Practical Nurse Refresher

Program Overview

If you are a practical nurse and wish to regain your licence to work as an LPN, you can achieve your goal through parttime distance learning with NorQuest College. You have up to two years to complete the program, and you can start the program at the beginning of any month. The following conditions will apply to you as a student in this program:

• First, apply to the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) to take the Practical Nurse Refresher program. CLPNA will forward your application to NorQuest College.
• Start the program at the beginning of any month.
• Take all the Practical Nurse program courses, or take a fast-track/PLAR option, which allows you to challenge courses. You will not have to take the courses you have successfully challenged.
• Purchase course learner guides to help you prepare for exams if you choose the challenge option.
• Pay individual course fees for the courses you are required to take.
• Purchase course print materials, videos demonstrating nursing skills, and skill practice kits to assist you to work on theory and theory/lab courses at home.
• You will have access to interactive course reviews through the Internet.
• You may attend workshops to assist you in the practice of nursing skills.
• You must demonstrate selected nursing skills at NorQuest College.
• Contact an instructor for help by telephone, through email, or in person.
• Write examinations in your community or at NorQuest College.
• Participate in clinical practice in Edmonton or in your community, depending on the availability of appropriate health-care facilities.

Students taking the Practical Nurse Refresher program must have access to a computer with an Internet connection.

Distance Education Part-Time

• Engage in self-paced study. (Course work may be completed in your own home.)
• Attend workshops to practise nursing skills.
• Contact instructors for help by telephone or email.
• Participate in clinical practice in Edmonton or in your local community if a cohort group has been established and if you are a registered student in that cohort group.
• Clinical practice is preceptored and full-time for seven weeks.

Practical Nurse Refresher for Internationally Educated Nurses

If you are a graduate nurse from a country outside Canada and you reside in Alberta and wish to become a licensed practical nurse in Alberta, you may register as a distance education student through NorQuest College. This distance education program does not have an English as a second language component. (See Practical Nurse Diploma for Internationally Educated Nurses for a program with ESL-integrated courses.)  The following conditions will apply to you as a student in this program:

• You may apply for advanced credit for courses you have previously successfully completed.
• Meet with the Practical Nurse Refresher program team leader to determine which Practical Nurse program courses you may challenge.
• You may purchase course learner guides to help you prepare for the challenge exams.
• Write examinations for the courses you may challenge.
• Demonstrate selected nursing skills at NorQuest College.
• Take the practical nurse courses that you were unsuccessful in challenging and those you were unable to challenge.
• Start the program at the beginning of any month.
• Pay individual course fees for the courses you are required to take.
• Purchase course print materials, videos demonstrating nursing skills, and skill practice kits to assist you to work on theory and theory/lab courses at home.
• You will have access to Internet-based interactive course reviews.
• You may attend workshops in Edmonton to assist you in the practice of nursing skills.
• Contact an instructor for help by telephone, through email, or in person.
• Write examinations in your community or at NorQuest College.
• Participate in clinical practice in Edmonton or in your community, depending on the availability of appropriate health-care facilities.

Career Potential

You will be eligible for jobs in acute care hospitals, continuing care centres, community care settings, client homes, clinics, and doctors’ offices.

Transferability

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 a recognized Practical Nurse program as confirmed by CLPNA (College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta), or a graduate of an approved RN/BScN program in your country of origin
• Health status questionnaire completed and submitted
• Must have the physical and mental abilities required for lab and clinical practice courses
• Clear criminal record check; must include a vulnerable sector check (More than one criminal record check may be necessary during the length of your program, in accordance with work placement requirements.) Note: Internet (on-line) criminal record checks are NOT accepted by the College. Please contact your local law enforcement agency directly to obtain an official criminal record check.
• Up-to-date immunization record

Clinical Requirements

The following are not required for admission purposes, but will be required before you attend the first clinical practice.

• CPR - Basic Life Support for Health-Care Providers certificate (Level C) recognized by the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation
• WHMIS certificate
• Human Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure certificate
• Clear criminal record check; must include vulnerable sector check. (More than one criminal record check may be necessary during the length of your program in accordance with work placement requirements.) Note: Internet (online) criminal record checks are NOT accepted by the College. Please contact your local law enforcement agency directly to obtain an official criminal record check.
• Up-to-date immunization record (including hepatitis B, which may be completed within the program)

Additional Admission Requirements for International Students:

• All admission requirements noted
• Graduate of a recognized nursing program
• An original official transcript sent directly to NorQuest from your nursing program
• Course descriptions or outlines of the courses you have taken in your nursing program
• Birth certificate and picture identification with your legal name (or passport)
• Submission of a document from your country’s professional association, verifying that you were a member in good standing

English Language Proficiency

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

1. CLBA, with an average score of 8 and no skill score
   below 7
2. TOEFL Internet-based test score 84, with no section score below 21
3. IELTS 6.0, with no band scores below 6.0
4. CAEL 60, with no subtest below 60

Prep for Practical Nurse Admission Route

Students may choose an alternative admission route to this program by successfully completing the Prep for Practical Nurse program.

Provisional Admission

An applicant may be granted provisional admission to this program. A student who has provisional admission must satisfy certain conditions within the first year of enrolment and by the date specified in the offer of admission. Conditions will be stipulated in the admission letter. Access to courses, activities, and practicum experiences may be limited until all provisional requirements are met. Provisional admission may be offered only to applicants who have a clear security clearance.

Progression

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

Accreditation

Upon completion of the program, you will be prepared to write the national Practical Nurse examination to obtain a licence to practise nursing in Alberta.

Credential

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

Honours Criteria

• Overall grade point average (GPA) greater than or equal to 3.7 (Medication calculation grades are not included in the calculation of GPA.)
• The student has not failed or repeated any courses.

Tuition and Fees

2010–11 Tuition and Fees (pdf)

2010-11 Program and Supplies Fee & Textbook Rental Fee (pdf)

Program Outline (2010/11)

This program is being reviewed, and will undergo changes.

Last updated: April 29, 2008