Students registered with BCCNM as employed student nurses (ESNs) or employed student psychiatric nurses (ESPNs) may carry out nursing activities as a registrant. Employed student registrant (ESR) practice is about consolidating current learning by working within the competencies attained in an educational program.

Practice Standard

• Employed Student Registrants
  

Employed student registrants: practice responsibilities

Students registered with BCCNM as employed student nurses (ESNs) or employed student psychiatric nurses (ESPNs) may practise nursing under the regulatory supervision of an RN or RPN. Employed student registrant (ESR) practice is about consolidating current learning by working within the competencies attained in an educational program.

BCCNM's Use of Title practice standard  requires ESRs to use the titles "Employed Student Nurse" and "ESN" or "Employed Student Psychiatric Nurse" and "ESPN" to inform others of their registration status with BCCNM. 

As per the Employed Student Registrants practice standard, ESRs are responsible and accountable for their practice. All BCCNM standards and bylaws apply to ESRs even if the documents refer to practising nurses. If an ESR has a practice concern, they should speak with the nurse who is providing regulatory supervision and, if necessary, contact a BCCNM Regulatory Practice Consultant at practice@bccnm.ca.

Employed student nurse/psychiatric nurse registrants must:

• maintain practising registration with BCCNM
• maintain enrollment in a recognized entry-level registered nursing or psychiatric nursing education program
• practise only in the authorized workplace
• practise under the supervision of a named RN, NP or RPN who is physically present and readily available to provide direction. Note that LPNs are not authorized to supervise ESNs or ESPNs
• never be solely responsible for the care of clients
• practise within the competencies attained in their educational program
• practise within their competence level, in accordance with BCCNM Standards of Practice and workplace policies specific to the ESR role
• not supervise other staff, volunteers, contractors or nursing students

FAQs​​

Can I work as a camp nurse while I’m a student?

In order to work as a nursing student in a health care setting, you must be registered with BCCNM as an employed student registrant.

Your employer would need to designate a manager or nurse supervisor for you to report to and make sure a nurse with the appropriate scope of practice was physically present to provide regulatory supervision when you were working.

As an employed student registrant, you would need to meet the requirements set out in the Employed Student Registrants practice standard.​​​​​