Prestige or practicality?

Ionno31 · Jun 17, 2010

I can assure you that UBC grads don't get that much more respect than SFU/UVic grads. Only UBC students say stuff like that, and that's precisely why I chose NOT to go there.

All nursing programs in Canada are tightly regulated, so there's really no difference between one school and another as far as the curriculum goes. I personally would prefer BCIT/Kwantlen over UBC, but I also have a pathological hatred towards the latter lol.

It depends on your feeling, really.

loriangel14, RN · Jun 17, 2010

I have never seen it make any difference to anyone - not employers or coworkers- where a nurse went to school. Nursing school is what you make of it. The school doesn't make the nurse, the effort that the individual makes is what matters.

MPKH, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2010

If you want to go for the UBC program, go for it!

I'm currently in it myself, and so far, it's been such a great ride. If you're hearing things about UBC Nursing being all theory and not enough clinical time, that's wrong. UBC, being a university (and therefore an academic setting), has a more theory focused (I swear, the profs are practically inviting us to apply to the Master's program in a few years), but you do get solid clinical hours. In terms of clinical hours, under the new program, UBC is on par with BCIT. As for the theory...I feel that they help with critical thinking (which is essential for a nurse), and they help to broaden the understanding of the practice of nursing. We have theory classes in ethics, leadership, policy, research and relational practice...I know they sound dry, but they are quite applicable to the real clinical setting. They are also very important background to have if you are going to practice as a nurse. The only downside about UBC's program is that it's an accelerated program, which means that they make you work your ass off.

But as for prestige...I've heard everything from UBC grads are stigmatized for hiring to UBC grads are highly preferred in the workplace. I think prestige and reputation and name of the school is what you make of it. I don't think it makes a big difference (if there is any) when it comes to getting a job--once in the workplace, you are no longer a "UBC grad', "BCIT grad" or "Langara grad". You are part of the team as a newly graduated and licenced RN.

Fiona59 · Jun 17, 2010

Thanks for the laugh.

The only thing that matters to an employer is did you pass the CNRE on the first attempt. They don't care where you went to school.

Over the years BCIT and Langara produced some great nurses but they weren't hung on up on where they got your education.

OP: I saw one of your posts on another thread and money seems to be the big draw for you. I'm not saying that nurses are in it for free but if you are only interested in nursing for the $$$ you'll find zero job satisfaction in it.

You'd be better served by asking yourself how will you respond to a little old lady pooping on your shoes or when a newborn is seized by the province and you need to keep working with the Mum.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Jun 17, 2010

I have a friend who is an RN and graduated from BCIT. She LOVED it. She said they were doing clinicals by month 2 of the first year. Mon, Tues--class, Wed--lab, Thurs and Friday--clinical.

I've heard (and this is hearsay) that UBC nursing does all theory for year 1 and year 2 with no clinicals until year 3. So all the basic, basic stuff you learned in year 1 (ADL's, lifts, positioning etc) and the more advanced stuff in year 2 (foleys, injections, etc) you don't even start to practice until 1-2 years later.

If I'm wrong, can someone correct me?

And (just from what I've read on this forum), UBC grads come out very book smart, but lack severely skill wise....

Canuckgirl · Jun 17, 2010

Thanks for the laugh.
The only thing that matters to an employer is did you pass the CNRE on the first attempt. They don't care where you went to school.
Over the years BCIT and Langara produced some great nurses but they weren't hung on up on where they got your education.
OP: I saw one of your posts on another thread and money seems to be the big draw for you. I'm not saying that nurses are in it for free but if you are only interested in nursing for the $$$ you'll find zero job satisfaction in it.
You'd be better served by asking yourself how will you respond to a little old lady pooping on your shoes or when a newborn is seized by the province and you need to keep working with the Mum.

Money is a big draw; in fact, employment prospects happen to be the biggest factor for my cohort. Anyone who says it isn't is a liar, naive/idealistic, delusional, rich, or self-righteous, all of which I am not.

However, that doesn't mean it's the only reason for me. If it were, I'd choose to be an engineer, or some techie job, or perhaps an economist instead where the workers are a lot more valued than nurses because there are too few. However I won't because I want to be a nurse, and it's something that feels natural for me, and if that long- predicted earthquake does hit Vancouver, I'll actually be able to provide immediate help

Also, I know how it feels like to rather be hit by a car than to leave the house in the morning (or night). I do not want that feeling for the rest of my life :)

Canuckgirl · Jun 17, 2010

If you want to go for the UBC program, go for it!
I'm currently in it myself, and so far, it's been such a great ride. If you're hearing things about UBC Nursing being all theory and not enough clinical time, that's wrong. UBC, being a university (and therefore an academic setting), has a more theory focused (I swear, the profs are practically inviting us to apply to the Master's program in a few years), but you do get solid clinical hours. In terms of clinical hours, under the new program, UBC is on par with BCIT. As for the theory...I feel that they help with critical thinking (which is essential for a nurse), and they help to broaden the understanding of the practice of nursing. We have theory classes in ethics, leadership, policy, research and relational practice...I know they sound dry, but they are quite applicable to the real clinical setting. They are also very important background to have if you are going to practice as a nurse. The only downside about UBC's program is that it's an accelerated program, which means that they make you work your ass off.
But as for prestige...I've heard everything from UBC grads are stigmatized for hiring to UBC grads are highly preferred in the workplace. I think prestige and reputation and name of the school is what you make of it. I don't think it makes a big difference (if there is any) when it comes to getting a job--once in the workplace, you are no longer a "UBC grad', "BCIT grad" or "Langara grad". You are part of the team as a newly graduated and licenced RN.

Thanks so much for the informative post!! It was really helpful and it's definitely nice to get the opinion of someone actually doing the program

Haha I'm not sure what the employers think, but among my cohort, UBC is treated like the land of the holy grail :yeah:But the program gets bashed a lot, not only on this site, which made me question how effective it is :/

If you don't mind me asking, was it incredibly difficult to get in for you?

petethecanuck · Jun 17, 2010

@OP

UBC the Holy Grail?

No offense but has anyone in your "cohort" even graduated from UBC?

I agree with Fiona. At the end of the day, employers (eg:Fraser Heatlh) don't give a rip where you attended nursing school.

That said, if attending UBC is THAT important to you then by all means, go for it.

Good luck.

Fiona59 · Jun 17, 2010

The OP is just graduating high school this year. (Have a quick look at their posting history) I think there might be a lot of parental influence going on in school selection. Kind of like of in Calgary, it has to be the UofC not Mt. Royal, etc.

Having said that, the competition for UBC is huge and from reading posts in the UBC thread, it's also very selective and this September's batch has already been selected.

It still worries me that the OP is appears to be concentrating on the $$$ and not the nittygritty of can they deal with the poop of the job. Economics (their true desire) is a very different course of study and a different type of personality than nursing.

JenforRN · Jun 17, 2010

Don't forget that Langara isn't accepting applications for a while. Too many people on the waitlist. BCIT might be faster than waiting the two years before applying to UBC but if you check the website it says people with 30+ credits are preferred, so that's at least one year after high school. If you do a search for BCIT threads, you'll see that the median age of those entering nursing classes are in their twenties (I don't have firsthand knowledge on this though). When there are so many applicants, the schools can really pick and choose. E.g. a person with a 3.8 GPA who has a bachelor's is more impressive than a person with the same GPA who's just finished first year.

hello123 · Jun 18, 2010

Fraser Health might not care where you went to school, but Vancouver Coastal Health seems like they would take a closer look. Many of the nursing instructors at UBC are affiliated with VCH. BCIT is heavily affiliated with Fraser Health. I'm sure UBC nursing is harder to get into, with good reason.

I've also heard that UBC's program has lots of clinical placements at Children's Hospital for pediatrics, which is something that is not in BCIT's program. So if you want to do pediatrics locally, you may have a better shot from UBC if Children's Hospital is your goal.

BCIT has a condensed 3 year program now, but generally speaking, they do not tend to accept students who come fresh out of high school (there are rare exceptions, but very rare). They prefer students with some post-secondary or mature students.

I'm sure both programs are equally good by now. The thing that you should worry about is which program will help you more with making connections in the work place, at the places you want to work for. This whole "BCIT" thing being better - well, maybe 10 yrs ago. Not anymore.

Good luck with your decision!