Diploma in Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing is a Diploma program taught at Vancouver Community College, Canada. Intake: Fall, Spring. The program is offered in campus-based modes with full-time (2 years) options.

Practical Nursing at Vancouver Community College is a Diploma program that prepares students to apply the Entry Level Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses to provide safe, competent, culturally safe and ethical care. Students practice within relevant legislation, BCCNM Standards of Practice for LPNs Framework, and professional practice standards, and develop skills in assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating care.

The Practical Nursing Diploma is sixteen (16) months in length and is offered on a full time basis. It is divided into four levels, with each level completed before starting the next. The program emphasizes active student participation, using guided discussion, debate, audio-visual presentation, group activities, skill building exercises, and simulation. Each level is supported by a Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE), and a final practice experience or preceptorship prepares students for graduate expectations.

The minimum requirements for admission in Practical Nursing at Vancouver Community College for all applicants (Domestic or International) are:

• program specific academic requirment set by Vancouver Community College.
• English Language OR any other language requirments as set by Vancouver Community College as pre-requiste for admission in Practical Nursing.

Note: Please check the university website in the link below.

Core minimum standards for admission requirements, including English as an Additional Language standard have been established by the Provincial Practical Nursing Program Curriculum. VCC admission requirements for this program are in addition to those provincial expectations. All of these requirements must be met.

• BC Grade 12 or equivalent
• English Studies 12 with a minimum 'B' grade, or equivalent
• Foundations of Math 11 with a minimum 'C' grade, or equivalent
• BIOL 1602 Human Anatomy and Physiology with a minimum grade of 68% or equivalent within the last 3 years
• English Language Proficiency as specified for the Practical Nursing or Access to Practical Nursing programs
• Internationally Trained Nurses: Students with transcripts from outside of Canada may be required to submit a comprehensive evaluation form from an educational credential assessment service provider.

Upon Acceptance into the program:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC): Students in this program are required to complete a CRC.
• Valid CPR-BLS certification: Certificate must remain valid throughout the program.
• TB skin test: Students must submit a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test or chest X-ray dated a maximum of six months prior to the program start date. An additional TB test is required after each potential exposure to TB and/or travel to areas with a known prevalence of TB.
• Immunization Record: A School of Health Sciences Student Immunization Record must be completed.
• N95 mask: Regulations stipulate that a properly fitted respiratory mask must be used when providing care to patients with suspected, known, or probable cases of acute respiratory infections. The respiratory mask must be a N95 respirator that is individually fitted by a trained and certified person. This individual mask fitting should be done just prior to beginning your program and is good for one year and must be performed annually. The original certificate must be presented to your program during the first week of classes.

Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school. (Some exceptions may apply.)

Please check detail of study units at https://www.vcc.ca/programs/practical-nursing/

International students are generally expected to achieve a minimum score in recognized English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. Typical benchmarks include an IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or a TOEFL score in the range of 80-90. Students should refer to the official program page for exact English language requirements.

51 fully funded scholarships are listed for Canada. See Canada scholarships.