Practical Nursing

Contribute to a healthcare team and support excellence in patient care.
  • Enjoy a more personalized learning environment with our small classes
  • Benefit from supportive and experienced faculty who are active in their industry
  • Gain the latest and best industry-specific knowledge and skills to be career-ready upon graduation

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2024

No

Winter 2025

No

Schedule

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Program Summary

Credential

Ontario College Diploma (2 Years)

Program Delivery

View delivery information

Program Code

1704X01FPM

Area of Interest

Health Sciences

School

Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley

Campus

Pembroke

Other Campuses

Work Integrated Learning

Clinical Placement

As a student, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in a variety of healthcare facilities. An added benefit of this program is the Simulation Lab and other Nursing labs on campus, where you experience realistic simulation scenarios. These help you to build confidence in your skills and techniques before working with patients in clinical placements. Placements are in community settings such as retirement homes, long term care homes and hospitals....(read more)

Overview

Contribute to a healthcare team and support excellence in patient care.

The Practical Nursing Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for work in the healthcare system. You learn the necessary skills and techniques for the workforce. This includes assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation tools required to provide nursing care to those of all ages. Throughout the program, learning opportunities include theory, lab techniques, applied experiences and independent study.

As a student, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in a variety of healthcare facilities. An added benefit of this program is the Simulation Lab and other Nursing labs on campus, where you experience realistic simulation scenarios. These help you to build confidence in your skills and techniques before working with patients in clinical placements. Placements are in community settings such as retirement homes, long term care homes and hospitals.

To practice as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario, you are required to be licensed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). This program gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to write the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nurse (REx-PN) in Ontario.

Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with healthcare teams. You may find employment on a team in a variety of:

  • community clinics
  • private homes
  • long-term care homes
  • medical, surgical and obstetrical units

You may also choose to pursue further studies after graduation.

For more information on the Nursing Profession, please review the Fact Sheet Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario, available on the CNO website at www.cno.org.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Enjoy the challenges of working with and accepting people of all ages and stages of development and of varying backgrounds.
  • Have good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Enjoy working with others as a member of a team or in a leadership role.
  • Possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Are dedicated patient advocates.
  • Can handle physically demanding situations.
  • Are mature and are flexible.
  • Can work any scheduled shift in a 24-hour period.
  • Are proficient in Math.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
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Careers & Pathways

Careers

To practice as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario, graduates must be licensed by the College of Nurses of Ontario. This program gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (Rex-PN) in Ontario.

Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with healthcare teams. You may find employment in a variety of settings such as:

  • community clinics
  • private homes
  • long-term care homes
  • medical, surgical, rehabilitative and obstetrical units

Pathways

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Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Communicate therapeutically with clients and members of the healthcare team.
  2. Assess clients across the life span, in a systematic and holistic manner.
  3. Plan safe and competent nursing care, based upon a thorough analysis of available data and evidence-informed practice guidelines.
  4. Select and perform nursing interventions using clinical judgment, in collaboration with the client and, where appropriate, the healthcare team, that promote health and well-being, prevent disease and injury, maintain and/or restore health, promote rehabilitation, and/or provide palliation.
  5. Evaluate the outcomes resulting from all interventions in the nurse-client interaction and modify the plan of care as required.
  6. Act equitably and justly with clients and members of the health care team.
  7. Adapt to a variety of healthcare settings, using different leadership skills and styles as appropriate to each setting.
  8. Contribute to creating a healthy and safe work environment in a variety of healthcare settings.
  9. Practise in a self-regulated, professional and ethical manner, complying with relevant legislation and with the standards of both the regulatory body and the practice setting to provide safe and competent client care.
  10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2023/2024 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.

Fees are subject to change.

Additional program related expenses include:

  • Students should budget for additional costs to cover nursing uniforms, shoes, manual blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, bandage scissors, a watch with a second hand and travel (including parking at clinical agencies during their practicum experiences).
  • Books, supplies and other program incidentals can be purchased at the campus bookstore.
  • Program materials including texts and lab kits are approximately $2,100 for Year 1 and $1,100 for Year 2.
  • The fee for the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nurse (Rex-PN), Jurisprudence Exam, application process and initial registration are available at www.cno.org.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
  • Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
  • General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee of $50 (subject to change) will be charged.

Program Eligibility

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Mathematics, Grade 12 (MAP4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Biology, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Chemistry, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • All applicants must complete an assessment of their knowledge and skills through the Test Centre, and pay an exam fee. Results from the Algonquin College Health Program Admissions Test (AC-HPAT) will be utilized to establish minimum eligibility and applicant ranking. The AC-HPAT can only be written once per academic cycle. For further information on the HPAT and how to book your assessment, please visit Algonquin`s Test Centre.
  • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
  • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 110, minimum of 110 in Literacy and no score below 95.
  • International Applicants: International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration): Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS). Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice. The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score. Please click this link for more information: https://www.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/ICHS/.

Clinical Placement Eligibility:
Accepted applicants must be in good health and complete a Health Assessment form providing information related to medical and non-medical requirements which include TB testing, the influence vaccine, CPR Level C re-certification and a Police Records Check for Service with Vulnerable Sector. These are required prior to clinical commencement. Should there be a delay in starting the clinical placement, program progression could be negatively impacted.

Successful completion of clinical placement is a requirement for graduation from the Practical Nursing program. Agencies that provide placement opportunities require you to have a clear Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS). If you register in the program without a clear PRCSVS and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate. A clear PRCVS is required annually, and more often if requested by the clinical agencies.

To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a clear PRCSVS, which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement. You will be required to disclose the contents of the PRCSVS, including all notations, to the placement agencies.

It is your responsibility to obtain the PRCSVS from your local Police Department prior to the deadline identified by your Department and to pay any associated costs. It may take a long time to obtain this documentation; please submit your application as early as possible. Should you require further information, contact the Program Chair.

Computer skills are required throughout the program.

Application Information

PRACTICAL NURSING
Program Code 1704X01FPM

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley
1 College Way
Pembroke, ON K8A 0C8
Local: 613-735-4700
Toll-free 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 1-866-620-3845
Fax: 613-735-4739
https://algonquincollege.com/pembroke

Additional Information

Program Resources

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) RequirementseTextbooksArchived Program Information Academic CalendarProgram Overview PDF

This Full-time day program is also offered at the Ottawa and Perth Campuses. While the learning outcomes at all three Campuses are the same, the subject delivery is reflective of local circumstances that affect program delivery. Unless there are extenuating and exceptional circumstances, students are required to stay enrolled at the campus to which they were first accepted. In the case of extenuating circumstances, the request must be made to the Chair of the registered campus, with supporting documentation attached. The transfer decision is made at the Chair level.

Unless there are extenuating and exceptional circumstances, students are required to stay enrolled at the campus to which they were first accepted. In the case of extenuating circumstances, the request must be made to the Chair of the registered campus, with supporting documentation attached. The transfer decision is made at the Chair level.

Clinical Placements may occur anywhere in Renfrew County and transportation must be provided by the student. Where clinical placement agencies require photo ID, the student is responsible for obtaining the photo ID prior to clinical placement. Students will not be permitted to attend clinical without the photo ID. Not all students will have clinical placements in specialty areas (ie: pediatrics, maternity, mental health, acute medicine and surgery).

Pembroke Campus offers one intake per year. In the fall term, Levels 01 and 03 are offered. In the winter terms, Levels 01 and 04 are offered.

Clinical Placements receive large numbers of health science students and there may be times during your program of study that require you to attend weekend, evening and night clinical experiences. Clinical placements may be within the city or region and students are required to travel accordingly. Not all students will have clinical placements in specialty areas (ie. pediatrics, mental health, acute medicine or surgery).

Healthcare partners offering clinical placement opportunities have mandatory vaccine requirements. If you have questions or concerns about these, or any other placement requirements, consult your Program Coordinator prior to registering.

For consideration of medical exemptions related to immunization and vaccinations, documentation must be provided to Paramed`s Placement Pass for review.

If medically exempt from the influenza vaccine, please note: Facilities have the prerogative to require the influenza vaccine in order to proceed with placement and can refuse students who do not have the influenza vaccine.

In the event of an influenza outbreak, learners will have to abide by facility policies.

The Practical Nursing program highly recommends that all applicants review the CNO Fact Sheet - Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario - available at www.cno.org.

Registration requirements for RPNs are found at the College of Nurses of Ontario website. They include but are not limited to, the following:

  • completion of the registration examination
  • completion of the jurisprudence examination
  • demonstration of language proficiency in English or French
  • proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency of Canada
  • declaration of any past offences and findings
  • declaration of any physical or mental conditions or disorders that could affect your ability to practice nursing

A complete list of requirements can be found at www.cno.org.

Specific information will be contained in the package you receive from the CNO prior to your exams.

Contact

Michelle Osmond

Program Coordinator

osmondm@algonquincollege.com

613-735-4700, ext. 2731

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