New Grad Nurse jobs
Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) New Grad Program offers new Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) graduates learning opportunities that build confidence as they transition into their new practice.
New incentives are here!
Connect with a new career at VCH for a signing bonus of up to $20,000 for eligible hires. Conditions apply.
As a new hire LPN, RN or RPN grad at VCH, you will be placed into an existing regular or temporary role with a minimum 0.7 FTE for the first six months of your employment.
Working on a single unit provides grads opportunities to connect, build relationships and a sense of belonging with a team. It allows for consistent support, learning opportunities for skill consolidation, mentorship, and a steady work schedule.
New Grad Nursing Bursary of $500
New graduate nurses may now be eligible for a one-time taxable bursary of $500 to help cover the costs associated with their licensing exams. Eligible roles include RNs, RPNs and LPNs who have graduated from a Canadian institute within the last 18 months and are now employed by VCH (with a minimum of 0.7 FTE for at least 6 months).
Where you may work
New grad nurses have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including:
- Acute Care for Elders (ACE)
- Acute Medicine
- Acute Spinal Unit
- Bone Marrow Transplant
- Cardiac Care
- Complex Activation Medical Unit (CAMU)
- Detox
- General Surgery
- Hospitalist Medicine Unit
- Long Term Care
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- Neurosciences
- Orthopaedics and Trauma
- Palliative Care
- Rehabilitation and more
New Grad Program
Regional Clinical Education offers a Nursing New Grad Program to support your unique needs as a new grad.
This tailored program is available for the first 18 months after nursing graduation and provides learning opportunities to further develop clinical skills and consolidate your practice with up to 140 hours of protected learning time.
Program criteria
- Have been hired into an RN/RPN/LPN position within VCH
- Have provisional registration or are a licensed practical nurse/registered nurse/registered psychiatric nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
- Have graduated from an undergraduate nursing program in the last 18 months, and have not previously participated in a New Grad Program.
Workshops
Regional Clinical Education has designed three paid workshops created specifically for you. These workshops are currently being offered online. Please log into VCH Learning Hub and register for the following courses:
- New Grad Transition Workshop (2 hours): Explores your transition experience from nursing school to independent practice. Personal and professional wellness strategies are reviewed.
- New Grad Clinical Decision Making Workshop (4 hours): Focuses on evaluating and implementing the clinical decision-making (CDM) framework. You will practice the application of the CDM framework in a supportive environment during this course.
- New Grad Skills Day (8 hours): We will offer in-person skills days, focusing on stations such as: chest tubes, nasogastric tube insertion, tracheostomy care, Code Blue principles and a Code Blue consolidation simulation.
Elbow Support
New Graduate Clinical Nurse Educators are available to RNs and LPNs in acute care medical/surgical/specialty units to provide support in areas such as clinical skills, clinical decision-making, resource finding, and emotional well-being.
Evaluation Surveys
We ask you to complete the Nurse Experience Survey by Casey-Fink at the 3, 6, 12 and 18-month mark post-graduation. A link to the survey will be sent to your work email and can be accessed online. The results of the survey are anonymous and will provide valuable information about the new grad experience to help us modify the program to meet your needs.
Program Resources
Via Learning Hub there is a one-stop-shop for online resources under “New Graduate Nurse Team Site”.
For general inquiries about the New Graduate Nurse Program, please email VCHNewGradprogram@vch.ca.
Resume tips
So we can best assess your application, please be sure to include the following in your resume:
- Your up-to-date contact information (email and phone number)
- Education – nursing program attended – commencement & completion date (month/year)
- Other educational programs attended
- Certifications (e.g.: CPR – expiry Jan. 2024)
- Clinical placements & work/volunteer experience with most recent experience at the top (see example below):
Clinical placements
| Clinical placement | Hospital/site | Dates | Length of placement |
| Surgery, Psychiatry, etc. | VGH, GF Strong, etc. | month/day/year | approx. number of hours |
Work experience
| Position | Employer | Dates employed | Hours per month |
| ESN, Care Aide, Volunteer, etc. | Vancouver Coastal Health, etc. | month/day/year | Approx. number of hours |
Why join Vancouver Coastal Health?
- Supportive, world-class team who delivers exceptional care to all
- Employer-sponsored training and education
- Comprehensive health benefits, work-life balance and wellness support
- Career growth with employer supported development opportunities
- Interdisciplinary team-based care
- Full range of lifestyle and career opportunities, in diverse health care settings
Meet the Team
"While it was quite challenging to start a whole brand new life without the presence of my friends and family close by anymore, I am so glad for all the opportunities I have been presented with since joining VCH!"
Caroline Frankfurter, New Grad Registered Nurse, G.F. Strong
Meet Caroline