The Student Practice Education team is proud to recognize Ryan McMaster as the first ever recipient of the Preceptor Awards at Northern Health!
Northern Health (NH) partners with post-secondary institutions across the province to create a culture of teaching and learning, where students are mentored by preceptors through their clinical education. Each one of our preceptors takes on the additional task of mentorship while simultaneously striving to provide quality patient care to the residents of the North. To recognize our role models in the organization, the Preceptor Awards were launched at NH in 2025.
Students submitted nominations from Stenberg College, College of New Caledonia (CNC), University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), University of British Columbia (UBC), and other institutions, each with robust clinical programs. More than 20 students nominated their inspiring preceptors, and their names were entered into a draw for a prize.
Ryan McMaster, a nurse on the Internal Medicine Unit at University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George, was nominated by multiple students for his exemplary work as a preceptor.
One student said, “Ryan is an amazing nurse. He reminded me how important it is to care for patients holistically, rather than just medically. He was encouraging and supportive of my efforts to achieve my goals. He reminded me of why I want to be a nurse, and he made every shift enjoyable, despite the stressful nature of the unit. He has so much valuable knowledge to share and I learned a lot from him!”
Ryan shared how rewarding it is to see the confidence grow in students over the duration of their placement, particularly when it translates into them becoming his colleagues once their placement is completed and they're hired at NH. He emphasized that everyone has a duty towards their profession to train new cohorts of professionals, and those who take that on make excellent team members who help carry the load of preceptorship on the unit.
To those on the fence about working with students, Ryan said, “Hanging out with students is incredibly inspiring when you get to learn from them too!”
Ryan has been working at UHNBC since 2006 and the passion he sees in his co-workers fuels him to be the best version of himself as a nurse he can be. When asked what advice he has for others who might be looking up to him, he said, “As a student, don't give up on your dreams. Health care is hard, but if you stick with it, it can be super rewarding. As a preceptor, reflect on your experiences from when you used to be new and try to be that support you needed.”
When he was presented with his award, he expressed tremendous gratitude and excitement for the nurses he’s mentored in the past as well as the ones he will meet in the future. Ryan exemplifies the values of respect and collaboration at NH by going above and beyond in his work with patients as well as colleagues.
Congratulations to Ryan for this achievement and a huge thank you for his hard work!
Here’s a snapshot of all the great things students are saying about their preceptors at Northern Health:
“She has a way of teaching that makes difficult concepts easier to understand and she also keeps it real, which I liked. She has a realistic view of the world and nursing which made her an excellent instructor and teacher.”
“I was provided an incredible amount of opportunities, while receiving honest, critical feedback about my performance and expectations. I was provided a safe experience to learn and grow, and as a result I’ll be a safer nurse with stronger critical thinking skills. I am incredibly appreciative of her time and experience; highly recommend her for any student who is interested in earnestly learning the field and growing.”
“He made me feel (like) part of the team and treated me like an actual nurse rather than ‘just a student’, which some preceptors are bad for. His mannerisms and leadership were something that I admired and will adapt into my own practice. He has a strong ability to critically think and always took time to explain those thoughts. He also pushed me to critically think without him and had me try and teach him as if he was a student himself, but then aided me when I would get stuck in a way that strengthened my confidence. I feel that this preceptor deserves more recognition than I can give in this post. He truly made me feel like a strong nurse and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
“He was able to support me when I was convinced I was going to drop out because I wasn't smart enough to continue. He was also very approachable and allowed me to grow and learn as a nurse. I am certain I would not be the future nurse I am today without his help.”
“She was always willing to answer questions and offered support when I experienced challenges. She helped me feel safe and connected in a busy, demanding profession, providing clear expectations and space to grow. At the end of my practicum, she went above and beyond by mentoring me for two extra shifts outside of my practicum hours so that I could meet my learning needs.”
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