Role Expectations

Role Expectations: Guiding Principles 

When working on the unit, the following apply:

• Choose an appropriate patient assignment. Your patient assignment begins with one patient then increases in alignment with your ability, education, experience and learning goals. We encourage you to aim for 75% of a New Grad patient assignment. This depends on the acuity of your patients and your learning objectives.  Talk to your supervising nurse to ensure that your patient assignment is appropriate and manageable.  

• Report changes to your supervisory nurse ASAP. Report a change in patient condition to your supervisory nurse; document both the assessment and the reporting of it.

• Tell people who you are. Always introduce yourself using the title “Employed Student Nurse” and inform others that you are practicing under a supervisory nurse.

• Sign as an ESN. All documentation requiring your signature must include your first and last name as well as the "ESN" or "ESPN" designation.

• Remember, you are still a student. You cannot supervise other workers or students at anytime.

• You are supernumerary. Being supernumerary means you always take your breaks and leave work on time. You cannot claim overtime for missed meal breaks and/or leaving late.

• Keep your student roles clear. You are not able to be a nursing student representing an academic institution and an Employed Student Nurse representing VCH at the same time or on the same unit. It is your responsibility to inform your School Clinical Placement Coordinator where you are working as an ESN.
  

Communications

As an employee of VCH, you’ll quickly realise that there are many people here to help support you throughout your experience. Sometimes, this means that you’ll be in contact with multiple people. To make sure communication goes smoothly, keep the following in mind:

E-mail Setup	E-mail Access
You will be set up with a VCH email address by Clinical Education. If you’ve received the instructions but continue to have difficulty with VCH e-mail, contact the Helpdesk @ 604-875-4334. E-mail esnVCH@vch.ca if you continue to have problems.	Check your VCH email weekly for communication from your unit, Regional Clinical Education, and the organization. To access VCH webmail from home, you will need a SafeNet remote access token. For help, contact safenet@phsa.ca
Once your VCH email address is set up, any VCH-related communication must to be done through your VCH email address.	Tip: If you use Internet Explorer to check your VCH email at home, you’ll be able to see the e-mails in their original fonts & colours.

Role Expectations Quiz Time

Role Expectations Case Studies