Program Courses

• Academic Success Strategies [BC-NSG-PRD100]

  • This course is designed to inform learners about the knowledge, skills, behaviours and expectations that are required to succeed in the provincial Practical Nursing program. Emphasis is on study skills and time management. A math ‘boot camp’ for two days introduces the learners to the use of the college's interactive math portal.

• Professional Communication I [BC-NSG-COM101]

  • This course provides learners with the foundational knowledge for caring and professional communication in nursing. It uses an experiential and self-reflective approach to develop self-awareness and interpersonal communication skills in the context of safe, competent, and collaborative nursing practice. Communication theory, the nurse-client relationship, therapeutic communication, cross-cultural communication, and effective teamwork will be covered.

• Professional Practice I [BC-NSG-FD101]

  • This theory course provides an introduction to the profession of practical nursing. Legislation that informs PN practice within British Columbia will be introduced. The history of nursing and specifically, the evolution of practical nursing within the Canadian healthcare system will be discussed. The philosophy and foundational concepts of the provincial practical nursing program are explored.

• Pharmacology I [BC-NSG-PHAR101]

  • This introductory course examines the principles of pharmacology required to administer medications in a safe and professional manner. Medication administration requires the application of the nursing process for clinical decision-making. Various routes of medication administration are introduced and complementary, indigenous, alternative remedies and poly-pharmacy across the lifespan are also explored.

• Variations in Health I [BC-ILMNG-101]

  • This introductory course provides the learner with the foundations of disease and illness across the lifespan. Learners will gain an understanding of pathophysiological alterations of body systems. Nursing management of disease and illness across the lifespan with an emphasis on interventions and treatment is also discussed. Cultural diversity in healing practices will be explored as well as the incorporation of evidenced informed practice.

• Health Promotion I [BC-NSG-HP101]

  • Health promotion by definition includes: health enhancement, health protection, disease prevention, health restoration/recovery, care and support. Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions. (World Health Organization, 2010). This course introduces the learner to the concepts of health promotion, discusses the determinants of health, health inequities and develops a beginning knowledge of normal growth and development.

• Integrated Nursing Practice I [BC-NSG-SKC101]

  • This course emphasizes the art and science of nursing, focusing on the development of basic nursing care and assessment. Learners will apply nursing knowledge through the practice of clinical decision making, nursing assessment skills, and nursing interventions aimed at the promotion of health, independence, and comfort. Classroom, laboratory, simulation, and other practice experiences will assist learners to integrate theory from other Semester I courses.

• Consolidated Practice Experience I [BC-NSG-CL101]

  • This first clinical experience provides the learner with an opportunity to integrate theory from Semester I coursework into practice. Learners will gain experience in various settings with a focus on the healthy client. Learning the role of the practical nurse, personal care skills, organization of care, focused assessment, beginning medication administration and professional communication are emphasized in this course.

• Professional Communication II [BC-NSG-COM201]

  • This course provides the learner with an opportunity to develop professional communication skills with the older adult, and clients requiring end of life care. Inter-professional communication is further developed.

• Professional Practice II [BC-NSG-FD201]

  • This course examines the legislation influencing PN practice with clients experiencing chronic illness and those in residential care settings. Specific professional issues such as responsibility, accountability, ethical practice and leadership relevant to the PN role in residential care will be explored. Critical thinking and decision making specific to the care of the chronically ill and inter-professional practice will also be addressed and the principles and actions of medications, the rationale for medication use and expected results. This course emphasizes critical thinking and nursing principles to assess the need for, and response to, medications.

• Pharmacology II [BC-NSG-PHAR201]

  • Knowledge gained from Pharmacology I and other courses in Semester I is combined with this course to increase learners understanding of application of pharmaco-therapeutics on illness across the lifespan. Emphasis will be on drug classification, drug interaction and drug resistance. Complementary, indigenous and herbal preparations will also be covered.

• Variations in Health II [BC-ILMNG-201]

  • This course will increase the learners understanding of patho-physiology as it relates to the aging process and selected chronic illness. The main focus of this course is on the care of the older adult experiencing health challenges. Cultural diversity in healing practices will be explored as well as evidence informed research and practice.

• Health Promotion II [BC-NSG-HP201]

  • This course focuses on health promotion as it relates to the aging process. Health promotion activities are aimed at supporting clients in maintaining their health. The concepts of health promotion, physical and mental wellness, normal aging changes and continued independence are examined.

• Integrated Nursing Practice II [BC-NSG-SKC201]

  • This practical course builds on the foundation of Semester I and emphasizes the development of clinical decision making, nursing assessments, and interventions to promote the health of older adults. Classroom, laboratory, simulation and other practice experiences will help learners to integrate theory from Semesters I and II courses to provide safe, competent and ethical nursing care to older adults. This course introduces you to e-portfolio philosophy and software. Create and maintain an e-portfolio that emphasizes your personal, educational and career goals.

• Consolidated Practice Experience II [BC-NSG-CL201]

  • This clinical experience provides students with the opportunity to integrate theory from Semester I and II courses into practice. Students will practice with aging clients and/or those with chronic illness in residential care settings. Medication administration, nursing care, organization, comprehensive health assessment, wound care and introduction to leadership are emphasized in this course.

• Professional Communication III [BC-NSG-COM301]

  • This course focuses on specific professional communication skills used with clients and care providers across the lifespan requiring care in the community.

• Professional Practice III [BC-NSG-FD301]

  • This course integrates the concepts from previous professional practice courses and introduces the learner to practice in the community. The role of the practical nurse as leader is emphasized in interactions with clients, families and other healthcare providers.

• Variations in Health III [BC-ILMNG-301]

  • This course focuses on the continuum of care and the development of knowledge related to health challenges managed in the community setting. Patho-physiology and nursing management of clients requiring home healthcare, rehabilitation and supportive services such as community living and disabilities will be explored. Cultural diversity in healing approaches will be explored as well as the incorporation of evidence informed research and practice.

• Health Promotion III [BC-NSG-HP301]

  • This course is focused on health promotion as it relates to the continuum of care across the lifespan. Health promotion in the context of mental illness, physical and developmental disabilities and maternal/child health is highlighted. Normal growth and development from conception to middle adulthood is addressed.

• Integrated Nursing Practice III [BC-NSG-SKC301]

  • This practical course builds on the theory and practice from Semesters I and II. Through classroom, laboratory, simulation and other practice experiences, learners will continue to develop and practice comprehensive nursing assessment, planning and develop knowledge and interventions for clients experiencing multiple health challenges.

• Consolidated Practice Experience III [BC-NSG-CL301]

  • This clinical experience will introduce learners to community practice and an opportunity to apply and adapt knowledge gained in Semesters I, II, and III within a continuum of care for clients across the lifespan. Students may gain experience through simulation and in a variety of community and residential care agencies and settings. These hours may be offered as CPE III or integrated into the Integrated Nursing Practice III course as practice hours.

• Professional Communications IV [BC-NSG-COM401]

  • The focus of this course will be on the advancement of professional communication within the acute care setting across the lifespan. The practice of collaboration with healthcare team members and clients will be further developed.

• Professional Practice IV [BC-NSG-FD401]

  • This course is intended to prepare the learner for the role of the practical nurse in managing clients with acute presentation of illness. Legislation influencing PN practice, specific professional practice issues and ethical practice pertinent to PN practice in acute care environments will be explored. Practice issues that occur across the lifespan will be considered. Collaborative practice with other healthcare team members and specifically the working partnership with RNs in the acute care setting will be explored.

• Variations in Health IV [BC-ILMNG-401]

  • This course will increase the learners understanding of patho-physiology as it relates to acute disease and illness for clients across the lifespan. The focus is on the care of the client experiencing acute illness including nursing interventions and treatment options. Acute disease and illness often occurs in individuals with existing chronic illnesses – the implications of these complexities will be addressed. Cultural diversity in healing practices will be explored as well as evidenced informed research and practice.

• Health Promotion IV [BC-NSG-HP401]

  • This course focuses on health promotion for the client experiencing an acute exacerbation of chronic illness or an acute episode of illness. Relevant health promoting strategies during hospitalization may improve or help maintain their health status after discharge. Learners will focus on preparing clients for discharge, through teaching and learning of health promoting strategies.

• Integrated Nursing Practice IV [BC-NSG-SKC401]

  • This practical course emphasizes the development of nursing skills aimed at promoting health and healing with individuals experiencing acute health challenges across the lifespan. Classroom, laboratory, simulation and integrated practice experiences will help learners build on theory and practice from Semesters I, II, and III to integrate new knowledge and skills relevant to the acute care setting.

• Transition to Preceptorship [BC-NSG-CL501]

  • This course will prepare the learner for the final practice experience. A combination of faculty led simulation experiences and self directed learning will provide the learner with increased competence and confidence in their final practice experience.

• Consolidated Practice Experience IV [BC-NSG-CL401]

  • This six-week clinical experience provides learners with the opportunity to integrate theory from all semesters into the role of the practical nurse in the acute care setting and other clinical areas as appropriate. Learners will focus on clients with exacerbations of chronic illness and/or acute illness across the lifespan and will consolidate knowledge and skills such as: post-operative care, surgical wound management, IV therapy, focused assessment, and clinical decision-making in acute care settings.

• Preceptorship [BC-NSG-CL601]

  • This final practice experience provides an opportunity for the learner to demonstrate integration and consolidation of knowledge, skills and abilities within the realities of the workplace and become practice ready. This faculty monitored experience may occur through a variety of practice experience models, including the preceptorship model, under the immediate supervision of a single, fully qualified and experienced LPN, RN or RPN and/or within the context of a collaborative learning environment as a participating team member.

• Review, Practicum Prep, and Job Search Seminar [BC-NSG-CL405A]

  • Review, Practicum Prep, and Job Search Seminar

• Academic Review, Flex Days, and CPNRE Prep [BC-NSG-CL405B]

  • Academic Review, Flex Days, and CPNRE Prep