Practical Nurse

You are:

• Caring & dedicated
• Professional
• Looking to make a difference in the world
• Heavily interested in health & wellness

What exactly is a Practical Nurse?

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are responsible for providing basic nursing care and usually work under the supervision of RNs in many different areas of health care from acute care to long term care, community and home-based care to hospitals and clinics.

What kinds of skills will I learn?

Our Practical Nurse program provides hands-on practical experience and training in:

• Adult Physical Assessment: assessment, implementation and health promotion for patients and residents.
• Phlebotomy
• Medication Administration/IV Initiation
• Charting and Documentation
• Communications & Interpersonal Skills
• Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
• Specialties: Long-term and acute care competencies.

What kind of hands-on training will I receive?

Along with classroom sessions, you will have the opportunity to train and practice skills learned in the classroom in our state-of-the-art Nursing lab – equipped with all the tools you need to make you the best you can be. You will also participate in up to 15 weeks of clinical & practicum experience in health care settings that will help you perfect the skills necessary to deliver care and enhance your resume.

Is the program accredited?

Our Practical Nurse Program is the first private college program in New Brunswick and the only private college in the Maritimes to have full accreditation status awarded by the Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses (ANBLPN).

September Start

Term (Year 1): Sept – Aug Term (Year 2): Sept – May Practicum / Clinicals: 15 weeks

February Start

Term (Year 1): Feb – Feb Term (Year 2): Feb – Oct Practicum / Clinicals: 15 weeks

Career Choices:

The need for health care is on the rise and as a result the demand for professionals in every sector of the industry is rapidly increasing. Licensed Practical Nurses work under the direction of physician and registered nurses, in order to provide care for the sick, injured and disabled

• Hospitals
• Long Term Care
• Special Care Homes
• Community Health Clinics
• Health-focused Corporations

You Will Learn:

• Adult Physical Assessment: assessment, implementation and health promotion for patients and residents.
• Phlebotomy
• Medication Administration/IV Initiation
• Charting and Documentation
• Communications & Interpersonal Skills
• Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
• Specialties: Longterm and Acute care competencies

Admissions Requirements:

• Grade 12 Diploma, Adult Diploma or GED
• Grade 11 or 12 Biology* with a minimum average of 65%
• Grade 11 or 12 English* with a minimum average of 65%
• Grade 11 or 12 Academic Math Level* with a minimum average of 65%
• Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
• Completion of a Faculty Interview
• Completion of the Pre-Admissions Aptitude Test
• Acceptance by the Admissions Committee
• Completion of the Pre-Enrollment Package
• Geographical quotas may be considered
• Additional high school or university courses considered an asset

*Level II or University Preparatory courses are required based on New Brunswick Anglophone High School Curriculum. For other provincial or international requirements please contact us directly. Unless they have completed a minimum of three years of study at a school where English is the language of instruction, international students whose first language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency:

• CAEL – minimum score of 60
• IELTS – 6.0 with no individual score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL (IBT) – 80, with no individual score lower than 18
• MELAB – minimum score of 80
• Duolinguo – minimum score of 55
• Cambridge English – minimum score of 169
• Pearson Test of English – minimum score of 50

Course Descriptions:

101 Anatomy and Physiology/Human Disease

This theory course discusses the human anatomy and physiology pertinent to the Licensed Practical Nurse. Students are introduced to the structure and function of the human body in health. Students will also be introduced to human disease and medical terminology.

105 Communications and Interpersonal Skills

Through an interactive classroom environment, the student will gain the basic skills and techniques necessary to communicate appropriately with staff, clients, families and other health care providers. Focus will also be given to the importance of proper documentation and reporting. Also, attention to nursing theories that pertain to communication and basic needs all humans require will be examined. This course will be delivered through lecture, group activities, and journals, role playing and guest speakers.

103 Pre-Clinical Theory

Through an interactive classroom setting students will gain knowledge of theory related to the Canadian Health Care System and the foundation of nursing to appropriately deliver care. Students will know and practice the principles behind the skills that will be delivered at the bedside. As well, students will be able to use and understand the terminology used in nursing.

104 Beginning Nursing Skills Lab

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to perform basic nursing skills that are commonly required in the care of patients. These skills are required in acute, long term and community settings. In addition to classroom theory, the student will have an opportunity to practice and perform skills in the simulation lab. The student must be successful in both the theory and all lab components of this course.

203 Intermediate Pre-Clinical Theory

This course will be a continuation from semester one focusing on those skills that are more in depth and require a greater skill and knowledge level. Students will learn and practice the principles behind the skills that will be delivered at the bedside.

107 Care of the Elderly

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the process of care that is brought to the bedside while caring for those clients who are either brand new to life, suffering with life threatening illness or perhaps in the last stages of the dying process.

204 Anatomy & Physiology and Human Disease II

This theory course is a continuation of PN 101 and also discusses the human anatomy and physiology pertinent to the Licensed Practical Nurse role in overall health assessment of clients prior to developing evidence based strategies for their initial and on-going care. Students are introduced to the structure and function of the human body in health, human disease and medical terminology.

102/202/302/402/502 Clinical Practice

During this series of clinical courses, students will provide care, education and interventions in practice. Clinics may be held on site or in a variety of agency/clinical settings. Clinics will be sequenced appropriately based on theory material covered. Clinical practice will be experienced in settings including, but not limited to: medical/surgical, maternal, geriatrics, pediatrics, mental health as well as a variety of community settings. *Although some clinic/lab sessions will be on site, students will be responsible for travel and costs associated with relocation, travel and other to access assigned clinical sites. Clinical rotations are scheduled throughout the program.

207 Nutrition and Healthy Living

This theory course teaches the fundamentals of healthy living and the communication techniques needed to facilitate management of patients in the clinical setting. It also fosters patients’ learning of self-care practices and how these relate to total patient health. Students will also be able to identify and explain the relationship between nutrition and diabetes and describe the effects of this disease due to poor nutrition.

301 Phlebotomy Nursing Skills

During this lab experience, students will partake in the practical applications of phlebotomy and venipuncture. During this time, students will integrate their knowledge and skills in providing simulated nursing care to fellow students and simulation equipment. The level of care the student will be able to provide will be of a higher level and their critical thinking will be tested.

206 Introduction to Pharmacology

This course will explore how and why medications are taken, their drug classification and how to document what has been given. Proper terminology and documentation will also be looked at.

201 Intermediate Nursing Skills Lab

The lab experience will continue to be a time for students to integrate their knowledge and skills in providing simulated nursing care to fellow students and simulation equipment. The level of care the student will be able to provide will be of a higher level and their critical thinking will be tested with each scenario given.

208 Introduction to Adult Physical Assessment I

This course will provide the student with the opportunity to develop health assessment skills and techniques required to properly obtain a full health assessment of a client. It includes an introduction to a health assessment, components of health interview and guidelines to performing a head-to-toe physical examination.

308 Adult Physical Assessment II

Through an interactive class, students will gain invaluable skills and techniques required in obtaining a full patient health history along with performing head to toe physical assessments and the possible abnormalities that may be discovered. The student will learn important health promotion and counseling information in order to facilitate patient teaching.

• Safety at Work
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• WHIMIS
• CPR
• First Aid

303 Phlebotomy

The course will provide the LPN student with a theoretical and working knowledge of specimen collection techniques. The topics covered in this course include: anatomy of the human blood circulation system, safety in phlebotomy, phlebotomy equipment, phlebotomy procedures, specimen consideration and special procedures.

401 Advanced Lab Skills

This advanced lab course will better equip students to work in the health care field and to safely administer care. The lab experience will continue to be a time for students to integrate their knowledge and skills in providing simulated nursing care to fellow students and simulation equipment during an acute care setting.

305 Community/Leadership

Concepts of health as applied to groups and populations are explored and applied using the nursing model of care as students develop community health knowledge and apply it is in a series of community programming formats. During this course the student will learn the importance of a professional reputation and the importance of establishing this in their workplace every day.

306 Palliative Care

Through this in depth course the student will gain important knowledge, skills and understanding to enhance the care provided to palliative patients and their families.

106 Practice Standards for Health Care

Practice standard encompasses many topics including theoretical foundations, nursing leadership, management, and collaborative practices, also critical thinking, nursing informatics, and caring.

307 Intro to Prenatal Care

This course is designed to introduce the student to the specialty of perinatal nursing, which focuses on promoting wellness in the care of women during their reproductive years. The course content emphasizes the “family-centered approach” which incorporates the importance of collaboration with both the woman and her family in order to provide optimal nursing care. During the course, we will address the changing needs of Canadian women during their childbearing years, focusing on cultural diversity and the Canadian health care system. A variety of women’s health issues will be discussed as well as the assessment and planning for pregnancy.

304 Intro to Psych

Students will actively engage in discussions regarding the practice of all types of care as it relates to psychiatric mental health nursing. This course provides and introduction to the concepts and theories of psychology and to their application to life situations. We will examine illness management through communication and psychoeducation and clinical behavior.

403 Clinical Feedback

During weekly sessions students will bring topics for discussion to class from clinical/ community activities to share learning with classmates and faculty. This will also be a forum for discussing pertinent issues related to patient care, process and placements that are important to address with faculty. Portions of this class will be used to discuss issues related to procedures, practice, progression and performance expectations as students gain more knowledge.

205 Nursing Process of Care

This course emphasizes the importance of imparting and recording information in a clear, accurate and concise manner both orally and in writing. This course stresses professionally-oriented oral and written skills (memoranda, business letter and reports). The student will develop the skill to access relevant and creditable resources in order to research topics of interest to LPN’s.

404 Mental Health

Through an interactive classroom setting, students will actively engage in discussions regarding the practice of all types of care, as it relates to nursing in mental Health. The theory course discusses all aspects of mental health as it pertains to the Licensed Practical Nurses role. We examine Mental Health Disorders identifying vulnerable populations, intervention strategies and various methods of therapeutic communication. Also discussed are psychopharmacology, mental health assessment and creating a therapeutic environment in-hospital or community. At the completion of this course students will be able to describe and understand all aspects of Mental Health in Canada, and how these practices affect client care

407 Maternal Child

This theory course discusses the care of women during their childbearing years, the healthcare of children and pediatric development. Students are introduced to maternal and postpartum assessments as well as the care of newborns and their families. The course content emphasizes the “family-centered approach” which incorporates the importance of collaboration with the woman, child and their family in order to provide optimal nursing care. The PN will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills pertinent to the care of the woman and child that reflects the role of the Practical Nurse. This class is interactive and includes Power Points Presentations, videos, group discussions, individual assignments and tests.

501 Medication Lab/IV Initiation

This course teaches in a simulated setting the basic concepts of pharmacological theory and the skills necessary to safely administer medications through oral, rectal and injectable sites. Also, the student will learn and practice calculating medication dosages for all medications, the proper administration techniques of IV initiation and its responsibilities and legal implications. They will participate in simulated medication administration. Initiate IV, demonstrate venipuncture on a simulator training arm as well as fellow classmates.

405 Community Placement Partnership

Students will be integrating themselves into a variety of community health settings in which they will perform health assessments and health education while working alongside this population.

406 Medication Administration

This interactive course will examine Medication Administration as it pertains to the Licensed Practical Nurse in a variety of health care settings. The students will review pharmacology modules from PN 206 and learn the following about various medications: classifications, characteristics, nursing interventions, side effects, routes of administration as well as client and family teaching. Students will combine theory and practicum in both a classroom and lab setting. Students will be evaluated by class participation, assignments, tests and a final exam.

408 Care of the Surgical Patient

This theory course discusses care of the surgical patient in Canada and the LPN role in overall knowledge of surgical nursing, pre-operative care, peri-operative teaching, post-operative care, wounds, tubing, drains, staples, and sutures removal. This class is an interactive class which includes power points, group discussions, individual and group projects, tests and quizzes.

503 Research

This course will examine research in health care as it pertains to the Licensed Practical Nurse. This interactive class will explore many topics including the basics of statistics, the use of research methods, analyzing data collection and evaluating published articles. Students will be required to complete assignments, critique research literature and prepare an evidence-based presentation to the class.

505 Medication Pass

This interactive course will explore the advanced methodology of medication administration. The students will review Medication Administration modules from PN 406 and learn the following about various medications: classifications, characteristics, nursing interventions, side effects, routes of administration as well as client and family teaching. Students will combine theory and practicum by applying their knowledge in a clinical setting.

506 Medication/IV Initiation

This interactive course will explore the advanced methodology of medication administration. The students will review Medication Administration modules from PN 406 and learn the following about various medications: classifications, characteristics, nursing interventions, side effects, routes of administration as well as client and family teaching. Students will combine theory and practicum by applying their knowledge in both a lab and clinical setting. Students will be evaluated by class participation, assignments and tests.

507 Care of Child

This theory course discusses the care of children with chronic conditions or illnesses and how it affects their pediatric development. Students are introduced to the specialized care of children and their families. The course content emphasizes the “family-centered approach” which incorporates the importance of collaboration with the ill or disabled child and their siblings, parents and caregivers in order to provide optimal nursing care. The PN will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills pertinent to the care of the child that reflects the role of the Practical Nurse. This class is interactive and includes Power Points Presentations, movies, group discussions, individual assignments and tests.

601 Practicum

Students will be placed in offsite settings for 5 weeks as they become integrated in a real life setting and practice the summative nature of the day to day work of a practical nurse. Students may be required to gain membership to the association in order to perform all duties required for completion of the program. *Content is subject to change by administration as required to meet program and profession standards.