Practical Nursing Diploma

This program is offered every August and January in Kelowna, January in Penticton, and alternating years in Vernon and Salmon Arm.

The practical nursing program is designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, judgments, and attitudes to perform the full range of competencies as identified by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The program provides a learning experience that is integrated, professional, collaborative and culturally sensitive with an aim to prepare graduates to care for individuals and families at multiple life stages and in a variety of practice settings.
 
Throughout the program students will engage in learning activities that will further their development as practicing professionals and leaders. The program focuses on person-centered care, advocacy and critical thinking in preparation for a career in healthcare. Students will progress through a combination of courses and clinical placements to prepare them for subsequent work as a Practical Nurse. Upon successful completion of the program graduates will be eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam, required for licensure in B.C. Graduates of the program may obtain employment in community, continuing care, residential care or acute care settings.

There will be four program intakes per year: Each January at the Kelowna and Penticton campus and each September at the Kelowna and Vernon/Salmon Arm campus. Vernon and Salmon Arm alternate hosting the program each September. The overall length of the program is 70 weeks including built in program breaks; the length of instruction including preceptorship is 62 weeks.

Admission Requirements

B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent (ABE, GED), or mature student status

English Requirement:

Either:

• A minimum grade of 70% in one of: English 12 or equivalent, English First Peoples 12, or an equivalent Provincial Level Adult Basic Education English course.

Or

• A grade between 50% and 69% inclusive in one of: English 12, English First Peoples 12, or an equivalent Provincial Level Adult Basic Education English course, and a minimum score of Level 5 on the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) test.

English Language Requirement:

1. Three years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the medium of instruction and is also one of the country's official languages. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this three-year calculation. Those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests below:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with minimum scores of:

• Speaking: 7.0
• Listening: 7.5
• Reading: 6.5
• Writing: 7.0
• Overall Band Score: 7.0

• Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:

• Speaking: 8.0
• Listening: 10.0
• Reading: 8.0
• Writing: 7.0

In addition to meeting English language requirements for the Practical Nursing program, graduates must be able to demonstrate a level of proficiency required to be performance ready as a condition for registration and practice in British Columbia. See BCCNM's website for details.

Mathematics Requirement:

A minimum of 67% in any of:

• Pre-Calculus Grade 11
• Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11
• Principles of Mathematics 11
• Adult Basic Education MATH 011

Or a minimum grade of 70% in one of:

• Adult Basic Education IALG 011
• Both Math 084 and MATH 085

Biology Requirement:

Both:

• A minimum grade of 67% in a Grade 12 Biology course which includes human anatomy and physiology or Anatomy and Physiology 12 or an equivalent Provincial level Adult Basic Education Biology course.

• A minimum grade of 70% in Pre-Practical Nursing Anatomy and Physiology (PNUR 113) course. Please note that Biology 12 is a prerequisite for PNUR 113.

Selection Process

Fall Intakes

Applications will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. on the first business day in October and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February. Applicants will be ranked based on the grade average of the courses satisfying the Grade 11 Math, Grade 12 English, and Grade 12 Biology admission requirements.

Applicants enrolled in Grade 12 or Grade 12 upgrading are required to submit final or interim grades by 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February.

The ranking of applications will take place in March and successful applicants will be notified by early April. Once the ranking has been completed, the limited number of seats in the program will be filled by offers of admission and all others will be put on a waitlist in order of their ranking. Students offered admission will be given a deadline to accept the offer by payment of the Admissions deposit. Those who do not accept their offer by the deadline specified will be cancelled and the seat offered to the next ranked person on the list.

Winter Intakes

Applications will be accepted starting at 9 a.m. on the first business day in April and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in July. Applicants will be ranked based on the grade average of the courses satisfying the Grade 11 Math, Grade 12 English, and Grade 12 Biology admission requirements.

Applicants enrolled in Grade 12 or Grade 12 upgrading are required to submit final or interim grades by 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in July.

The ranking of applications will take place in August and successful applicants will be notified by early September. Once the ranking has been completed, the limited number of seats in the program will be filled by offers of admission and all others will be put on a waitlist in order of their ranking. Students offered admission will be given a deadline to accept the offer by payment of the Admissions deposit. Those who do not accept their offer by the deadline specified will be cancelled and the seat offered to the next ranked person on the list.

Medical Requirements

• CPR level "C"

• Either Red Cross Standard First Aid or St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid.

• A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.

• Negative TB skin test or chest x-ray no more than 6 months before the date of application or adequate follow-up in the case of a positive test

Program Requirements: The following will be collected on the first day of classes by the instructor.

• Current immunization as required by clinical partner sites and recommended by BC Centre for Disease Control (2009): diphtheria and tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), varicella, and influenza.

Program Residency Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 50% of the program hours at Okanagan College.

Program Outline:

Graduation Requirements:

A pass in each Consolidated Practice Experience course and Preceptorship and a minimum of 70 in each other course.