Diploma in Practical Nursing – (Weekend Delivery) Durham College - Oshawa Campus, Canada

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare graduates who are able to meet the challenges of the expanding role of nursing in today’s society. As a practical nurse, you will combine your knowledge, skills and judgment to provide safe, competent, ethical nursing care to meet the unique needs of all patients throughout the continuum of care.

Weekend delivery includes Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.
5 consecutive semesters run on Friday night, all day Saturday and all day Sunday. Plus 10 hours per week online. The important feature of this program is that the weekends are consecutive, back-to-back, with no scheduled breaks. Therefore, the student must commit to being at school every single weekend for the duration of the program or risk falling behind after just one weekend.

Approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the Practical Nursing program teaches the skills and attitudes necessary to practice as a safe, competent and professional practical nurse. Using the concept of caring as the basis of nursing, you will develop knowledge, skills and judgment in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care across the lifespan as they experience various health challenges. A particular focus is placed on the ability to communicate in a caring and therapeutic manner.

With a strong emphasis on practical hands-on experience, you will apply theory gained in the classroom and simulated lab practice to environments including:

• Community
• Long-term care
• Maternal/child
• Mental health
• Medical surgical care

Upon completion of your program, you must successfully complete the Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse (REx-PN) to become a registered practical nurse (RPN) in Ontario and a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)*. To register as an RPN in Ontario, you must meet the CNO requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Communicate therapeutically with clients and members of the health care team.
• Assess clients across the life span in a systematic and holistic manner.
• Plan safe and competent nursing care, based upon a thorough analysis of available data and evidence-informed practice guidelines.
• 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.
• Evaluate the outcomes resulting from all interventions in the nurse-client interaction and modify the plan of care as required.
• Act equitably and justly with clients and members of the health care team.
• Adapt to a variety of health care settings, using different leadership skills and styles as appropriate to each setting.
• Contribute to creating a healthy and safe work environment in a variety of health care settings.
• Practice 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.