About us
Our project team partners.
The Human and Social Development Building (HSD) on the UVic campus.
UVic School of Nursing
The University of Victoria (UVic) School of Nursing (SON) was established in 1976 to provide baccalaureate degrees for diploma nurses. Beginning in 1993 UVic, Camosun College and other colleges in British Columbia initiated the Collaborative Nursing Program to increase access to BSN education across the province and address the shift to BSN as the entry-to-practice academic requirement (Pringle, Green & Johnson, 2004; Scaia & Young, 2013). A shared model (first five terms at Camosun and next four terms at UVic), with minor variations, continues to date in Victoria within the context of a collaborative partnership with three other colleges (Aurora College, College of the Rockies, Selkirk College).
The BSN program
Students in this BSN program complete the majority of their practice placements with Island Health, the organization responsible for health care service delivery across Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Island Health Professional Practice team support initiatives related to professional development, student education, and transition to professional practice.
Our academic-practice team first collaborated to launch a CLU pilot in 2003 to address both the nursing shortage and an interest in developing practice cultures of learning across Island Health. Currently, there are 23 DEUs in medical/surgical, perinatal, mental health and community settings. Over 85% of UVic BSN students complete their senior consolidated learning experiences within a CLU model.
Island Health – Our practice partners
Island Health provides health care services through a network of hospitals, clinics, centres, health units, and long-term care locations. They serve more than 850,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and the mainland communities north of Powell River and south of Rivers Inlet.
Professional Practice is an interprofessional team that develops, coordinates, integrates and supports strategies that enable professional disciplines and program staff to deliver safe, competent, ethical person/patient focused care. Professional Practice includes:
- Student Practice Education
- Employed Student Nurse Employment Program
- New Graduate Transition Program
- Practice Consultations
Our project team
Principal Investigator/and Co-Investigators, Institutions
- Dr. Lenora Marcellus, School of Nursing, University of Victoria, PI
- Dr. Diane Sawchuck, Research and Capacity Building, Island Health, Co-PI
- Joanne McLaren, RN, MN, BC Ministry of Health/Professional Practice, Island Health
- Christina Berlanda, Director, Professional Practice, Island Health
- Dr. Susan Duncan, Director, School of Nursing, University of Victoria
- Dr. Darlaine Jantzen, School of Nursing, Trinity Western University
Additional team members and institutions:
- Fanny Vermes, RN, MN, Island Health, Research Assistant
- Robin Humble, RN, MPH, Camosun College, Practica Coordinator and Research Assistant
- Yonabeth Nava, Island Health, Data Management
For further information about the CLU model contact:
- Dr. Coby Tschanz at cobyt@uvic.ca
For further information about the CLU study contact:
- Dr. Lenora Marcellus at lenoram@uvic.ca
- Dr. Diane Sawchuck at diane.sawchuck@viha.ca