completed all of the cultural safety modules. Students must also take either the advanced community course (NRSG 428) or the advanced global health course (NRSG 429). Students must also have strong academic standing.

Early November to December

&

Early January to February.

Students need to complete 240 hours over a maximum of an eight-week period.

Week one:

Students will be introduced to their ‘preceptor’ and orientated to the community and practice site. Students will be expected to contact their faculty supervisor to map out learning goals.

Week two to eight:

Students will have a shared experience of community practice and acute care practice. This will be organized between the student and the faculty supervisor.

Final week:

Students will be expected to present on their experience. This will also be arranged by the faculty supervisor and the preceptor.

Program fees will be between $1,500 to $2,000*.

*The final fee is dependent on the rural placement.

Note: The program fee will be offset by $1,000 for UBC students qualifying for the Go Global Award (e.g. those students with a 70% average in their best 9 credits from Term 1 of the current academic year). If you have any pass/fail courses, we will assess your average with advice from your faculty.