What Does Life as a Nursing Student Look Like?
Everyone's educational experience is a little different, but there are certain characteristics that we celebrate about learning here. Third-year Selkirk Nursing Program students Kara and Jennifer provided this information as part of a project they worked on in partnership with Interior Health in 2020/21.
Small Class Sizes and a Supportive Community
Each year, the Nursing Program accepts 32 students, so you can learn in an intimate, close-knit environment. This means students aren’t just a number. They are valued members of a cohesive and supportive community. Instructors and students know each other on a first-name basis, and instructors are always willing to meet students outside of class time for clarification and support.
Integrative Approach to Education
Selkirk College offers an integrative approach to education. Students can expect to learn the theory behind a nursing skill in the classroom, practice the skill under the guidance of an instructor in a lab class on mannequins and then practice the skill in their clinical practice placements on real patients. This approach ensures that students are better prepared to enter the nursing field as confident and competent nurses upon graduation.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Students have plenty of time to practice their skills. Nursing students at Selkirk College take part in 35 weeks of consolidated practice experiences throughout the four-year program. You will work under the guidance of nursing instructors and nurse preceptors to develop your nursing practice.
Practicum placements take place throughout the Kootenay Boundary area. Students can expect to have practicums on medical/surgical and maternity floors, in mental health and community settings, and in long-term care. This diverse array of practice placements ensures students receive a well-rounded educational experience.