UNBC completes renovations at Fort St. John, Prince George nursing schools

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A new cohort of nursing students are able to study the trade in northeast B.C. thanks to a series of investments from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Renovations at UNBC’s School of Nursing facilities in Fort St. John and Prince George that reportedly began in 2022 are now complete, according to a press release from the school.

The renovations cost the school $10.25 million in total, funded by the provincial government’s efforts to expand B.C.’s healthcare workforce.

In Fort St. John, $3.6 million was spent to purchase a specialized mannequin for learning simulations, as well as various other renovations to the nursing lab, classroom, offices and student lounge.

These additions benefit students in UNBC’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP) in the city. 

The rest of the money went towards renovations at two facilities for nursing students in Prince George.

“With these enhancements, we’re equipping students with state-of-the-art resources and spaces that reflect modern nursing practice,” said Dr. Catharine Schiller, the chair of UNBC’s School of Nursing. 

“This ensures that they are not only ready to meet today’s healthcare challenges but are also well-positioned to meet the future needs of patients in the north.”

The NBNP is a two-year program for UNBC students in their third and fourth years of undergraduate education, meant to allow them to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at an accelerated pace.

To learn more about the program, visit UNBC’s website.