Student Resources
Jump directly to:
- Overview
- Student Placement Opportunities
- Student Placement Request Process
- Contact Information
- Links
Overview
The Niagara Health System (NHS) is committed to building strong and successful relationships with the many educational institutions which have a vital role in training the health care professionals of tomorrow.
The Student Resources Department of the NHS is part of the Human Resources Portfolio, and is responsible for facilitating student placements. A student placement is defined as an unpaid practical experience which is a requirement of a formal education program. Some examples of training programs which require student placements are nursing programs, allied health programs (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, speech-language pathology, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, etc.), as well as programs perhaps not traditionally associated with health care, such as Public Relations, Human Resources, and Computer Network Operations. For information about Medical school placements, please contact the NHS Clinical Teaching Program.
Student placements differ from volunteer placements in that student placements are a requirement of a formal education program, and as such, have the support and supervision of academic teaching staff. In addition, there is a legal agreement that must be in place between the teaching facility and the NHS, specifying the roles and responsibilities of both parties, before any student placement can occur.
Student Placement Opportunities
Placement OpportunitiesThe NHS welcomes all student placement inquiries. Depending upon the program requested, placements may be available at any of our seven sites.
Placement opportunities are available in all NHS Program areas:
- Emergency Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Maternal Child
- Medicine
- Mental Health
- Oncology
- Operative and Peri-Operative
- Transitional Care
Placements are also available in Platform Services supporting these programs, such as Pharmacy, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging, and Clinical Nutrition, as well as Corporate Support which includes Utilization, Finance, Information Management, Corporate Planning, Quality and Education, Human Resources, Support Services, Spiritual Care, and Rehabilitation.
We are currently in the process of updating program and unit descriptions so that students will understand what learning opportunities are available to them. Links are provided above, where available.
Placement Request Process
If you are interested in completing a student placement with the NHS, it is preferred that the placement coordinator from the participating educational facility be the first contact with the NHS. Some factors which are considered when considering a student placement request are the ability of the NHS to meet a student’s learning objectives, as well the ability of the educational facility to meet all student placement requirements, and it is for this reason that school placement coordinators need to be involved early in the student placement process.
The requirements for student placements are:
- A signed Educational Clinical Placement Agreement between the NHS and the educational facility specifying the roles and responsibilities of each during the student placement. When a placement is discussed, this agreement will be sent to the participating school.
- A completed Work/Education Placement Agreement form indicating how Workplace Safety and Insurance Board coverage will be provided for the student during the placement.
- A completed Communicable Disease Surveillance Program form indicating that the student has all required immunizations.
- A signed confidentiality agreement and general orientation checklist which will be provided to you by the Coordinator of Student Resources at the onset of your placement.
- N95 respirator fit testing for all inpatient acute areas, as described in the Student Fit Testing Policy.
Contact Information
Please direct student placement inquiries to:
- Coordinator, Student Resources
Niagara Health System - Welland Hospital Site
65 Third Street, Welland, ON L3B 4W6
Tel: 905-378-4647, Ext. 32265
Fax: 905-732-3187
students@niagarahealth.on.ca
Links
Health and Safety 101
Health and Safety 101 is an e-course developed by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in Ontario, to provide young workers with important health and safety information. Although students completing unpaid placements are not considered employees of the NHS, this information is vital and students are strongly encouraged to review this award winning e-learning course, or you may download the Health and Safety 101 Resource Book.
Respirator Protection Fast Facts
Respirator Protection Fast Facts from the Health Care Health and Safety Association provide an excellent overview of what fit testing is, and why it is required.
Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
Understanding rights and responsibilities regarding confidentiality is critical. The Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario site contains information regarding the Personal Health Information Protection Act.