Practical Nursing

Diploma: Diploma

Location: Broadway

International students admissibility: Accepts International Students

A healthcare professional in scrubs talking to a patient in a hospital bed.

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Overview

Learn to provide safe, ethical, and culturally sensitive nursing care for individuals and families at multiple life stages and in a variety of practice settings.

This program is only open for domestic students(Canadian/Permanent Residents). If you’re interested in as an international students, please visit aaaa.vcc.ca

Tuition	N/A
Credential	Diploma
Length	The Practical Nursing Diploma is sixteen (16) months in length. Students must complete the diploma within three (3) years from the initial start date to the completion date.
Hours	Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the exception of clinical/practicum experiences. Students will be advised of their clinical/practicum hours once registered and attending the program. Note: The program is 16 months of instruction, with an additional total time of 2 months for breaks. The full program can be completed in 18 months.
Delivery	Class-based
Campus	Broadway
Start Dates	Jan, Sep

My time at Vancouver Community College’s Music and Dance Program has been nothing short of transformative. What began as a pursuit of artistic excellence evolved into a journey that not only refined my skills but also shaped me into a more confident and expressive individual.
John Dow, Music & Dance

Job prospectives

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Dental Technologist / Dental Technician
Dental Lab Quality Control Specialist
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Dental Equipment Technician or Specialist
CAD / CAM Designer for Dental Restorations
Dental Laboratory Manager
Dental Technology Instructor

Admission Requirement

Core minimum standards for admission requirements, including English as an Additional Language standard have been established by the Provincial Practical Nursing Program Curriculum. VCC admission requirements for this program are in addition to those provincial expectations. All of these requirements must be met.

BC Grade 12 or equivalent
English Studies 12 with a minimum ‘B’ grade, or equivalent
Foundations of Math 11 with a minimum ‘C’ grade, or equivalent
BIOL 1602 Human Anatomy and Physiology with a minimum grade of 68% or equivalent within the last 3 years
English Language Proficiency as specified for the Practical Nursing or Access to Practical Nursing programs

Internationally Trained Nurses:

Students with transcripts from outside of Canada may be required to submit a comprehensive evaluation form from an educational credential assessment service provider.

Upon Acceptance into the program:

Criminal Record Check (CRC):

Students in this program are required to complete a CRC. The CRC must be completed according to VCC’s Criminal Record Check instructions. Students whose CRC results indicate they pose a risk to vulnerable populations will not be able to complete the requirements of the program (e.g. practicums) or graduate.

Valid CPR-BLS certification:

Certificate must remain valid throughout the program.

TB skin test:

Students must submit a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test or chest X-ray dated a maximum of six months prior to the program start date. An additional TB test is required after each potential exposure to TB and/or travel to areas with a known prevalence of TB.

Immunization Record:A School of Health Sciences Student Immunization Record must be completed. Students may be declined placement in a clinical or practicum site if a completed immunization record is not provided.

N95 mask:

Regulations stipulate that a properly fitted respiratory mask must be used when providing care to patients with suspected, known, or probable cases of acute respiratory infections. The respiratory mask must be a N95 respirator that is individually fitted by a trained and certified person. This individual mask fitting should be done just prior to beginning your program and is good for one year and must be performed annually. The original certificate must be presented to your program during the first week of classes.

Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.

Recommended Characteristics

A caring attitude.
A sincere interest in people of all ages who require all levels of care. This includes individuals who are: mentally or physically disabled, experiencing life threatening situations, confused or requiring rehabilitation.
Good command of English comprehension, verbal and writing skills essential.
Basic computer skills – email, word processing, internet searching
Good manual dexterity.
Any supportive courses in human biology, psychology, sociology, First Aid or previous related work experience or education would be an asset.
A basic foundation in mathematical calculations of decimals, fractions and metric conversions.
Flexibility to adjust to early morning and evening practicum shifts, to a variety of clinical settings and locations within the Metro Vancouver area.

For information about being a practical nurse, please review Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada. Note: The BCCNM asks each licensure applicant about criminal offences. If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence (other than a minor traffic violation) you should consider whether your application for licensure would be accepted. Licensing is mandatory in B.C. for Licensed Practical Nurses.

Program Availability

Not currently available.

Courses

Full-time

Course list is not available at the moment.

This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.

Fees and Costs

Application fee	$36
Tuition	$17,092	Year 1 - $3,500 Year 2 - $4,172 Year 3 - $2,827 Year 4 - $2,961
Student union	$362
College initiative	$192
Materials		not including textbooks
Campus resource	$684
Laundry
Uniform (Deposit)
Medical & Dental	$428	Provided by Student Union
U-Pass	$751	Discounted, unlimited transit pass. Learn more.
Graduation	$45
Total	$19,587

Books & Supplies

Textbooks or other supplies may be required for this program. Visit the VCC Bookstore for more information.
Additional costs:
- Textbooks – Approx. $500
- Student kits – Approx. $5,100 + tax

Open Educational Resources(OER) at VCC

No-cost textbooks are available for this program.

* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable. Tuition fees include a non-refundable deposit ($300 or $500, depending on program).

Fees listed are for domestic students. For international programs, visit VCC International.

Any refunds are issued according to VCC's refund policy.

Need help with tuition?

Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans.

Application Process

Do you need equivalencies for English or math admissions requirements?

Are you taking university transfer courses at VCC (e.g. BIOL 1602)? You do not need to request to have your VCC transcripts sent to the Admissions office.

Contact us

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Program information