Health Sciences
www.ufv.ca/health

Practical Nursing certificate

The UCFV 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.

This certificate program has been approved by the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of B.C. (CLPNBC). Graduates will be eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE). The UCFV 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 UCFV Practical Nursing program is a 12-month full-time program. The program is comprised of three 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 very 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: Practical Nursing Access to 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 commence each September and is completed in the first week of the following September.

Entrance requirements

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent (GED or ABE provincial diploma) with:
   a. Completion of Biology 12 or equivalent (BIO 093) or UCFV BIO 111 with a minimum of C+ grade within five years prior to enrolment.
   b. Math 11 (Principles) or equivalent (MATH 085) with a minimum of C grade.
   c. English 12 or equivalent (ENGL 091 or ENGL 099) with a minimum of C+ grade.

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 hrs. minimum) at time of application.

5. Basic Rescuer — Level C certificate. Currency must be maintained throughout the program.

6. Identification documents — birth certificate, marriage certificate, verification of change of name, landed immigrant status.

7. Successful completion of a security clearance check. Criminal record check forms will be included with the letter of notification regarding the information session.

8. A health assessment, completed by a physician, indicating physical fitness and emotional stability. The assessment must be completed within 12 months prior to enrolment. Health questionnaire forms will be included with the letter of notification regarding the information session.

9. Completion of an immunization program prior to the program start date. Immunization forms will be included with the letter of notification regarding the information session 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.

10. Attendance at an information session in preparation for entry into the program.

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: You are responsible for arranging 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.

How to apply

1. The following documents must be submitted to the Admissions and Records office, along with the application fee, in order to process your application:

• UCFV application form
• Practical Nursing program application form
• 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.

Once all these forms and academic documents have been received by the Admissions & Records office, an application date will be recorded and your application will be forwarded to the Practical Nursing program.

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

Documents required in order to achieve “complete applicant” status:
• Practical Nursing program application form
• 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, marriage certificate, proof of change-of-name document, landed immigrant status)
• Valid Standard First Aid certificate
• Basic Rescuer — Level C certificate
• Completion of ESL Advanced Speaking, Listening, and Writing course sequence as necessary
• Proof of valid driver’s licence

3. Attendance at a program information session and interview with the program faculty is required for all applicants with "complete" status. You will be contacted when dates and times have been established.

4. Beginning Fall 2008, 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.

Basis for admission decision

Prior to Fall 2008

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Beginning Fall 2008

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 28.

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 UCFV 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 4 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

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

Program policies

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.

Each program student will receive a UCFV Practical Nursing Student Guidelines and Policies manual, which further explains requirements of the program.

Continuance and graduation requirements for the Practical Nursing program is a GPA of 2.33 (C+).

Program outline

Semester I

Note: PNUR 105 begins after the completion of other Semester I courses. Therefore, prior to beginning PNUR 105, students must successfully complete all other Semester I courses.

Semester II

Note: PNUR 115 begins after the completion of other Semester II courses. Therefore, prior to beginning PNUR 115, students must successfully complete all other Semester II courses.

Semester III

Note 1: PNUR 125 begins after the completion of other Semester III courses. Therefore, prior to beginning PNUR 125, students must successfully complete all other Semester III courses.

Note 2: PNUR 135 begins after the completion of PNUR 125. Prior to beginning PNUR 135, students must successfully complete PNUR 125.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.