Official Program Outline
Program description
The Practical Nursing program is a two-year, five semester program which leads to a Practical Nursing diploma. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to write their registration examinations with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
The students and faculty work together to explore nursing knowledge and caring theory. In the classroom, students in collaborative groups work through learning activities and focus on the lived experiences of individuals, families, and groups. Knowledge from the program courses is integrated into the care of clients, families, and groups in a variety of settings.
Why choose Georgian?
You will appreciate the flexibility of Georgian’s unique option of two start dates per year (September and January). That means more placement opportunities and a much greater range of practical experience is available. Several unique opportunities for clinical are available at Georgian:
- Dominican Republic trip (working in clinics in the Dominican)
- Simulation Lab (non-threatening, hands-on simulated hospital learning environment at the Barrie and Owen Sound campuses)
Clinical experiences start in Semester 1 and include long-term care, medical-surgical areas, maternal-child and mental health.
Placement Opportunities
Our main agencies are Royal Victoria Hospital, Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Grey Bruce Health Services, Mental Health Centre Penetanguishine and long term care settings in Barrie, Orillia, Beeton and Midland.
For their praxis placement (Semester 5) students may request a placement that is outside of our area and many choose to do this final placement closer to home (anywhere in Ontario).
Lab/professional experience
Year 1: Four hours per week in lab learning hands-on nursing skills.
Year 2: Back in the lab for Health Assessment, plus experiences in the medical-surgical and OB simulation lab.
Employment
Practical nurses work in many settings including long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics and community settings. The scope of practice for RPNs has broadened over the past several years and the job market is good. RPNs are also working in some specialty areas such as the OR and the Emergency Room.
Entry-level salary: $24/hr