The SNABC included representatives of nursing schools throughout British Columbia, although meetings were generally held in Vancouver. Membership was not open to practical nurses or psychiatric nurses. The association addressed concerns related to protecting the interests of student nurses, and facilitated communication among student nurses in British Columbia. A major annual event was the bed race competition, conducted to raise funds.

In 1977 two students were selected to attend the International Conference of Nurses in Tokyo, but due to lack of participation of members and interest of non-members, and perhaps partly because students could now join the RNABC, the association was dissolved in 1978. Margaret Kennedy was the last president. The remaining funds ($600) were donated to the RNABC for the Margaret Sim bursary fund for future student nurses.