According to the latest BC Labour Market Outlook, about one million job openings are expected in BC over the next decade, with nearly 80 percent (or 789,000) of all job openings requiring some post-secondary education or training.
Upholding the Institute’s commitment to building an agile workforce that meets labour market needs, BCIT launched a new Sterile Field and Aseptic Environment (SFAE) microcredential—an innovative program designed to provide learners with the foundation to work effectively and safely with sterile fields and in aseptic environments.
The Sterile Field and Aseptic Environment (SFAE) microcredential
Whether a professional in your field or just starting out, the SFAE microcredential is suitable for all learners who work in sterile fields and in aseptic environments. The microcredential is comprised of three laddered badges, each designed to be completed within a four-week timeframe. These badges focus on foundational concepts, such as Sterility and Aseptic Technique Basics, Safe Practice in the Aseptic Environment, and Minor Sterile Surgical Procedure Knowledge.
Additionally, all three badges are based on different practice settings to ensure learners receive a comprehensive education, ranging from personal service establishments, to the operating room and ambulatory care units.
Delivered in an online, asynchronous format, this microcredential offers flexibility for learners who are working irregular shifts in the healthcare setting, or those who require more accommodation with their schedules.
BCIT Perioperative Nursing faculty, Sheena Thursby, expresses the importance of the microcredential, both in healthcare and beyond.
“Working as an operating room (OR) nurse myself, the microcredential would be beneficial for professionals to tap into the specialty knowledge about sterile fields and aseptic practice,” Sheena says. “It truly is exciting how this knowledge can equip staff to know and do better in reducing the risk of infection for clients and improving overall care.”
“This microcredential will greatly benefit industries that require a strong understanding of working in sterile environments—from tattooing to healthcare—to name a few. BCIT Perioperative Nursing is excited to share their expertise to support this growing area,” says Kathy Kennedy, Associate Dean, BCIT School of Health Sciences.
BCIT as a major training provider for health professionals
Unmatched by other post-secondary institutes, BCIT is a major training provider for nurses and other health professionals who are the cornerstone of the BC healthcare system. The BCIT School of Health Sciences offers 34 health-related programs, including the largest nursing program in the province, and access to progressive clinical education and technology in a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at the Burnaby Campus.
The hands-on, applied learning at the Institute ensures that learners are ready to hit the ground running in their chosen health-related career—with 99 percent of degree graduates and 97 percent of diploma graduates employed in a related job. Additionally, the School’s partnerships with notable health authorities and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills reflects the rigorous standard and relevance of the Health Sciences curriculum at BCIT.
If you’re interested in a career in the healthcare system but not sure where to start, reach out to a BCIT Program Advisor today. You can also sign-up for an upcoming information session to learn more about interested programs.