College Diploma - Practical Nurse

The Practical Nurse program prepares students to be registered as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Graduates of this program are eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE). Various career opportunities for graduates exist within the Canadian healthcare system. The program is approved by the Education Standards Advisory Committee with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA).

All the courses in the Practical Nurse program are completed at Northwestern Polytechnic and healthcare agencies within or near Grande Prairie. Clinical placements may involve evening hours, night hours, and weekends. Students may be required to attend at least one clinical placement outside of Grande Prairie. Students are responsible for obtaining transportation to the clinical placements and for the costs of necessary travel and accommodations.  Required clinical placements may be a distance of 150 kilometres or more from Grande Prairie. 

Special qualities are required for the nursing profession. A potential student must be a caring individual who considers the dignity, individuality and worth of the patient, client, and family. The Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) provides information on the requisite skills and abilities needed to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada. All interested applicants should review this document https://www.clpna.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/doc_CCPNR_CLPNA_Requisite_Skills_Abilities.pdf 

First year (36 credits)

• NP1205 Practical Nurse Theory I (3)
• NP1250 Health Assessment (3)
• NP1280 Communications in Nursing (3)
• NP1400 Nursing Across the Lifespan (3)
• NP1410 Practical Nursing Theory II (3)
• NP1450 Clinical Nursing Skills (3)
• NP1480 Medication Administration (3)
• NP1500 Anatomy and Physiology (6)
• NP1600 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology (6)
• Open elective (3)

 Second Year (37 credits)

• NP2100 Practical Nursing Practice I (4)
• NP2110 Practical Nursing Theory III (3)
• NP2130 Maternity Nursing Theory (3)
• NP2150 Pediatric Nursing Theory (3)
• NP2200 Practical Nursing Practice II (3)
• NS2220 Indigenous Health in Canada (3)
• NP2230 Mental Health Nursing Theory (3)
• NP2250 Community Nursing Theory (3)
• NP2300 Practical Nursing Practice III (3)
• NP2350 Transition to Professional practice (1)
• NP2400 Practical Nursing Preceptorship (5)
• Open elective (3)