New student nurses at the University of Northern British Columbia can now expect improved learning spaces thanks to a $10.25 million investment by UNBC at three different sites.
“With these enhancements, we’re equipping students with state-of-the-art resources and spaces that reflect modern nursing practice,” said Dr. Catharine Schiller, chair of UNBC’s School of Nursing. “This ensures that they are not only ready to meet today’s healthcare challenges but are also well-positioned to meet the future needs of patients in the north.”
The $10 million was spent on renovations and equipment upgrades at its School of Nursing sites in Prince George and Fort St. John. These upgrades are thanks to funding from the Health Professions Expansion program.
The facility updates were completed between 2022 and 2024.
Renovations themselves helped introduce the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP) in Fort St. John and enabled the expansion of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master’s degree program and the NBNP to Prince George.
At UNBC’s Peace River-Liard campus, $3.60 million was spent to invest in the NBNP program launch in September 2021.
This funding was used to create a nursing lab, classroom, offices, and a student lounge, and provide a specialized mannequin for enhanced clinical simulation-based learning. In addition, required renovations were completed to NLC space.
The Wood Innovation and Design Centre also saw an investment of $2.49 million to support renovations on the WIDC’s third floor, creating a nursing lab, classroom, student lounge, and offices and the installation of advanced AV and video-conferencing equipment.
The UNBC campus in Prince George also saw significant investment in the expansion of its FNP program with combined lab/classroom space, two new simulation spaces with observation rooms, and advanced video-conferencing capabilities to facilitate teaching across multiple campuses.
As well, equipment such as teaching and simulation mannequins and six hospital beds have enhanced practical training opportunities.
UNBC states that these additions will double the program’s capacity, increasing the number of seats from 20 to 40.
"These significant upgrades reflect UNBC’s commitment to providing high-quality nursing education that empowers northern B.C. communities in the delivery of health services,” said UNBC president Geoff Payne. “This investment in our nursing programs and facilities ensures that graduates are ready and well-equipped to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents across the region."
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