Global & Rural Health

You have the opportunity to work with communities in either Ghana or Zambia. Clinical practicums in Zambia usually take place in November/December for Cohort 2 students. Clinical practicums in Ghana usually take place in March/April for Cohort 3 students.

This practice experience is designed to provide opportunities to integrate, consolidate, and expand on previous learning on global health issues and cultural safety.

You will learn and teach in a variety of settings, including rural and remote community health clinics, government-funded health centres, school and university settings, and non-government organizations.

If circumstances necessitate the cancellation of your placement, you would complete NRSG 434 in Canada. We will do our best to refund your program fee.

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 ). If you have any pass/fail courses, we will assess your average with advice from your faculty.

The approximate timeline for these five-week practice placement is early-March to mid-April for Ghana and early-November to mid-December for Zambia.

Week one:

Preparatory seminars and labs,  then travel to destination (approximately three days).

Week two to five:

Practicum begins. You will rotate through various settings throughout the four weeks in country and then debrief before coming home. You may choose to continue traveling once you’ve completed your practicum.

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.

Prerequisite: NRSG 421, NRSG 422, NRSG 429, and NRSG 432.

Through this practicum you have the opportunity to apply 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.

You will  further your knowledge and skills in the areas of community engagement, health promotion, community identified Indigenous health priorities, cultural safety, and acute care/emergency services.

You will have a faculty supervisor, but will be primarily working with a nurse within the community.

This rich immersion opportunity helps you to understand the complex health challenges that impact people with limited healthcare resources. You will live in the communities where you are learning. You may have access to student housing or hotels or motels within the community.

To be eligible, you must 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.

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

Placements occur at the end of semester eight of the BSN program.

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

Week one:

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

Week two to eight:

You will have a shared experience of community practice and acute care practice. This will be organized between you and your faculty supervisor.

Final week:

You will have the opportunity to present on your placement experience. This will also be arranged by the faculty supervisor and the preceptor.

You are responsible for travel and accommodation costs during your placement.

NRSG 434 (4/8):

Practice electives

Preceptored advanced practice experience(s) provides opportunities for evidence-informed practice in varied contexts*. Application of knowledge, skills, and abilities from related advanced nursing theory course(s). Pass/Fail. *Dependent on availability

Prerequisite: All of NRSG 421, NRSG 422, NRSG 432. A minimum of three credits of nursing electives related to practicum context, and recommendation of practice advising committee (NRSG 438 or NRSG 439).