Before you apply
Review this important information before requesting a student placement.
Our student placement team works with schools and our sites to set up placements. Schools and international students can email students@covenanthealth.ca with placement requests or questions. Staff and managers cannot arrange placements directly with you.
Academic program requirements
To begin a placement with us, you must be enrolled in an academic program that:
- has a Certificate of Educational Accreditation
- is recognized by the professional regulatory or licensure body (if applicable)
Placement agreements
All students and instructors taking part in a placement must be covered by a student placement agreement (SPA) or individual placement agreement (IPA). These legal agreements are between us, the school or the student. They outline roles and responsibilities throughout the placement.
To find out if your school has a current SPA, or if you need an IPA, email students@covenanthealth.ca.
Prerequisites and special requirements
Your SPA or IPA will set prerequisites for your placement.
The site, program or unit you’re placed on may also have special requirements. For example, some areas and placement roles may require N95 mask fit testing, CPR certification or specific IT program training.
Learn more about getting ready for your placement.
Competency
Students and instructors need to comply with legislation, policies and procedures. These take precedence over educational preparedness in guiding student practice.
Students must also have completed enough of the curriculum to perform the skills and duties in the placement.
Instructors who provide direct care must work within their competency and teaching context. The care an instructor provides will not replace the care given by our staff.
Supervision
Students must be supervised by a regulated provider during certain activities. Instructors who are regulated practitioners must carry current registration and a practice permit in good standing.
The kind of supervision needed will depend on the practice setting, level of risk, student abilities, activity and regulatory body guidance.
- Direct: A regulated member is present at the point of care (at the student’s side).
- Indirect: A regulated member is available for guidance and consultation but is not at the student’s side. The supervisor is on the unit or in the same location where the student provides care.
- Indirect remote: A regulated member guides and consults by phone or through video, but they are not present in the location where care is being provided.
Preceptorships
In these placements, the Covenant Health manager or preceptor will supervise, evaluate and provide feedback to the student and the school.
Instructor-led group placements
In these placements, the instructor will supervise, evaluate and share feedback with students.
Evaluation
The school will set learning objectives and evaluation methods for student placements. The Covenant Health manager, educator or preceptor will use these to share an evaluation and feedback with the student and school.
Termination or suspension
We will work with the instructor and student to resolve concerns at the program or unit level. If we can’t find an agreeable solution, the academic program and student placements and academic relations lead will address the concern.
Reasons for termination or suspension
We may suspend or end a placement or remove an instructor or student if:
- The student is no longer registered in the educational program.
- The instructor is a regulated provider but does not have current registration or a practice permit in good standing.
- The student or instructor performs below organizational standards or in an unprofessional or unsafe manner despite opportunities to correct their behaviour.
- The student or instructor has caused a privacy breach, safety threat to patients or residents or abuse of staff or property.
- The student or instructor does not follow our policies, procedures or guidelines.
- There is a change in the student or instructor’s police information check status, including criminal convictions or charges.
- Student or instructor immunizations do not meet recommended standards.