Program Overview

Program Overview

The Practical Nursing (PSW-PN bridge) is for students who successfully complete each of the PSW to PN bridge courses with the minimum grades listed in the Admission Requirements below. Successful candidates will be granted advanced standing into semester 2 of the Practical Nursing (PNII) program.

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare graduates who are able to meet the challenges of the expanding role of nursing in today’s society. As a practical nurse, you will combine your knowledge, skills and judgement to provide safe, competent, ethical nursing care to meet the unique needs of all patients throughout the continuum of care.

Intakes and Availability

Program Highlights

• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Graduated with a 65 percent cumulative average from a PSW program in Ontario that meets the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities program standards (includes PSW programs offered by the public colleges, private career colleges, and district school boards in Ontario).
• Have worked as a PSW in Ontario on a regular basis within the past five years.
• Completion of all PSW to PN Bridge courses with a minimum passing grade of 60% in each course (80% in Math for Practical Nurses)

Please note: This program is highly competitive. Admissions decisions are based on the completion date of the final bridging course, with priority given to applicants that have applied and met requirements before the equal consideration deadlines: February 1 for May and September intakes and October 1 for the January intake. Completion of the bridging courses does not guarantee admission to the next available intake. Applicants are encouraged to apply to all available intakes at OCAS.

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $3,985 (CAD)
• Year one international: $16,571 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Health Assessment (HASS 2500)
• Medical Terminology (NURS 1514)
• Health & Healing I (NURS 1521)
• Practice Lab II (NURS 2523)
• Health and Healing II - The Older Adult (NURS 2524)
• Health and Healing II - Maternal - Child (NURS 2525)
• Professional Practice II - Older Adult (NURS 2526)
• Professional Practice II - Maternal Child (NURS 2527)

Career Options

As a registered practical nurse, you can be employed as a frontline RPN caring for a wide range of patients/clients.

Where You Could Work

• Community service agencies
• Long-term care facilities
• Hospitals
• Industry, clinic or physician’s offices
• Psychiatric and acute care hospitals

Practicum

Practicum allows students to apply their learning with a variety of clinically supervised practicum experiences that are designed to prepare you to function as a graduate in diverse settings. Placements are located at various local hospitals and agencies throughout Durham Region and at times, in the immediate surrounding areas. Placements may take place on weekdays or weekends with the exception of Semester 5, Professional Practice V (consolidation), where students are expected to be available to follow their preceptor’s schedule. Students are responsible for their own transportation to attend practicum.

Pre-Placement Requirements

• A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS).
• Current Level-C cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mask fit testing.
• Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider.
• N95 Mask Fit.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates may apply to take Durham College’s Addictions and Mental Health or Communicative Disorders Assistant graduate certificate programs.

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

• Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences (Honours) - Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post-RPN) - Ontario Tech
• Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) bridge – Ontario Tech
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech
• Bridge to Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing - Seneca College
• Bachelor of General Studies - Thompson Rivers University
• Bachelor of Health Science - Thompson Rivers University

Tech Requirements

Suggested Minimum Laptop Specifications

A laptop is required for this program. Most students tend to use Windows-based computers. Some prefer to use an Apple (Mac) device. Either platform can work within the School of Health and Community Services Practical Nursing program.

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience in the program will be complemented by simulation-based exercises to support critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and learner confidence in the field. Through the execution of a comprehensive pre-brief, a state-of-the-art simulation, and an in-depth debrief and reflection, students will engage in learning that goes well beyond the walls of the classroom. It is our mission to ensure that you are up to date with the most relevant health crises in Canada. This includes opioid overdose, preparing you for more than just life-saving care, but also the skills to de-stigmatize addiction and learn harm reduction strategies for each unique patient. Simulations are integrated throughout the program and are an effective platform for growth and reflection.

Project Lord Ridgeback

Project Lord Ridgeback (PLRB) is multi-disciplinary experiential learning exercise that simulates a local disaster. Interacting with actors who play victims, casualties, emotionally distressed persons and the elderly in a staged, choreographed event, students from a wide range of programs learn by acting and responding as they would in real emergencies. Subject matter experts design injects into disaster-related scenarios which simulate authentic workplace demands.

The day following the mock disaster, students participate in follow up exercises to apply learning in mock court testimony, critical incident stress debrief, crime-scene lab work, and form completion specific to their program areas.

Student participants are from a wide range of DC programs including: Practical Nursing, Primary Care Paramedic, Police Foundations, Protection Security & Investigation, Paralegal, 911 Call Centre Communications, Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations, Journalism Mass Media Program, Social Service Worker, Activation Co-ordination – Gerontology, Court Support Services.