This one-year certificate program is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge, skills and attributes necessary to enter the health care system as Practical Nurses and to write the Canadian Nurses Association registration examination. Students develop knowledge and skills in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for all age groups, with emphasis on the care of the elderly. The program consists of three levels.
Students spend approximately sixty percent of their time on theory.
There is, however, a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings. Practical experience in all levels include both laboratory and clinical components, moving from long term care to a medical-surgical environment. The last eight weeks of the program consist of a consolidated experience in a clinical setting. Effective interpersonal and communication skills are necessary to be successful in this field. Primary teaching methods include lectures, discussion groups, self-directed learning, case study, and field placement.