Modern Teaching Lab Supports New NIC Health Program

North Island College is highlighting a new program meant to provide a foundation in health sciences but also allow students some flexibility in terms of what they can take.

The two-year Health Science diploma was approved in February, and the college is taking students for the program.

It builds on the three-year Island Pre-Health Science advanced diploma, which began two years ago.

Students in the new program will, in some cases, be able to take the same courses as those in Island Pre-Health Science, which is a hand-crafted program developed for students working toward specific careers related to health, such as medicine, and who require prescribed prerequisite courses before they can apply to these programs.

In a release from NIC, the college notes the province’s Labour Market Outlook for Vancouver Island shows high annual employment growth in hospitals and health care services over the next decade.

The biggest demand will be for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, with more than 6,200 openings in the Island region.

There is also high demand for nurse aids, orderlies, patient service associates, licensed practical nurses, general practitioners, family doctors, dental hygienists and other health-related professions.

The new Health Science diploma will provide students with a foundation in areas like biology and chemistry.

At the same time, it allows them to explore other courses to complement their science training.

Like Island Pre-Health Science, the new program provides background on working in rural communities.

Especially important are cultural components pertaining to First Nations communities and Indigenous perspectives.

Underlying NIC’s new health programs is a renovated lab at the Comox Valley campus.

The work started in the summer and was finished by October and the college says the site provides one of the most up-to-date post-secondary teaching labs in the province.

For more information, visit North Island College.