Nursing courses

About Practical Nursing in Algonquin College

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 on campus, where you experience realistic patient care scenarios. These help 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 Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination in Ontario.

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

• 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 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 flexible.
• Can work any scheduled shifts in a 24-hour period.
• Are proficient in math.

Careers

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 Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination in Ontario.

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

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

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 .

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate therapeutically with clients and members of the health-care 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 health-care 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 health-care settings.
9. Practice 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.

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.

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