Practical Nursing

Contribute to a healthcare team and support excellence in patient care.
  • This program has a unique opportunity for integrated learning at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre with real-patients and scenarios.
  • You learn the necessary skills and techniques for the workforce. This includes assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation tools required to provide nursing care to those of all ages. Throughout the program, learning opportunities include theory, lab techniques, applied experiences and independent study.
  • Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with healthcare teams. You may find employment a variety of settings such as community clinics, private homes, long-term care homes and medical, surgical, and obstetrical units.

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Spring 2025

No

Schedule

Spring 2025
Level 01
Fall 2025
Level 02
Winter 2026
Break
Spring 2026
Level 03
Fall 2026
Level 04

Program Summary

Credential

Ontario College Diploma (2 Years)

Program Delivery

View delivery information

Program Code

1704X01FPH

Area of Interest

Health Sciences

School

School of Health Studies

Campus

Ottawa - Perley Health

Other Campuses

Work Integrated Learning

Clinical Placement

The Practical Nursing Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for work in the healthcare system. You learn the necessary skills and techniques for the workforce. This includes assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation tools required to provide nursing care to those of all ages. Throughout the program, learning opportunities include theory, lab techniques, applied experiences and independent study.

As a student, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in a variety of healthcare settings. An added benefit of this program is the Simulation Lab on campus, where you experience realistic patient care scenarios. These help to build confidence in your skills and techniques before working with patients in clinical placements. Placements are in community settings such as retirement homes, long-term care homes and hospitals....(read more)

Overview

Contribute to a healthcare team and support excellence in patient care.

The Practical Nursing Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for work in the healthcare system. You learn the necessary skills and techniques for the workforce. This includes assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation tools required to provide nursing care to those of all ages. Throughout the program, learning opportunities include theory, lab techniques, applied experiences and independent study.

As a student, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in a variety of healthcare settings. An added benefit of this program is the Simulation Lab on campus, where you experience realistic patient care scenarios. These help to build confidence in your skills and techniques before working with patients in clinical placements. Placements are in community settings such as retirement homes, long-term care homes and hospitals.

To practice as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario, you are required to be licensed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). This program gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN) in Ontario.

Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with healthcare teams. You may find employment a variety of settings such as:

  • community clinics
  • private homes
  • long-term care homes
  • medical, surgical, and obstetrical units

You may also choose to pursue further studies after graduation.

For more information on the Nursing Profession, please review the Fact Sheet Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario, available on the CNO website at www.cno.org.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Enjoy working with and accepting people of all ages and stages of development and of varying backgrounds.
  • Have good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Enjoy working with others as a member of a team or in a leadership role.
  • Possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Are dedicated patient advocates.
  • Can handle physically demanding situations.
  • Are mature and flexible.
  • Can work any scheduled shifts in a 24-hour period.
  • Are proficient in math.

 

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
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Careers & Pathways

Careers

To practice as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario, you are required to be licensed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). This program gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN) in Ontario.

Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with health-care teams. You may find employment in a variety of settings such as:

  • community clinics
  • private homes
  • long-term care homes
  • medical, surgical, and obstetrical units

For more information on the Nursing Profession, please review the Fact Sheet Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario, available on the CNO website at www.cno.org.

Pathways

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Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Communicate therapeutically with clients and members of the health-care team.
  2. Assess clients across the life span, in a systematic and holistic manner.
  3. Plan safe and competent nursing care, based upon a thorough analysis of available data and evidence-informed practice guidelines.
  4. Select and perform nursing interventions using clinical judgment, in collaboration with the client and, where appropriate, the health-care team, that promote health and well-being, prevent disease and injury, maintain and/or restore health, promote rehabilitation, and/or provide palliation.
  5. Evaluate the outcomes resulting from all interventions in the nurse-client interaction and modify the plan of care as required.
  6. Act equitably and justly with clients and members of the health-care team.
  7. Adapt to a variety of healthcare settings, using different leadership skills and styles as appropriate to each setting.
  8. Contribute to creating a healthy and safe work environment in a variety of health-care settings.
  9. Practise in a self-regulated, professional and ethical manner, complying with relevant legislation and with the standards of both the regulatory body and the practice setting to provide safe and competent client-care.
  10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2024/2025 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.

Fees are subject to change.

Additional program related expenses include:

  • Students should budget for additional costs to cover nursing uniforms, shoes, stethoscope and travel including parking at clinical agencies during their practicum experiences.
  • The cost of textbooks is approximately $1,500 in the first year and $1,000 in year two. Some textbooks are optional and students can utilize those in the Resource Centre.
  • The fees for the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN), Jurisprudence Exam, Application process and Initial Registration are available at www.cno.org.

     

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
  • Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
  • General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee will be charged.

Program Eligibility

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Mathematics, Grade 12 (MAP4C or equivalent) with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Biology, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Chemistry, Grade 11 or 12 with a grade of 65% or higher.
  • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
  • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 22; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 120, minimum of 120 in Literacy and no score below 105.

Not sure if you meet all of the requirements? Academic Upgrading may be able to help with that: https://www.algonquincollege.com/access/.

    International Applicants: International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration): Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS). Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice. The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score.

    Please click this link for more information: https://www.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/ICHS/.

    Clinical Placement Eligibility:
    Agencies that provide placement opportunities require you to have a clear Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS). If you register in the program without a clear PRCSVS and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate. A clear PRCVS is required annually, and more often if requested by the clinical agencies. Successful completion of clinical placement is a requirement for graduation from the Practical Nursing program.

    Accepted applicants must be in good health and complete a Health Assessment form providing information related to medical and non-medical requirements 8 Annual requirements include Tb testing, the influenza vaccine, CPR Level C re-certification and a Police Records Checks for service with Vulnerable Sector. These are required prior to clinical commencement. Should there be a delay in starting the clinical placement, program progression could be negatively impacted.

    To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a clear PRCSVS, which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement. You will be required to disclose the contents of the PRCSVS, including all notations, to the placement agencies.

    It is your responsibility to obtain the PRCSVS from your local Police Department prior to the deadline identified by your Department and to pay any associated costs. It may take a long time to obtain this documentation; please submit your application as early as possible. Should you require further information, contact the Program Chair as part of the application process.

    Computer skills are required throughout the program.

    Application Information

    PRACTICAL NURSING

    Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

    ontariocolleges.ca
    60 Corporate Court
    Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
    1-888-892-2228

    Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

    Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

    International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

    For further information on the admissions process, contact:

    Registrar`s Office
    Algonquin College
    1385 Woodroffe Ave
    Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
    Telephone: 613-727-0002
    Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
    TTY: 613-727-7766
    Fax: 613-727-7632
    Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

    Additional Information

    Program Resources

    Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) RequirementseTextbooksArchived Program Information Academic CalendarProgram Overview PDF

    This Full-time day program is also offered at the Pembroke and Perth Campuses. While the learning outcomes at all three Campuses are the same, the subject delivery is reflective of local circumstances which may affect program delivery. Unless there are extenuating and exceptional circumstances, students are required to stay enrolled at the campus to which they were first accepted. In the case of extenuating circumstances, the request must be made to the Chair of the registered campus, with supporting documentation attached. The transfer decision is made at the Chair level.

    Please remember that repeating any course is always dependent upon seat availability.

    If you opt out of the program for any reason during any semester, you may be advised back into the academic cycle when the next required semester is offered, based on space availability for classroom or clinical courses. You may have to sit out if there is no spot available when you want to return to full-time studies.

    The Practical Nursing program highly recommends that all applicants review the CNO Fact Sheet - Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario - available at www.cno.org.

    Registration requirements for RPNs are also found at the College of Nurses of Ontario website. They include but are not limited to, the following:

    • complete the registration examination.
    • complete the jurisprudence examination.
    • demonstrate language proficiency in English or French.
    • complete a Declaration of Registration Requirements.

    Specific information will be contained in the package you receive from the CNO prior to your licensing exams.

    Clinical placements receive large numbers of health science students and there may be times during your program of study that require you to attend weekend, evening and night clinical experiences. Clinical placements may be within the city or the region and students are required to travel accordingly. Not all students will have clinical placements in specialty areas (i.e.: pediatrics, maternity, mental health, acute medicine and surgery).

    Healthcare partners offering clinical placement opportunities have mandatory vaccine requirements. If you have questions about these, or any other placement, consult your Program Coordinator prior to registering.

    Clinical placements include long-term care, so students are required to have the flu vaccine and the COVID vaccine as well. For consideration of medical exemptions related to immunization and vaccinations, documentation must be provided to Paramed for review. If medically exempt from the Flu vaccine, please note:

    1. Facilities have the prerogative to require the flu vaccine in order to proceed with placement and can refuse students who do not have the flu vaccine.
    2. In the event of an influenza outbreak, learners will have to abide by facility policies.

    Contact

    Gary Capstick

    Program Coordinator

    capstig@algonquincollege.com

    613-727-4723, ext. 6523

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