Nursing

News Stories

VIU Nursing professor Dr. Caroline Variath standing outside on a sunny day and smiling at the camera

VIU professor using patient-oriented approach to medical assistance in dying research

December 12, 2023

Dr. Caroline Variath received a Michael Smith Health Research BC award for her work. Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nursing Professor Dr. Caroline Variath is researching ways to enhance awareness of and access to end-of-life care for patients. Medical assistance in dying (MAID) has been legal in Canada since 2016. The law was revised in 2021 and removes the requirement for a person’s natural... Read more


A nursing student practices on another nursing student

VIU Receives Funding to Expand Nursing Seats

February 22, 2022

Expansion addresses community need for more nurses Vancouver Island University (VIU) is expanding the number of nursing seats in three programs, thanks to provincial government funding announced on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Starting in fall 2022, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will increase the number of new students into the program to 80 from 72 annually. The provincial... Read more


VIU Nursing Professor Receives Financial Support to Continue Resilience Research

VIU Nursing Professor Receives Financial Support to Continue Resilience Research

January 26, 2021

Support from BC’s health research funding agency will enable Dr. Shannon Dames to focus on further developing a resilience-focused, psychedelic-assisted mental health therapy program.   An innovative psychedelic medicine-assisted therapy and resilience training program developed by Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nursing Professor Dr. Shannon Dames and her team is proving to be very effective... Read more


a person holds a face mask in their hands, while wearing gloves

VIU Professors Examine the Social Impacts of Wearing Masks

November 6, 2020

Expert Commentary: As the number of businesses and organizations implementing mask-wearing policies and guidelines increases, we were curious about some of the effects of this new way of interacting with one another. Dr. Lindsay McCunn, a VIU Psychology Professor, and Maureen O’Connor, a VIU Bachelor of Science in Nursing Professor, share some thoughts. Wearing a mask is one way to minimize the... Read more


VIU Research Supports Health-Care Professionals Suffering From Emotional Distress

Supporting Health-Care Professionals Suffering From Emotional Distress

June 12, 2020

VIU professor receives federal government grant to aid in the development of an innovative psychedelic medicine-assisted therapy program for the treatment of mental health issues experienced by first responders. A Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nursing professor developing a psychedelic medicine-assisted therapy and resilience training program has received a sizeable federal government grant... Read more


Dr. Leigh Blaney helps build resilience in volunteer firefighters

Building Resilience in Volunteer Firefighters

December 11, 2019

A VIU professor is helping volunteer firefighters cope with the physical and mental effects they may experience when they are involved in a traumatic incident. ­­ Firefighters are the real-life heroes. The people who put their lives on the line to save our homes and rescue us from motor vehicle accidents. They also have a higher than normal exposure to horrific events than the average person. “... Read more


Nursing Students Go On The Air To Promote Good Health

Nursing Students Go On The Air To Promote Good Health

October 21, 2019

VIU’s nurses of tomorrow address community health-care issues on unique Nanaimo radio show.­­ NANAIMO, BC: Five Vancouver Island University (VIU) Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) students are taking to the airwaves to provide reliable health information to the community. A Sound Constitution is a radio show that focuses on community well-being, hosted on CHLY 101.7 every Thursday between 10 and... Read more


Students Solidify Critical Care Training in New VIU Facility

Students Solidify Critical Care Training in New Facility

March 26, 2019

VIU’s new Centre for Health and Science encourages greater collaboration between students and professionals across all health disciplines.  Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) new clinical skills and simulation labs engage students in interprofessional training that allows health care graduates to successfully compete for highly skilled, in-demand jobs.  The $40.9-million, 6,855-square-metre... Read more


Training the Next Generation of Nurses

January 7, 2019

Candace Boland always knew she wanted a career that helped people. As a fourth-year nursing student at Vancouver Island University (VIU), she is close to achieving that goal.  “When I got started in the VIU Nursing program, I realized this felt right. This is where I am meant to be,” she says.  Born and raised on the Island, Boland and her three boys call Cobble Hill their home. She says... Read more


Research @VIU: Working Where the Devil Dances

October 17, 2018

Every year, faculty and students at VIU go out into communities to participate in research that is having significant impacts on the region as well as giving students important experiential learning opportunities. Here are a few projects they engaged in this year. Project two of five.  Firefighting can be an intense, stressful job. Of the 14,000 people who do this important, life-saving work,... Read more