Practical Nurse

Student Success

Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands.
• have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their clinical practice.
• have access to a computer and internet, and basic computer skills.

Applicants are requested to review the job requirements, and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the occupation of practical nurse. As a practical nurse, you must be able to:

• Work shifts and weekends
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Use your knees, back, and arms to move clients who have minimal body strength
• Function effectively in stressful situations
• Perform all skills independently

Students are required to travel to various locations in order to complete their clinical practice. Within the time frame of the program, every effort is made to accommodate students in clinical practice placements. Access to a vehicle may be required.

Refer to the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta website for more information about becoming a licensed practical nurse.

Program Options

Full-Time Delivery

• Instructor-led classroom
• Instructor-led clinical practice for Nursing Practice I: Continuing Care Practice (NPRT1001), Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Medicine (NPRT2101), and Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Surgery (NPRT2102) occurs in Edmonton or surrounding areas. Days are Monday to Friday, and hours may be between 6:00 am and 10:30 pm.
• Preceptor-led clinical practice courses may be arranged in or close to your own community. These schedules follow the preceptor’s schedule and may include day, evening, or night shifts on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

Part-Time Evening Delivery

• Self-paced study plus weekly evening instructor-facilitated sessions for theory and lab courses
• Instructor-led clinical practice for Nursing Practice I: Continuing Care Practice (NPRT1001), Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Medicine (NPRT2101), and Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Surgery (NPRT2102) occurs in Edmonton or surrounding areas. Shifts are 12 hours in length on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Preceptor-led clinical practice courses may be arranged in or close to your own community. These schedules follow the preceptor’s schedule and may include day, evening, or night shifts on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

Online Delivery

The online delivery option provides a flexible option for students to take the theory portion of the Practical Nurse program at their own pace and in their own location subject to their individual course end date. Students can work at an accelerated rate (take up to three courses at once) or can take one course at a time depending on their personal situation and learning goals. This online learning option removes the barriers of physical location. It has the flexibility to enable learners to integrate other aspects of their lives such as work and family commitments and still advance their career goals. Students have up to five years to complete the Practical Nurse online program.

Dedicated instructors are available to support and guide learners as they work through online courses to acquire the nursing knowledge, nursing skills, clinical judgment, and communication skills required to become a proficient practical nurse.

The Practical Nurse online program provides interactive online learning experiences, open practice labs, nursing labs, and clinical orientation designed to meet online student needs. Students must travel to Edmonton for the nursing labs and instructor-led clinical practice courses.

This program has five main components:

• University transfer courses (online)
• Nursing theory courses (online)
• Lab courses (online, with approximately 10 non-consecutive lab days at NorQuest College) 
• Three instructor-led clinical practices in the Edmonton area
• One preceptor-led clinical practice, in your community and/or surrounding area, if available. These schedules follow the preceptor's schedule and may include day, evening or night shifts (eight, 10 and 12 hours) on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

Program Notes for Online Learners

• Self-paced study (theory course work that you may complete in your own home).
• You may register in up to three courses in any term.
• Courses start monthly, excluding June, July, and August.
• You have up to five years to complete the program.
• You must successfully complete Anatomy and Physiology I (ANPH1001) and Anatomy and Physiology II (ANPH1002)  prior to official admission to the online delivery Practical Nurse program.
• Open lab practices are offered in Edmonton; all lab skill assessments must be completed in Edmonton.
• Clinical practice for Nursing Practice I: Continuing Care Practice (NPRT1001), Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Medicine (NPRT2101), and Nursing Practice II: Acute Care Practice - Surgery (NPRT2102) occur in Edmonton or surrounding areas. Days are Monday to Friday, and hours may be between 6:00 am and 10:30 pm.
• The final clinical practice course, Nursing Practice III: Comprehensive Practice (NPRT2200)  (NPRT 2003/2004 for students who began their program before September 2015), is preceptored and may be arranged in or close to your own community.  The times for this course follow the preceptors schedule and may include day, evening or night shifts on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.
• Instructors are available for help via email or by telephone.
• Required course print materials, skills videos, and course outlines are available through Moodle, NorQuest's online learning management sytem. Skills practice kits are available from the NorQuest College bookstore.

Hybrid Delivery

The hybrid delivery provides students with an opportunity to take the Practical Nurse program by attending online real time theory classes, working through course content online and through self-study, attending nursing skill labs, and participating in clinical practice. The program follows a paced term delivery model.

• Offered at regional campuses: Drayton Valley, Whitecourt, Wetaskiwin, and Edmonton main campus
• Instructor-led online classes which can be followed in real time via NorQuest’s learning management system
• Instructor-led in-person labs
• Three instructor led clinical practice courses, occurring within campus surrounding areas. These schedules may include days or evenings (eight or 12 hours) 
• Final clinical practice course is preceptored and may be arranged in or close to your own community. These schedules follow the preceptor’s schedule and may include day, evening and/or night shifts (eight, 10 and 12 hours) on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

Practical Nurse for Health Care Aides - Online Delivery

This program prepares the individual who has acquired a Health Care Aide certificate to become a professional practical nurse, educated to give high-quality care to clients in a variety of health-care settings. Students are eligible to challenge two designated courses once they have been accepted into the program: Health Education: Individual Health and Wellness (HEED1000) and Communications for Nursing (NCOM1000).