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 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.

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.

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. 

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

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.

Application Information

PRACTICAL NURSING
Program Code 1704A01FPM

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

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 K8A0C8
Local: 613-735-4700 Toll-free 1-800-565-4723 TTY:1-866-620-3845
Fax: 613-735-4739
https://algonquincollege.com/pembroke  

Program Resources

This full-time day program is also offered at the Ottawa and Perth campuses. While the learning outcomes at all 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). 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.