Please note: The views expressed in this post are my own. For further details, please refer to the School of Community and Health Studies website.
I remember the first time I heard the word “flexible” I thought it was a casual program, where you take a few courses here and there and then start and stop whenever you wanted to. Boy was I wrong!! I even thought that the flexible model route was a part-time program where you can take as long as you want to actually finish the program. Again, I was wrong!
The Practical Nursing Full-Time Program
Consists of 4 semesters and you get the summers off. Very challenging model route (4-5+ courses per semester) If you have outside responsibilities like family, home, etc., this semester will be very challenging for you. Trust me it’s challenging for the people who live, eat, and breathe school. However, if you’re up for it, you can definitely do it! And if you feel the pressure you can switch to flexible in your first semester but there are some financial considerations I will address momentarily.
The Practical Nursing Flexible Program
Consists of 6 semesters and you do not get the summers off. Your semesters are back to back but your courses are more spread out (3-4 courses per semester). You will have classes 3-4 days per week. Usually 3 days a week; however at times, scheduling spills over to 4 days per week. This model route is a more manageable one if you have children, a part-time job, outside responsibilities, or a mature student returning to school. You cannot switch from flexible to full time, so once you’re in it... you’re in it!
Now let’s talk about the switch that a lot of students decide on in Semester 1.
Should you be in the full-time model route and find it very challenging, you can switch to flexible simply by speaking with the semester 1 coordinator, Andrea Leatherdale. You must however consider if you are with OSAP or the Better Jobs Ontario Program there are consequences that must be addressed. Nobody likes the word “flexible” OSAP and Better Jobs Ontario interprets that word as “part-time” and as such you will have difficulties with both.
I personally used the 4 or 6-semester model route instead of the full time or flexible route. If you are on the Better Jobs Ontario Program, you must obtain approval from your officer prior to making the switch, and if you are on OSAP your funding for the following semester will be greatly affected.
My advice would be to speak with your financial officer and explore all your options before making any decisions once you are considering the switch.
Ultimately, both programs are full-time practical nursing programs with 2 different model routes. Therefore, before starting the program; make sure you take a real good look into your capabilities, time management and responsibilities when exploring which model route you feel is best for you. The practical nursing program is challenging either way, but it is also so very rewarding.
If you’re struggling in the full-time model route, you don’t have to stay in this model route to race to the finish line because flexible programs end within the same time frame as full time. When it comes to your own personal success; following the crowd is not your priority.
Do what is best for you because it's not how you start the race (the nursing program) but it's that you finish it successfully.