Practical Nursing (Diploma)

Admissions

One of:

• C+ in English 12  
• C in English 12 Camosun Alternative   

One of:

• C in Math 11  
• C in MATH 073  
• C in MATH 077  
• C in MATH 137

And all of:

• C+ in PNUR 101  * or equivalent
• Grade 12 graduation or equivalent

* Note: a C or higher in Biology 12 is a pre-requisite for PNUR 101 . Camosun College courses BIOL 150  and BIOL 151 , or BIOL 152  and BIOL 153 , or BIOL 143  and BIOL 144  may be used as alternatives to PNUR 101 .

English Language Competency Requirements

As English is the language of study in BC, students must meet English language proficiency at an appropriate level to be accepted into the provincial Practical Nursing program. These requirements can be satisfied through three years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction and is also one of the country’s official languages. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this three-year calculation. Those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests below:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with minimum scores of:
  • Speaking: 7.0
  • Listening: 7.5
  • Reading: 6.5
  • Writing: 7.0
  • Overall Band Score: 7.0
• Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:
  • Speaking: 8.0
  • Listening: 10.0
  • Reading: 8.0
  • Writing: 7.0

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, students who are unable to complete an IELTS or CELBAN assessment may demonstrate English-language proficiency for the purpose of satisfying the entrance requirements for PN programs by achieving the following scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test: Home Edition (TOEFL Home):

• Speaking: 23
• Listening: 27
• Reading: 19
• Writing: 27
• Overall Band Score: 96 

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Apply the Entry-Level Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses (2021) to provide safe, competent, culturally safe and ethical care.
• Practice within relevant legislation, Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, and ethical standards as set out by the Nurses (Licensed Practical) Regulation (2015), and the BCCNM.
• Value and engage in continuous learning to maintain and enhance competence.
• Practice in collaboration with other members of the health care team to meet the collective needs of their clients.
• Participate in interprofessional problem solving and decision making.
• Advocate for and facilitate change reflecting evidence-informed practice.
• Make practice decisions that are client specific and consider client acuity, complexity, variability, and available resources.
• Use critical thinking, clinical judgment and knowledge of assessment to plan, implement, and evaluate the agreed upon plan of care.
• Develop a collaborative relationship with clients by connecting, sharing and exploring with them in a caring environment.
• Provide culturally safe, person-centered care across the lifespan that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual and is sensitive to cultural safety, cultural humility, and diversity.
• Provide leadership, direction, assignment, and supervision of unregulated care providers as appropriate.
• Identify one’s own values, biases, and assumptions and the influence of these on interactions with clients and other members of the health care team.

Curriculum

Program Participation Requirements

• A TB skin test is compulsory. TB testing must be done within three months of program start and students must provide documentation of this prior to the start of the first practicum or experience with public clients.  Students are responsible for the cost of this test. An additional TB skin test is required after each possible exposure to TB and/or travel within an area that there is a known prevalence of TB.
• Students must provide evidence of their immunizations or immunity to preventable, communicable diseases. Students are highly recommended to maintain current immunizations as per the Practice Education Guidelines of B.C. Recommended immunizations are found on the Health Sciences Placement Network of Canada website by searching for immunization guidelines. Failure to comply with immunization guidelines could result in the health care organization or the College barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until proof of immunity is provided and/or until a communicable disease outbreak is declared over. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement course and/or a clinical/practicum.
• Students are required to have yearly respiratory mask ‘fit testing’ done.  Fitting will be completed in the program and students will be responsible for completing this process and for any associated costs.
• Current Standard First Aid and BLS (Basic Life Support) is required prior to the first clinical placement. Annual recertification of BLS must be maintained throughout the program.  Students will be responsible for the cost of this certification.
• Students must complete all math requirements within the program without the aid of a calculator (in both written and practical testing situations as well as in Consolidated Practice Experiences).
• A Criminal Record Check is required. 

Program Completion Requirements

• A minimum of 65% (“C+”) in each theory course, except PNUR 119  and PNUR 129  which require a minimum grade of 80% (A-), and a “COM” in each clinical course is required to graduate from the program.
• Successful completion of the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nursing (REx-PN) is required to qualify for registration as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in British Columbia by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The REx-PN process is external to Camosun College.