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UNBC

UNBC School of Nursing doubles their seats in masters program

Nov 2, 2023 | 12:33 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—Students looking to get their master’s degree for Family Nurse Practitioners will find more opportunities in the North, after UNBC School of Nursing doubled the number of seats available from 20 to 40 seats.

The expansion to the UNBC Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program is part of B.C.’s Health and Human Resource Strategy, announced last year, which builds on previous investments that increased nurse practitioner training capacity from 45 seat in 2017 to 120 seats around B.C.

Filling in-demand jobs and providing much needed health care services for people in British Columbia is a priority for our Government. This funding allows UNBC to train more nurse practitioners and will help improve access to primary and acute care services, particularly in Northern B.C.

Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

The UNBC FNP program is primarily online and is completed over the course of two years. Students complete 752 hours of clinical practicum hours and attend several weeks of in-person skills development courses at UNBC’s Prince George campus during their studies.

In October, UNBC’s School of Nursing made it’s debut on the best nursing schools in Canada list in the latest Maclean’s magazine university rankings. The rankings are based on a survey of faculty and university administrators, UNBC’s nursing program was ranked 16 out of 72 nursing schools in Canada.

Family nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses with a clinically-focused master’s education. They provide patient and family centred care to people in primary health care, acute care, residential care or specialty settings. Their scope of practice includes: diagnosing and managing illness and chronic conditions through ordering and interpreting lab or diagnostic tests; prescribing medication and other treatments; referring to specialists; and ensuring comprehensive care that includes health promotion and illness prevention. They can carry their own patient panels and provide comprehensive primary care services as a patient’s Most Responsible Provider.

Our family nurse practitioner graduates are helping to make a difference every day in their region of practice and in the lives of northern and rural patients. UNBC will continue to collaborate with our many regional partners to empower healthy, productive and thriving communities as we work together to address critical health needs in northern B.C. and beyond.

UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne.

Applications for the MscN Family Nurse Practitioner program are currently being accepted for the expanded cohort in September 2024. Deadline for submissions is November 15.