UVic nursing instructor supports students' call for paid work placements

Nursing students in Greater Victoria are getting signs of support as they advocate for paid work placements similar to other fields, such as medicine.

Nursing students in Greater Victoria are getting signs of support as they advocate for paid work placements similar to other fields, such as medicine.

The students, who are enrolled in a joint program at Camosun College and the University of Victoria, are renewing a long-standing request at a time when the profession is experiencing significant recruitment challenges – and some of their program administrators think the time for change could be now.

“I am immensely, immensely proud of them for doing this,” says UVic nursing professor Dzifa Dordunoo. “This is very timely for them to bring this up.”

The university’s associate dean in the faculty of human and social development says stakeholders, such as licensing bodies, need to come to the table to talk.

Ultimately, a change to pay students for their work placements would require provincial money and support.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix was unavailable for an interview and CTV News did not receive a response from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education by deadline on Friday afternoon.

“We have to also understand that student nurses still are students, though there’s a level in education that we need to look at to say where is it that you are now contributing to the team and what are you contributing and what is maybe payable,” says associate dean Maureen Ryan.