Practical Nurse for Health Care Aides

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Practical Nurse for Health Care Aides

• Distance education or evening part-time
• Entrance requirements provide advanced standing in program
  This program prepares the individual who has acquired a Health Care Aide certificate to become a professional practical nurse educated to give high-quality care to clients in a variety of health-care settings. You may take the program full-time, or on a part-time basis in the evenings or through distance education.
  

Career Potential

You will be eligible for jobs in acute care hospitals, continuing care centres, community care settings, client homes, clinics, or doctors’ offices. LPNs earn approximately $19 to $24 per hour. Graduates of the Practical Nurse program have a 100% employment rate.

Transferability

Further education options are available to LPNs. Your Practical Nurse diploma will qualify you for admission into these programs:

• Advanced Education in Orthopaedics for LPNs at NorQuest College
• Post-basic operating room program for LPNs at Grant MacEwan University
• Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing Degree program at Athabasca University
• Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Program at Grant MacEwan University

Admission Requirements

• Graduate of an Alberta public college Health Care Aide program or equivalent
• ENGL 2550 (Introduction to Composition)
• ANPH 1001 (Anatomy and Physiology I) and ANPH 1002 (Anatomy and Physiology II)
• SOCI 1000 (Introduction to the Study of Society)
• PSYC 1060 (Introduction to Psychology)
  Note: ENGL 2550, ANPH 1001, ANPH 1002, SOCI 1000, and PSYC 1060 can be taken through Open Studies at NorQuest College. You will receive advanced standing in the Practical Nurse program upon successful completion of these courses.
• 50% in Pure Math 20 or 60% in Applied Math 20 or equivalent
• Clear criminal record check (More than one criminal record check may be necessary during the length of your program, in accordance with work placement requirements.)
• Up-to-date immunization record including
  hepatitis B
• Health status questionnaire completed and submitted
• Must have the physical and mental abilities required for lab and clinical practice courses
  
  

Clinical Requirements

The following are not required for admission purposes, but will be required before attending the first clinical practicum:

• Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers course (BLS) recognized by the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation
• WHMIS Certificate
  

English Language Proficiency

You must provide proof of English language proficiency (ELP) prior to admission if English is your second language. Acceptable evidence of ELP may be one of the following:

• CLBA with an average score of 8 (with no skill score below 7)
• TOEFL Internet-based Test score 84 (no section score below 21)
• IELTS 6.0 (no band scores below 6.0)
• CAEL 60 (no subtest below 60)
  

Progression

A minimum GPA (grade point average) of 2.0 is required to be considered in good academic standing and to graduate with a diploma in Practical Nursing.

Credential

After successfully completing this program, graduates will be awarded a NorQuest Practical Nurse diploma.

Honours Criteria

• Overall GPA of 3.7
• Student has not failed or repeated any courses.
• Student has not had a learning improvement plan.
  
  

Tuition and Fees

Click here for 2008/2009 Tuition and Fees
Click here for individual course fees

Funding Your Education

Students in this program may be eligible for Alberta government funding including costs for tuition, books, and living expenses.

Program Outline (2008/09)

Year 1 - (38 weeks)

Year 2 - (30 weeks)

Last updated: October 30, 2009