Programs for new graduates
We have two new graduate programs: the New Graduate Nurse Transition Program and the Allied Health Transition to Practice Mentorship Program. Learn more below.
At Interior Health, we provide you the tools to become a leader in your community. Take your skills and experience to the next level with a career at IH. No matter your field of study, there is a spot for you here.
We have two new graduate programs: the New Graduate Nurse Transition Program and the Allied Health Transition to Practice Mentorship Program. Learn more below.
Entry-level registered nurses are employed in diverse practice environments (e.g., hospitals, communities, homes, clinics, residential facilities) that range from large urban to remote rural settings.
View Our New Graduate Nurse Opportunities
Interior Health creates and maintains practice environments that support new graduate registered nurses in providing safe, ethical and quality health care. Supportive practice environments assist the new graduate nurse consolidate entry-level registered nurse practices. These environments also further develop competencies to provide consistently safe, competent and ethical nursing care in increasingly complex situations.
Interior Health's (IH) New Graduate Nurse (NGN) Transition Program aims to provide support through onboarding, mentorship, and training assistance, of newly graduated Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) with less than 18 months experience. It supports new graduate nurses working in various IH settings, including acute care, long-term care, and community care. The NGN Transition Program helps bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical practice, building new nurses' confidence and skills as they transition into their roles.
Contact our new grad nurse recruiter if you have have questions about applying
To ensure a comprehensive and accessible learning experience, the NGN Transition program’s educational offerings include both virtual sessions and in-person skills days. This hybrid approach provides NGNs with the flexibility to learn in a way that suits their individual needs and schedules, whether through online learning or hands-on practice in a live setting. NGN educators are also on the units providing resources and check ins to ensure NGNs are transitioning successfully to their new independent roles.
A key aspect of the curriculum is the establishment of a NGN Steering Committee, which includes nursing students from different post-secondary institutions (PSIs). This diverse committee meets monthly to provide insights and feedback on the direction of the program, ensuring the curriculum reflects the real-world challenges and opportunities NGNs face. Their input plays a crucial role in shaping the content and structure of educational offerings, helping the program remain responsive to the evolving needs of both students and the healthcare industry.
In commitment to providing well-rounded education, a series of educational sessions featuring guest speakers have been hosted, covering essential topics that directly impact the professional development of NGNs. These sessions not only expand NGNs' knowledge but also provide opportunities for networking and learning from content experts.
As part of the curriculum redesign, an Education Menu has been introduced, allowing NGNs to select additional instructor-led education aligned with their current practice and future career goals. Facilitated by content experts within IH, these educational opportunities offer NGNs the chance to participate and receive payment for their involvement.
This initiative supports NGNs' professional development and provides a personalized pathway to career advancement, helping them plan for long-term growth within the healthcare system. The education pre-approved for NGNs is designed to align with the NGN Transition Program learning outcomes, allowing them to apply their allotted paid education hours towards meeting these objectives.
Examples include:
Skills days are hosted around the IH region and include fun presentations and learning opportunities. During the skills days, NGNs can come practice practical hands-on skills to improve their proficiency and confidence.
Check out the pictures below from previous Skills days events:
New to Nursing Podcast
The New to Nursing podcast is produced by the NGN Transition Program and offers engaging content for new nurses seeking quick, resourceful, and supportive information.
You can stream the podcast on Apple and Spotify.
The podcast offers a blend of practical advice, inspiring stories, and expert insights. It aims to empower new nursing graduates as they transition from the classroom to the clinical world. It regularly features co-hosts and interviews with health-care leaders, educators, fellow nurses, and other contributors from the NGN Transition program. They explore a variety of topics, delivering peer-reviewed and up-to-date content on nursing and regional best practices within IH.
Want to learn more about the New to Nursing podcast? Check out our Stories@IH blog post.
“This (program) helps me feel supported and mentored during this time as a new grad”
“Supportive & safe learning environment”
“I appreciate the sessions as they make me more confident in skills I don't always practice”
Our NG Nurse Program is supported by Regional Knowledge Coordinators (RKCs), who are dedicated to helping new nurses transition into professional practice. Covering areas across the Interior Region, including Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, North Okanagan, Thompson Cariboo Shuswap, East Kootenay, and Kootenay Boundary, RKCs provide personalized guidance and resources throughout your first 18 months on the job.
RKCs are here to:
Your designated RKC will reach out to you after you’re hired. If you haven’t heard from them or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at NewGradProgramPPO@interiorhealth.ca.
You are automatically enrolled in this program upon hire to IH as a nurse with less than 18 months of practice.
The NG Nurse Transition Program is 18 months long.
Through the program, new nurses can expect assistance from the Professional Practice Office (PPO) and RKCs as they navigate work as a new nurse. During this period, you will gradually increase your workload, practice, and consolidate knowledge, skills, procedures, and judgment within your practice environment so that you are prepared to manage a full patient load independently.
You will be able to participate in skills workshops, education sessions, and have a dedicated NG Nurse RKC for individual support, coaching, resources, debriefing and assistance with Professional Development Planning.
Educational sessions are short form learning opportunities. You are encouraged to participate in these education opportunities to further your professional growth, but the education is not mandatory. There will be a wide range of educational opportunities for you to attend during your 18 months in the program. Some topics may include:
NGNs will have the opportunity to provide feedback through an extensive evaluation survey that the NGN Transition Program Team regularly monitors and incorporates the feedback into the program.
Yes. You will have 24 paid hours to attend NG Nurse Transition Program education sessions throughout your first 18 months of nursing practice.
You will have 120 funded hours (split into ten 12-hour shifts or fifteen 8-hour shifts depending on the worksite, for example: 12 hours in an acute site and 8 hours in a community site) in addition to your unit and hospital orientation. These hours are to be completed within the first six to eight weeks of your employment. The intent is that you are not baseline on the unit during these hours unless unforeseen circumstances occur.
Our Allied Health Transition to Practice Mentorship Program is designed to support and guide New Entrants as they embark on their careers with Interior Health. This program provides you with a unique opportunity to build knowledge, confidence, and competence as you transition into your new career.
New Entrants refers to recent Canadian graduates, who have completed their educational program but have not yet completed 18 months of employment, and internationally educated Allied Health professionals.
This program will be offered in the following Allied Health occupations:
New Allied Health Entrants will have the chance to work in a variety of practice settings, including hospital-based medical-surgical and mental health units, rehabilitation and outpatient services, long-term care homes, and home and community programs.
As an Allied Health New Entrant, you will receive valuable support from our Regional Transition to Practice Mentor in areas such as:
Interior Health is consistently ranked as one of the top employers in British Columbia. It's a great place to apply what you learned in school to real-world problems that make a difference. With more than 22,000 employees, there's a spot for you here regardless of your background.
You can expect:
Discover the diverse career opportunities at Interior Health. Our career viewbook provides an overview of the various fields and specialties available, offering a glimpse into the exciting possibilities that await you. Although it only scratches the surface, it will help guide you in exploring the many roles we have to offer. The viewbook offers an in-depth look at our organization, including our story, the benefits we provide, and much more.
Interior Health’s goal is to make it possible for everyone to improve their wellness and quality of life. We do this by putting our people and communities first. Interior Health offers a variety of benefits and a robust diversity and inclusion program. We strive to make sure everyone can bring their whole selves to work.
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