Print PDF

Health Sciences
ufv.ca/health

Practical Nursing diploma

The UFV Practical Nursing program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to function within the scope of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse. The program will prepare graduates for employment in selected health care settings within hospitals, long-term care facilities, and the community.

Graduates will be eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE). The UFV Practical Nursing program is based on the provincial Practical Nursing (PN) curriculum. The PN curriculum provides students with experiences that promote the development of holistic nursing care with a particular focus on the care of individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and adults experiencing acute and chronic illness.

The UFV Practical Nursing program is a 19-month full-time program. The program is comprised of four semesters followed by a preceptorship experience. Program courses are delivered in a variety of formats such as group work, multi-media approaches, lecture, lab simulation, and skill mastery. Clinical experiences include placements in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and selected community agencies. The clinical experiences encompass supervised practice, preceptorship, and observational experiences.

Classroom experiences may include evening scheduling. Clinical experiences may include extended work days, evening and night shifts, and weekends.

The Practical Nursing program is demanding. Students will not have time to work either full-time or part-time. Effective time-management skills, computer skills, and study skills are critical to success.

Note: The Practical Nursing Access option of the BSN program provides an opportunity for Licensed Practical Nurses to bridge into the BSN program.

Location

All Practical Nursing classes are located on the Chilliwack campus. Clinical experiences occur at a variety of agencies throughout the Fraser Health Authority.

Dates

The program will be offered every second year. The next intake is September 2014.

Entrance requirements

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent (GED or ABE provincial diploma) with:

• Completion of Biology 12 or equivalent (BIO 093) or BIO 111 with a minimum of C+ grade within five years prior to enrolment.
• One of the following with a minimum C grade: Principles of Mathematics 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-calculus 11, or MATH 085.
• English 12, ENGL 081, or ENGL 091 with a minimum of C+ grade; or ENGL 099 or CMNS 099 with a minimum of C grade; or completion of any other course or test score with grades that meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105.
• Completion of a Practical Nursing Human Anatomy and Physiology course (PNUR 147 or equivalent) with a minimum of C+ grade within five years prior to enrolment.
  

Note: Courses equivalent to the Practical Nursing Human Anatomy and Physiology course (PNUR 147) are available from other public post-secondary institutions. Please check with the Health Sciences Centre to ensure the course is transferable.

2. Successful completion of ESL Advanced Speaking/Listening, and Writing course sequence may be required for applicants for whom English is not a first language.

3. Volunteer experience in a health care setting or employment in a health care field. Volunteer experience will consist of a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer work with adults or children in an acute care, long-term care, or community health care agency. You will be asked to submit a written reference that reflects the length and nature of the volunteer experience or employment in a health care field.

4. Current Standard First Aid certificate (16 hours minimum) at time of application.

5. Basic Rescuer — Level C certificate (included in the Standard First Aid certificate). Currency must be maintained throughout the program.

6. Official identity documents: birth certificate and if applicable, documents showing landed immigrant status, marriage certificate, and verification of name change.

7. Successful completion of a security clearance check. Criminal record check forms will be provided on acceptance to the program.

8. A health assessment indicating physical fitness and emotional stability. The assessment must be completed within 12 months prior to enrolment. Health questionnaire forms will be provided at the information session and should be completed by the applicant and returned at the time of the interview.

9. Completion of an immunization program prior to the program start date. Immunization forms will be included with the letter of acceptance and must be received by the date specified. Hepatitis B immunization will be provided upon entry into the program. Applicants who have completed the Hepatitis B immunization prior to entry to the program must submit proof of immunization. Applicants must also submit proof of a non-reactive TB test completed within 6 months of the start of the program.

10. Attendance at an information session in preparation for entry into the program. The application essay will be written at this time.

11. Interview with a faculty member to assess the following:
   • Basic knowledge of the field;
   • Time management skills;
   • Communication skills: ability to listen and articulate ideas;
   • Financial resources and support systems;
   • Personal and work commitments in relation to assuming the demands of an applied academic program of studies.

12. Valid driver’s licence (learner’s licence not acceptable): You are responsible for providing your own transportation to class, labs, and clinical agencies throughout the Fraser Health Authority.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Nursing Studies program path.

When to apply

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis throughout the year. Applications completed by February 15 are considered for the next intake in which there is space. See Continuous application process for more information.

How to apply

1. The following documents must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by February 15, along with the application fee, in order to process your application:

• UFV application form (available at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply)
• Practical Nursing program application form (available at ufv.ca/admissions/forms)
• Proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent (except for high school students, who may apply once they are registered in Grade 12)
• Prerequisite course(s) — submit an official transcript showing final grades in all prerequisite courses (except for Grade 12 students who will be required to submit an official transcript showing final grades in all prerequisite courses and proof of graduation in early August)

Note: Proof of prerequisites must be attached to your application. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details.

Once all these forms and academic documents have been received by the Office of the Registrar, your application will be forwarded to the Practical Nursing program.

2. Submit all remaining documents to the Health Sciences Centre, Chilliwack campus, by February 15.

Documents required in order to achieve “complete applicant” status:
• UFV and Practical Nursing program application forms
• Proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent
• Official transcript(s) showing completion of academic requirements as per entrance requirements
• Volunteer health care experience reference(s)
• Official identity documents: birth certificate and if applicable, documents showing landed immigrant status, marriage certificate, and verification of name change
• Valid Standard First Aid certificate
• Basic Rescuer — Level C certificate (included in the Standard First Aid certificate)
• Completion of ESL Advanced Speaking, Listening, and Writing course sequence as necessary
• Proof of valid driver’s licence (learner’s licence not acceptable)

3. Attendance at a program information session and interview with the program faculty is required for all applicants with "complete" status.  Applicants will be contacted by letter when dates and times have been established; a health questionnaire will be attached to the letter and must be returned to the School of Health Studies prior to interview. Applicants to be interviewed will be notified by letter.

4. Applicants will be accepted based on points achieved on the applicant rating form.

5. You will be notified in writing regarding your acceptance. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required by a specified date in order to reserve a seat in the program. This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. If you do not register for courses and pay the deposit, your seat will no longer be held for you.

6. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements but are not selected for the next class will be considered for the following intake. A letter will be sent indicating where the applicant's rating score was low. If not selected for a second intake, applicants will be required to reapply and resubmit all documents.

Basis for admission decision

"Complete" status does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Students will be rated based on the points achieved on the applicant rating form. Points will be given for elements contained on the Practical Nursing program application form (prerequisite courses, work/volunteer experience, application essay, references) as well as the personal interview.

The highest score that can be achieved by an applicant is 30.

1. Academic prerequisites: up to 8 points. The higher the applicant’s GPA on required academic prerequisites, the more points awarded. GPA will be calculated using the UFV grading scale.

2. Work/volunteer experience and letter of reference: up to 6 points. Points will be allocated according to the duration of the experience and the character of the reference given. Recognition will be given to any applicant who has demonstrated a leadership role in a workplace.

3. Application essay: up to 6 points. Applicants will be given points on the basis of meeting the criteria and the writing skill demonstrated.

4. Interview: up to 10 points. Applicants will be given points related to their knowledge of practical nursing, organizational skills, planning for program workload and financial aspects, identified supports, management of commitments, communication skills, knowledge of own learning, and problem-solving skills.

Applicants with the highest number of points will be given priority for program seats. If points achieved are equal, remaining seats will be awarded according to the date of "complete" application status.

Fees and expenses

See the Fees and Other Costs section for tuition fees for the Practical Nursing program. Program textbooks are estimated at $1,500. Uniforms, instruments, supplies, and parking will total approximately $800.

Financial assistance

UFV has a comprehensive financial assistance program including scholarships, loans, and bursaries. Details are available from Financial Aid and Awards.

Program policies

Program policies are outlined below. Each student in the program will also receive a UFV Practical Nursing Student Guidelines and Policies manual, which further explains requirements of the program.

Continuance

The Practical Nursing courses for each semester are prerequisites for the coursework in the next semester. Due to the integrated nature of the nursing courses, progression from one semester to the next requires concurrent completion of the nursing courses. All students must receive a passing grade of 65% (GPA of 2.33) or better in each of the practical nursing courses in order to proceed in the program. Students must also receive a Pass (CR) in the practical nursing clinical course experiences.

Course repetition

The Practical Nursing courses in each semester are closely related to each other and are considered corequisites. Failure of one Practical Nursing course may necessitate the re-taking of all corequisites courses.

Re-admission to UFV

A UFV Application for Admission form must be completed by all students who were not enrolled in Practical Nursing program courses in the previous academic year. Students taking general studies courses during the previous academic year are not exempt from the requirement of completing an Application for Admission form. Application forms can be completed online or downloaded at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply, or picked up from any OReg or Student Services office.

Note: A re-admission fee will also be assessed.

Re-admission to the Practical Nursing program

Students requesting re-admission to the Practical Nursing program must document their request in writing to the department head. The letter of request must include a description of the circumstances related to their withdrawal from the program, an explanation of previous areas of difficulty, and plans for the promotion of their future success. Requests for re-admission must be received at the School of Health Studies four months prior to the semester for which they are reapplying.

The Student Selections Committee will review all re-admission requests and based on faculty recommendations (from the last semester in which the student was enrolled) will decide on the appropriate placement in the program. Factors influencing the final decision for re-admission include availability of seats, length of absence from the program, previous academic achievement (theory and clinical courses), and potential for success. An interview with the department head is required of all students requesting re-admission. All applicants for re-admission will be informed in writing regarding the decision and conditions for re-entry into the program. The Practical Nursing program reserves the right to stipulate conditions attached to re-admission. Re-admission into the program may necessitate the successful completion of nursing courses previously passed if in the judgement of faculty, the length of absence from the program and/or the reasons for withdrawal would render the applicant inadequately prepared for the subsequent semester.

Graduation requirements

Continuance and graduation requirements for the Practical Nursing program is a minimum of 65% in each course and successful completion of each clinical course.

Residency

Students must complete a minimum of all courses in Semester IV at UFV.

Maximum time to complete

A maximum time of four years will be permitted from entry to completion of the PN program.

Program outline

Semester I

Note: PNUR 146 begins after the completion of other Semester I courses.

Semester II

Note: PNUR 156 begins after the completion of other Semester II courses.

Semester III

Note: PNUR 246 begins after the completion of other Semester III courses.

Semester IV

Note: PNUR 256 begins after the completion of all other Semester IV courses. PNUR 257 and PNUR 258 begin after successful completion of PNUR 256.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.