Practical Nursing ─ Diploma

Program Details

Length: 2 years

Total Credits: 78

Intake Terms: Winter

Delivery Method: In-person

Campus: Trail

Credential: Diploma

Cost:

Approximate program cost

Student Loans:

This program is eligible for student loans

Credential Received

Diploma in Practical Nursing

Overview

Program Summary

The Provincial Practical Nursing Program is designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, judgements and attitudes to perform to the full range of competencies as identified by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The curriculum provides a learning experience that is integrated, professional, collaborative and culturally sensitive with an aim to prepare graduates to care for individuals (and by extension, families of individuals) at multiple life stages and in a variety of practice settings.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program (PNP), graduates will:

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 British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (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 judgement 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‐centred 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

Program Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

Individuals applying for admission to the PNP must apply during the application period; exact dates are posted on the Selkirk College PNP webpage. To be considered for the program, applicants must meet all admission requirements and submit their completed application and supporting documents by the end of the application period.

Academic

BC high school graduation and completion of the following BC Provincial Curriculum courses (or equivalents) with minimum of 67% or as indicated:

English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12
Anatomy and Physiology 12 (Biology 12)
Math 11 Foundations

As English is the language of study in BC, students must meet English language proficiency at an appropriate level to be accepted into the PNP. 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

Additional Requirements

Before an application is considered complete, the following must be received by the Admissions Office:

Selkirk College application form
PNP application form
Requisite skills and abilities declaration form
English language declaration form
Official transcripts of high school or upgrading program grades (an interim statement of grades is acceptable if applicant is still attending school)
Official transcripts for all post-secondary education studies in which the applicant has enrolled.
BC Ministry of Justice criminal record check
College Readiness Tool (CRT) Assessment

The Admissions Office will acknowledge receipt of application forms. Program seats will be offered on a first-qualified, first-served basis with the following exceptions:

a) Priority registration and reserved seating for qualified Indigenous applicants. Candidates are encouraged to self-identify their ancestry when applying for admission.

b) Priority registration and reserved seating for qualified students registered with Selkirk College Academci Upgrading pathway program. Candidates are encouraged to self-disclose this information to the program coordinator or school chair.

c) The number of seats reserved for either of the above groups of applicants will be determined by the school chair prior to opening applications for each cohort.

Fully qualified applicants will be admitted based on the application date. A non-refundable seat deposit is required by the offer-acceptance deadline otherwise the offer will be considered declined.

Once the seats have been filled, a waitlist will be created for the current intake. Applicants on the waitlist will be offered seats that remain or become vacant after the offer-acceptance deadline.

Applicants not admitted or not taking a seat must reapply to be considered in a subsequent year; waitlists are not carried over.

Graduation and Promotion

Successful completion of Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses, Professional Practice I and Professional Communication I, or provincially transferable equivalent, is required prior to continued studies in the program.

To progress from one term to the next, the following requirements must be met:

Satisfactory completion of all theory and INP courses with a minimum of 70% except for the following courses:
Pharmacology I-II 80%
Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) I-IV and Preceptorship - CRG
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 per semester

To qualify for graduation with a Practical Nursing (PN) diploma a student must meet all the requirements of the PNP.

Program Courses

Term 1

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required Courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
PNUR100	Professional Practice I	1.50	25
PNUR101	Professional Communication I	2.00	35
PNUR102	Variations in Health I	2.50	40
PNUR103	Health Promotion I	2.00	30
PNUR104	Pharmacology I	2.00	30
PNUR105	Integrated Nursing Practice I	3.00	135
PNUR106	Consolidated Practice Experience I	2.00	90
PNUR114	Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses	5.00	75

Term 2

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required Courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
PNUR107	Professional Practice II	1.50	20
PNUR108	Professional Communication II	2.00	30
PNUR109	Variations in Health II	3.00	45
PNUR110	Health Promotion II	2.00	30
PNUR111	Pharmacology II	2.00	30
PNUR112	Integrated Nursing Practice II	4.00	180
PNUR113	Consolidated Practice Experience II	4.00	120

Term 3

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required Courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
PNUR200	Professional Practice III	1.50	20
PNUR201	Professional Communication III	1.50	20
PNUR202	Variations in Health III	3.00	45
PNUR203	Health Promotion III	2.50	36
PNUR204	Integrated Nursing Practice III	2.50	120
PNUR205	Consolidated Practice Experience III	2.00	65

Term 4

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required Courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
PNUR206	Professional Practice IV	1.50	20
PNUR207	Professional Communication IV	1.50	20
PNUR208	Variations in Health IV	3.50	50
PNUR209	Health Promotion IV	1.50	24
PNUR210	Integrated Nursing Practice IV	4.00	180
PNUR211	Consolidated Practice Experience IV	6.50	200

Term 5

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours

Required Courses

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
PNUR212	Transition to Preceptorship	2.00	30
PNUR213	Final Practice Experience FPE	6.00	180

Additional Program Policies

Effective Term: Winter

Effective Year: 20240101

Advanced Standing:

1. A student who has successfully completed any of the required college/university courses (or equivalent) may be given advance credit:

a) Application for advance or transfer credit must be made prior to entry into the program as per Policy 8614: Advanced Standing – Course Challenge, PLA, Transfer Credit, and approval obtained from the Registrar.

b) A student who applies for advanced standing from another Practical Nurse Program will be considered on an individual basis.

c) A student who wishes to prove proficiency in part or all a course’s content must apply for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). The School Chair, in consultation with program instructors will determine whether PLA credit is assigned.

Re-Entry Instructions:

1. Re-entry to the PNP is permitted only when seats are available. Applications for re-entry must be received six months before the first day of the semester the student wants to re-enter.

2. Students who fail to complete a semester successfully may apply to re-enter and repeat the incomplete semester when it is next offered. Normally, there is a waiting period of 24 months between offerings of the same course or semester.

3. Returning students will be required to write a letter outlining their plans for success in addressing the factors that were salient in their original departure from the PNP.

4. Returning students will be required to complete a Directed Study course prior to commencing the incomplete semester. The Directed Study will be developed by the Program Coordinator, instructor, and student to address identified learning needs.

a) The Directed Study course is numbered according to the program year and the associated fee is determined by the Registrar’s Office.

b) Students enrolled in the Directed Studies course are NOT enrolled in the PNP.

5. Priority for re-entry will be given as follows:

a) Students in good standing who interrupted their program for illness or other personal reasons.

b) Students who failed to meet program requirements for promotion.

c) Students transferring from another program within B.C.

d) Where two or more applicants are from the same category, re-admission will be determined by the re-application date.

6. Normally, returning in two years or less will permit the student to maintain full credit for all courses successfully completed. After more than two years' absence, students may be required to update or repeat courses previously completed.

7. Students must complete the entire PNP within 60 calendar months (5 years) of initial entry. Re-entry applicants who cannot meet this deadline will not be readmitted.

8. The PNP reserves the right to deny re-admission to any student who violates Selkirk College policies.

Assessment:

a) Grading in theory and lab courses will be as per the Standard Academic and Career Grading Table as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading.

b) Grading in practice courses will be as per the Competency Based Grades as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading.

Grading Table: Other

Grading Table: Both the Standard Academic and Career and the Competency Based Grading tables will be used.

Types of Assessments:

a) Students are evaluated and graded in each theory course as indicated in the respective course outlines. This may include but is not limited to exams, written papers, presentations; individual and group projects. Competency appraisals are used to assess competence in relational and psychomotor skills in integrated nursing practice classes.

b) In practice courses, assessment occurs continually. All activities in which students participate may be considered assessment. Informal verbal and/or written feedback is regularly provided by the instructor and/or preceptor. Students complete self-reflective appraisals throughout courses and within the Performance Appraisal Form (PAF); the instructor includes this in their determination of the final grade of CRG/NCG.

c) The PAF is used to provide formal feedback within Consolidated Practice Experience courses based on performance criteria. Student performance is assessed as satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory.

Supplemental Assessment(s)

a) Requests for supplemental assessments must be received within 48 hours of the posting of marks and completed within 7 calendar days of approval.

b) Supplemental assessments will be limited to one per course.

c) The result of a supplemental assessment cannot exceed 70% and is used in calculation of the final grade.

Program Specific Regulations:

1. Students shall prepare for and demonstrate knowledge in their nursing practice performance. Instructors may refuse to permit students to continue in the clinical area if there is evidence in their performance of lack of preparation or lack of knowledge or if they compromise the safety or learning of others.

2. Students in nursing courses held in the Nursing Skills Labs shall actively participate in the practical learning experiences. In all nursing practice situations students will require supervision until such time as the instructor has stated that they are competent in the skill. Students who practice skills unsupervised when they have not received such clearance may be putting the client and/or themselves at risk. Students are legally and morally bound to adhere to this rule of supervision until deemed safe to be independent with each new nursing skill. Students may be asked to leave the nursing practice site if they do not comply with this requirement.

3. A student shall access clinical areas as a nursing student only when accompanied by an instructor, or at such times as arranged for with the practice agencies by the PNP (e.g., practicum or preceptorship experiences, to research assigned client records, or with the specific written permission of a Practical Nursing instructor).

4. The College’s PNP dress code must be followed in clinical areas. The student’s name/ID tag is always to be worn when the student is in clinical practice sites.

5. Students are subject to the policies of the clinical agency in which they are obtaining their practice experience, as well as to the policies of the College’s PNP.

6. Students in the PNP are subject to the relevant provisions of the BCCNM as it applies to students.

Attendance:

1. Student attendance in class supports their progress toward meeting the course learning outcomes and contributes to the learning community. They will gain valuable insights and opportunities that would not be possible without the conversations and activities they will participate in. If a student finds themselves in a situation where they are not able to get to class or will be late, they will need to contact the relevant instructor so that they can collaborate on a plan for continued student success. When students miss class, the chances of successfully meeting the learning outcomes may be reduced and/or prevent the student from passing the class.

2. Students absent from any class or learning experience, for any reason, are responsible for the course material they have missed. As part of the plan for success, they may be required to make up missed assignments, activities, lab and/or practice education hours to successfully meet the learning outcomes. Absence from learning experiences may impact the student’s ability to meet the learning outcomes for that course and in turn, progression to the next semester.

3. If 2 or more classes are missed, the relevant instructor will check in with the student to ensure they are set up with appropriate resources and to collaborate on a plan for success. Plans will be documented on record of advisement and/or learning plan forms.

4. Dates and times are set for written and competency/skill-based assessments. These dates and times are shared with students at the beginning of the course for them to plan and organize themselves accordingly. If a student is absent from a written or competency/skill-based assessment for reasonable cause (e.g., illness, family emergency, adverse weather conditions, etc.), they may be allowed a make-up assessment on the first day the student returns to the program (please check the course outline for specific details). A physician's note for illness, or a note substantiating the family emergency, may be required prior to arranging the make-up testing.

5. Students are expected to notify the course instructor before the scheduled written or competency/skill-based session if they are unable to complete the assessment. Whether they can reschedule your assessments will be addressed case-by-case. If the student does not notify the instructor, they may forfeit their opportunity for a make-up assessment.

6. A student who must be absent from a practice or simulated learning experience must notify the instructor at least one hour prior to the experience's scheduled time. Missed hours may be rescheduled if learning outcomes are not being met and/or if the student has exceeded the allowable absences as described in course outlines. Absence for reasons that are not deemed professional (i.e., vacation, personal choice) will be noted as "unsatisfactory" or "needs improvement" in the Practice Appraisal Form. Students missing more than 10% of a practice experience may be required to repeat the course or complete extra hours at an additional cost to the student.

7. The School of Health and Human Services cannot provide substitute or "make up" learning experiences outside of regularly scheduled practice education courses when students have been absent.

Professional Requirements:

Students in the PNP shall:

1. acknowledge that Indigenous specific racism and colonialism exist and that students will integrate trauma-informed practice and work towards reconciliation of Indigenous health and wellness. (See also In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).

2. conduct themselves in an informed way to be inclusive, culturally safe and always striving towards cultural humility. (See also Selkirk College Policy 6040: Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity and In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).

3. adhere to the Professional Standards of Practice for the Licensed Practical Nurse (See also British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM): Professional Standards of Practice for LPNs)

a) Responsibility and Accountability: The licensed practical nurse maintains standards of nursing practice and professional conduct established by BCCNM.

b) Competency-Based Practice: The licensed practical nurse applies appropriate knowledge, skills, judgment, and attitudes consistently in nursing practice.

c) Client-Focused Provision of Service: The licensed practical nurse provides nursing services and works with others in the best interest of clients.

d) Ethical Practice: The licensed practical nurse understands, upholds, and promotes the ethical standards of the nursing profession.

4. maintain current vaccination status as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.

5. provide proof of negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test as required by practice partners.

6. maintain a current CPR-Basic Life Support with oxygen therapy (BLS) certificate while enrolled in the program; re-certification is required annually.

7. maintain clear criminal record as per Ministry of Justice BC.

8. be prepared to meet current registration requirements of BCCNM.

Other regulations:

A. REQUIRED WITHDRAWAL (See Selkirk College Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)

1. Breaches to confidentiality, as outlined in the PNP Confidentiality Agreement, IHA Policy AU1100, or the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) Code of Ethics for Licenced Practical Nurses in Canada are grounds for dismissal from the program.

2. Students who compromise the safety of clients in nursing practice courses will be required to withdraw from the PNP.

3. Students who fail two practice courses will be required to withdraw from the PNP.

B. PROBATION (See Policy 8619 Student Probation and Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)
In addition to criteria outlined in the above policies, students may be placed on probation if they fail to adhere to the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) Code of Ethics for Licenced Practical Nurses in Canada or the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) Practice Standards.

1. Students will be limited to one probationary period while enrolled in the PNP. Subsequent unacceptable behaviours or academic performance will result in required withdrawal.