"I've met many wonderful people at CDI and it's been an important stepping stone towards my career goals." - Theresa B., CDI College Graduate
CDI College stands out among practical nursing schools for its commitment to quality education and the success of our students. Nursing, in Canada and around the world, is a highly respected and in-demand profession. A Practical Nurse is a valued member of any healthcare team. You need the right education to learn the nursing skills you'll need to thrive in a fast-paced healthcare facility.
CDI College's Practical Nurse program thoroughly prepares students to enter a satisfying career as a practical nurse. The curriculum covers both practical and academic components to nursing education. The Nursing Arts courses teach students both holistic and clinical nursing placements in medical centres, acute care facilities, and gerontology wards. At the end of the program, students participate in a preceptorship and job search training in order to launch their practical nursing careers.
This program is 73 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Acute care hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Group homes
- Public Schools
- Alzheimer units
- Home care
Practical Nursing - AB
Offered in Alberta At:
Edmonton SouthAlso offered in Quebec as Health, Assistance and Nursing (French) - 5287 (Nursing Assistant) At:
Laval Montreal Quebec CityAlso offered in Manitoba as Practical Nursing - MB At:
WinnipegProgram Courses
The program outline below is for Alberta . Click here to see the outlines for Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Term1
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- This course in an introduction to the usual structure and function of the human body according to body systems.
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- This course provides a solid grounding in the process that writers use to communicate clearly in academic and practical settings. By readings and analyzing texts from a broad spectrum of purposes, cultures, historic periods and disciplines, learners will develop strategies to communicate their own ideas and integrate them with those of others.
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- This course is a comprehensive overview of human growth and development and typical behavioural responses through the life span. Emphasis is placed upon the stages of development and their linkage to common events and adaptations.
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- This course offers an overview, within the context of the community and the Canadian health care system, of the physical, social, mental, environmental and spiritual aspects of personal health and wellness. Topics include nutrition, exercise, stress management, weight management, eating disorders, common health problems and their prevention, and primary health care.
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- This course is an introduction to the concept of self-awareness and the process of communication. Emphasis is placed on understanding the communication process and building personal and professional communication skills. Communication techniques for working with cultural diversity and special populations are also explored.
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- This course is an orientation to sociology, which examines how individual lives are shaped by one's place in society and how people cope with their social cultural contexts. The focus is on Canadian culture, diversity and social trends and how Canada is affected by its position in the world as a whole.
Term2
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- This course covers the application of knowledge of anatomy and physiology applied to the skill of completing an adult health assessment. Forty hours of nursing skills lab is included in this course.
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- This course discusses the pharmacokinetics of medications, the rationale for their use, and the expected results of therapy, along with the development of critical thinking skills to assess the need for and response to medication. Practical Nurse competencies, scope of practice and legal responsibilities are also emphasized.
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- The focus of this course is on the development of confidence and expertise in communicating with clients and assessing clients holistically.
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- Course description coming soon
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- In the nursing skills lab, utilizing the underlying theoretical principles, learners will develop psychomotor nursing skills to provide safe, competent care to clients with multiple health care issues.
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- Holistic nursing care (developmental, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual) and nursing skills are emphasized within the framework of the nursing process. Focus is on the principles underlying nursing actions, health promotion and integration of concepts from other courses.
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- This course takes a systematic approach to common health care problems, focusing on physiological changes that occur during disease processes.
Term3
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- Course description coming soon
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- This course serves as an introduction to the assessment and nursing interventions for clients with psychiatric and mental health issues. Topics include basic mental health concepts, disorders and treatments as well as therapeutic relationships, assessment strategies and the nursing process. Legal and ethical practices are also discussed.
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- This course emphasizes the development of practical nursing competencies in order to promote health and healing when caring for the older adult. Clients are viewed from a holistic perspective based on an accurate and comprehensive assessment of their unique needs. Laboratory and clinical experience component with promote integration of theory of practice.
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- In the nursing lab, learners will utilize underlying theoretical principles to develop psychomotor nursing skills to provide safe, competent care for clients requiring medical or surgical interventions.
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- This course emphasizes holistic nursing care (developmental, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual) and skills within the framework of the nursing process. Focus is on the principles underlying nursing actions, adult physical assessment, health promotion and integration of concepts from other courses.
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- This course emphasizes holistic nursing care (developmental, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual) and skills within the framework of the nursing process. Focus is on the principles underlying nursing actions with clients in the medical/surgical environment and integration of concepts form other courses.
Term4
| Code | Course Name | Hours |
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- The basics of nursing care from previous semesters will be applied to the acute care setting. Students will also explore advanced nursing skills required to care for clients with more complex health care needs.
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- This course is a family centered introduction to the needs and nursing care of childbearing families. Community resources and client teaching needs are addressed. This course focuses on the care of the mother and infant during pregnancy, labour, delivery and the postpartum period within the context of the family. Five hours of psychomotor skills lab are included.
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- This course is a family-centered introduction to the needs and nursing care of child rearing families. Community resources and client teaching are addressed. This course provides students with an introduction to common health issues of children related nursing care. Five hours of psychomotor skills lab are also included.
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- Learners will experience long term care, home care or community care settings with opportunities to apply their knowledge and perform skills of medication administration and team leading. Part of this experience will provide opportunities to apply nursing knowledge and skills in pediatric, maternity and/or community settings.
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- Learners will work in an acute care setting and have opportunities to apply knowledge, perform skills, and critically think in situations that challenge and nurture a novice nurse practitioner.
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- This course focuses on the role and responsibilities of the graduate Practical Nurse, trends, issues and leadership at an introductory level.