Nursing College Programs Offer Options
Today's nurses work in a large variety of specialties where they assess,
plan, implement and evaluate care. With nurses taking on more
responsibilities, the field continues to expand. As such, there are so
many nursing positions to be filled in Canada that a major shortage is
being predicted. According to the Canadian Nurses Association, the
shortage could mean that from 59,000 to 113,000 nurses will be needed.
Students who attend nursing programs can find long-lasting careers in
this field. Centennial College offers several nursing programs that will
help a variety of people obtain the education they need to do this.
Students
who apply directly out of high school for the nursing college programs
will most likely benefit from the Practical Nursing option, which offers
both a full-time program as well as a flexible program (Practical
Nursing – Flexible). This undertaking emphasizes the newest skills
needed and offers students access to well-equipped labs and faculty
members who have experience in the field. Upon graduation, students
obtain an Ontario College Diploma and are ready to care for more stable
patients. The curriculum for the Practical Nursing - Flexible is the
same, but is offered in a six semester, three-day-per-week format.
An
option that results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the Nursing
(BScN) program, which takes eight semesters to complete. Students attend
both college and university level courses at Centennial College, George
Brown College and Ryerson University. By selecting Centennial for their
first two years of the program, they benefit from a smaller academic
setting, personalized attention, a student mentorship program and a
state-of-the-art campus with excellent computer and hospital laboratory
resources.
Other Centennial College nursing programs that see
students benefiting from college and university-level studies include:
the two-semester RPN Bridging to University Nursing undertaking, which
is designed for Registered Practical Nurses who want to obtain a BScN in
about three years. It combines theoretical studies with clinical
setting courses that focus on ethics, professional practice, health
assessment and more. Another option is the RPN Bridging to University
Nursing - Regional Access Centre Part Time Hybrid Program. This
undertaking is a hybrid delivery format that is offered at two Regional
Access Centres (RAC's) in Ontario, which will allow Registered Practical
Nurses to complete the first part of the Centennial College's RPN to
BScN Nursing Bridging Program in six continuous semesters.
The
final bridging option (Bridging to University Nursing – IEN) is for
internationally educated nurses. It serves as an academic pathway to
meet the needs of internationally educated nurses who are interested in
working as Registered Practical Nurses in Canada. In addition, RPNs who
possess a certificate but wish to upgrade to an Ontario College Diploma
or RPNs who have been out of practice for 10 years or less and need a
refresher will benefit. It lasts three semesters and includes 15 weeks
of consolidation experience.
Lastly, if you have a Canadian college diploma the PR – Perioperative
Nursing program, which is 400 hours and results in an Ontario College
Graduate Certificate, may be for you. It prepares you to work in an
operating room setting.
