Nursing

Clinical courses cannot be replaced by part time courses.

All Nursing programs across the province, ourselves included, are communicating with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The CNO approves all Nursing programs, therefore we have to ensure that our program meets their Entry to Practice Competencies. Currently, the Practical Nursing program is making contingency plans to support the continued learning of our students and to ensure that our nursing students continue to meet the Entry to Practice Competencies as they move through our program.

The Pathophysiology, Nursing Theory and Clinical courses are all corequisite courses in semesters 2 and 3 for the Full-time program, and also in the Flex program in semesters 2B and 3. These semesters have been developed to ensure that nurses gain the knowledge they need to practice safely at the bedside all at once. Pathophysiology and Nursing Theory are the theoretical courses that are closely aligned as a student progresses through the semester. The close alignment of theoretical content supports safe patient care at the bedside.

For the Summer 2020 semester, the Practical Nursing Flex 1A semester will be taught at a distance and will consist of GNED, COMM, Anatomy and Professional Growth 1. The Flex 1A semester is being offered ,as it is the only semester within the Practical Nursing Flex program that does not have lab or clinical courses as part of the semester.

Clinical courses are integral to students developing their critical thinking to support safe patient care. Virtual environments, as much as they can, will still augment the development of students learning to apply theoretical knowledge in providing safe patient care. Clinical placements hours cannot be substituted fully by virtual environments to meet the Entry to Practice Competency for all nursing students, outlined by the College of Nurses of Ontario.