This is an intensive five-term program.

There are several exciting areas where you can provide care as a Practical Nurse. Some areas include child care, maternity nursing, community health, mental wellness, seniors care, and medicine. You can start this program in the winter, spring or fall terms. A duration of five terms is offered to provide you time to focus on nursing content and allows for consolidation of learning. Knowledge and experience is gained through the classroom, online courses, lab setting, and a variety of care facilities throughout the program.

The structured program delivery and time table are intended to support successful learning. Enrolment in this program indicates your commitment to education as a priority over any personal or work obligations.

The Practical Nurse program is delivered through different pathways that are offered in person on campus, online synchronously, or a combination of both.

It is highly recommended that you participate in the in-person New Student Orientation as important program information will be discussed and you will have an opportunity to ask questions

The Practical Nurse program offers the following pathways:

Main 5-Term Program

This program is delivered face-to-face. Theory and lab courses are delivered in person at Bow Valley College’s main Calgary campus on scheduled days and times. Students are required to write all exams and complete in-person assessments at Bow Valley College’s Calgary campus. Clinical and preceptorship placements for work-integrated learning occur off-site in Calgary and surrounding rural areas.

Blended 5-Term Program

This program follows a blended delivery model and is designed for students living in regional communities surrounding Calgary. Priority is given to students residing outside Calgary but within the Bow Valley College service region. Theory courses are delivered synchronously online via MS Teams, while all lab classes are held in person at the Calgary campus. Theory and lab classes are held on scheduled days and times. Students are required to write all exams and complete in-person assessments at Bow Valley College’s Calgary campus. Clinical and preceptorship placements for work-integrated learning occur off-site in Calgary and nearby rural areas.

**The program has a heavy course load, and to support better success in the program, it is recommended learners complete the following courses through Open Studies prior to starting the program: ENGL1201 and ANAT1101.

After Graduation

When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to become licensed with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta. You need to pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam to become licensed.  

There are many opportunities for continued studies after your graduate. A few of these are:

• Thompson Rivers University Open Learning Division: Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of General Studies
• University of Lethbridge: Post-Diploma Bachelor of Health Sciences, Public Health

You will be required to travel to various locations to complete your work integrated learning placements. It is each student's responsibility to arrange travel to their clinical and/or preceptorship sites; placements may be outside the City of Calgary as well as in any area of Calgary. Every effort is made to schedule students for work integrated learning placements within the time frame of the program. In rare instances there may be a delay in program completion until a work integrated learning placement can be arranged.

Work integrated learning placements may include day shifts, evening shifts, night shifts, and/or weekend shifts. Shifts are determined by the placement sites and not the college.

Preparing for Work Integrated Learning

There will be an online clinical orientation during the first semester which focuses on clinical documents and course expectations.

Documents required for clinical placements will be requested after you start the program and before you start your first clinical.

Documentation required prior to your first clinical placement:

• Police Information Check (PIC), with Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS), should be requested no sooner than 90 days prior to the start of your program.
• All students are required to complete an immunization assessment and provide proof of immunization. Students must meet site requirements for immunizations prior to the start of all clinical or practicum placements. Not having immunizations could jeopardize your ability to be assigned to a placement and cause a deferral to another term. This may affect your program completion date.
• You can ensure your CPR certification is up to date by taking FACP9101 Basic Life Support CPR Healthcare provider level through Extended Education. This certificate must be renewed every year.
• You will have an opportunity to get an N95 mask fitting, at our downtown campus, before you begin your first placement.  You will be able to register for this course SAFT9406 N95 Mask Fitting through MyBVC (or your regional administrator) once your program begins.

If students do not meet the requirements for Work Integrated Learning by the program’s submission deadline date, they will not be permitted to participate in Work Integrated Learning experiences for that term. The submission deadline date will be communicated to students after they have started the program.