Practical Nurse Refresher Program (Practical Nurse Re-Entry Program)

For information: 644-6300 or

To register: 644-6000

• Two-year diploma
• Complete program within two years
• Internationally Educated Nurses’ Refresher available
• Continuous starts
• Distance education

Program Overview

If you are a practical nurse and wish to regain your license to work as an LPN, you can achieve your goal through part-time distance learning with NorQuest College. You have up to two years to complete the program, and can start 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 the courses.
• ou do not have to take the courses you have successfully challenged.
• You may 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 in working on theory and theory/lab courses at home.
• You will have access to interactive WebCT course reviews on the Internet.
• You may attend workshops to assist you in the practice of nursing skills.
• Demonstrate selected nursing skills at NorQuest College.
• Contact an instructor for help by telephone, 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 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.
• Learn from instructor led clinical practice.
• 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.
• Final clinical practice is preceptored and full-time.

Practical Nurse Refresher for Internationally Educated Nurses

If you are a graduate nurse from a country outside Canada 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 the Practical Nurse program for Internationally Educated Nurses for ESL integrated courses.) The following conditions will apply to you as a student in this program:

• First 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 in which you were unsuccessful on the challenge 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 in working on theory and theory/lab courses at home.
• You will have access to Internet interactive WebCT course reviews.
• You may attend workshops in Edmonton to assist you in the practice of nursing skills.
• Contact an instructor for help by telephone, 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 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

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 MacEwan College
• Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing Degree program at Athabasca University
• Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Program at MacEwan College

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
• Health status questionnaire completed and submitted
• Must have the physical and mental abilities required for lab and clinical practice courses
• 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

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

Additional Admission Requirements for International Students

• Graduate of a recognized nursing program
• An official transcript 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
• 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

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)

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be assigned to an applicant who has been offered admission to a program. The offer of admission is provisional, based on completion of specified conditions that must be satisfied within the first year of enrolment and by the date specified in the offer. Access to courses, activities, and/or field placement or clinical studies may be limited until all provisional requirements are met. Provisional admission may be offered only to applicants who have a clear security clearance. Conditions will be stipulated in an admission letter.

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 a national Practical Nurse Examination to obtain a license to practice nursing in Alberta.

Credential

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

Honours Criteria

• Overall GPA is greater than or equal to 4.0. (Medication calculation grades are not included in calculation of the GPA.)
• Student has not written a supplemental exam.
• Student has not failed or repeated any courses.
• Student has not had a learning contract.

Tuition and Fees

Click here for 2008/2009 Tuition and 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)

This program is being reviewed, and will undergo changes.

Year 1

Year 2

Last updated: April 29, 2008