Employed Student Nurse Program
The Provincial Health Services Authority’s (PHSA) ESN program provides educational opportunities for nursing and psychiatric nursing students. Work in a clinical setting for 200 to 400 hours of hands-on experience with pay.
Get paid while gaining experience
When you work as an Employed Student Nurse (ESN) you can:
- Consolidate nursing theory and skills
- Participate as a valued team member
- Learn about different practice environments and interdisciplinary teams
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In many cases, you can apply your earned seniority toward your first RN/RPN job with PHSA.
This hands-on experience will prepare you for a career specializing in neonatal, perinatal, pediatrics, child & youth mental health, adult mental health or oncology nursing.
You may also be able to use this experience to support your fourth-year preceptorship application at BC Children's Hospital, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services or BC Cancer.
Qualifications
You qualify to apply if you meet all the following criteria:
- Successful completion of your medical/surgical instructor-led rotation
- Student member of the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (or eligible for student membership)
- Current CPR certification
- Meet the recruitment screening requirement for BC Children's Hospital, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, or BC Cancer
- For candidates interested in the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, please note you will need to have completed your mental health/psychiatry clinical rotation to be eligible
- For candidates interested in any units under BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, please note you must have completed your maternal/newborn clinical rotation to be eligible
- For candidates interested in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, you must have completed BCIT’s Neonatal Theory I course prior to starting work. You may start Neonatal Theory II once you start your ESN placement.
PHSA programs that hire ESNs
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BC Cancer, with six regional centres across BC, is dedicated to excellence in patient care, cancer research and prevention.
Employed Student Nurses are welcomed into the program through a provincial-level onboarding program. This is followed by orientation and buddy shifts, along with in-house training.
Hiring centres include:
- BC Cancer – Vancouver
- BC Cancer – Surrey
- BC Cancer – Victoria
- BC Cancer – Abbotsford
- BC Cancer – Kelowna
- BC Cancer – Prince George
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BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.
Employed Student Nurses are welcomed into the following health care units:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Postpartum
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BC Children’s Hospital is the province’s only dedicated pediatric hospital. We provide general and specialized health care for the most seriously ill and injured children and youth from across BC and Yukon. With advanced technology and leading-edge programs, you’ll help make a real difference for kids and their families.
Employed Student Nurses are welcome to apply in the following health care units:
- Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, BMT/Oncology Clinic
- Pediatric ICU
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pediatric Rehabilitation (Sunny Hill Health Centre)
- Pediatric Surgery and Cardiac Surgery
- Pediatric Anesthetic Care Unit
- Outpatients Care
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health
- Eating Disorder Program
- Emergency Department
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BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) provides specialized treatment to people with the most severe and complex mental health and substance use disorders in British Columbia, as well as health care services for people who are incarcerated in provincial correctional facilities.
The work of BCMHSUS teams is trauma-informed, guided by research, and focused on the needs of clients and patients. We put clients, patients, and families first, and make sure their voices help shape the work we do.
Employed Student Nurses are welcome to apply in the following services:
- Correctional Health Services:
- Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre – Victoria
- Alouette Correctional Centre for Women – Maple Ridge
- Fraser Regional Correctional Centre – Maple Ridge
- Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre
- Okanagan Correctional Centre – Oliver
- North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre – Port Coquitlam
- Surrey Pretrial Services Centre
- Nanaimo Correctional Centre
- Prince George Regional Correctional Centre
- Forensic Psychiatric Hospital – Coquitlam
- Provincial Assessment Centre – Coquitlam
- Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction – Coquitlam
- Forensic Psychiatric Surrey Regional Clinic – Surrey
- Heartwood Centre for Women (candidates must identify as female) – Vancouver
Indigenous applicant supports
Applicant support
Indigenous Employed Student Nurse applicants
PHSA is actively working to address current and past inequities and barriers within our programs by prioritizing Indigenous employed student nurse applicants.
We invite applicants of First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ancestry to voluntarily self-identify in their ESN application forms, cover letters and/or resumes. For information on Indigenous employee supports or any other questions, please contact the Sanya'k̓ula team at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.
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"I’m grateful for the encouraging learning environment I have experienced at BC Children’s Hospital. I am excited to carry these valuable experiences with me and transfer the skills I have learned into my future placements."
Giselle
2023 ESN
BC Children’s Hospital
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"I have absolutely loved being an ESN! The most rewarding aspect for me is the profound difference I get to make in my patients' lives. It's incredibly fulfilling to know that my work contributes to their well-being and recovery!"
Marina
2023 ESN
BC Children’s Hospital
How to apply
Download and complete the PHSA ESN application form.
Before filling out the form, please download it first and then fill it out electronically. Save the form once completed, as you will need to submit it with all other required documents.
Download and complete the ESN Clinical Reference form. Please have the form completed by two instructors from your most recent or relevant placement to your program of choice.
Before filling out the form, please download it first and then fill it out electronically. Save the form once completed, as you will need to submit it with all other required documents.
If your school doesn't provide references, please provide a letter of good standing or supporting reference.
Submit all the following supporting documents along with your application form:
- Cover letter
- Resume (including all clinical placements)
- Medical / surgical clinical evaluation or most relevant rotation in your program of choice
- Unofficial school transcript
- ESN clinical skills: entry to practice form
Download the PHSA ESN application checklist as a reference guide to ensure all documentation is included in your application.
Email your complete application including the application form and supporting documents (in one email) to esn@phsa.ca using the subject line: ESN 2025 - (last name, first name – nursing school program).
Shortlist and interviews
Between one and three months after receiving your application, programs begin shortlisting and interviewing. Timeframe varies from program to program.
What you can do
We recommend you begin the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives registration after successfully passing an interview with one of our programs.
We only contact short-listed candidates. Because we receive so many applications, we cannot comment on the status of individual submissions. Please see our FAQ sheet for more details.
Contact us
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Email
esn@phsa.ca