Belleville, Ontario, May 8, 2014 – Loyalist College is proud to announce that for the second consecutive five-year term, the Loyalist Practical Nursing Diploma program has been recognized as Category 1: Approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the regulating body for registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ontario. In March 2014, the CNO granted this status to Loyalist, recognizing that the College’s program consistently meets expectations for curriculum according to the entry-to-practice competencies, as well as an annual review of the program’s performance indicators. The rigorous review process is designed to ensure practical nursing programs in Ontario prepare graduates with the competencies required to practise as RPNs in the province.
“We are honoured to receive Category 1 approval, CNO’s highest rating for a Practical Nursing Diploma program,” said Loyalist College President Maureen Piercy. “This is a testament to our Nursing faculty’s commitment to preparing students to provide excellent care for patients in all conditions, at all stages of life.”
“Our experiential curriculum is learner centred, combining theory, lab work and clinical practice,” commented Vice-President Academic John McMahon. “Students even complete realistic, interactive practice scenarios in our state-of-the-art human simulation lab, gaining confidence in their skills before performing them in the workplace.”
To practise as a RPN in Ontario, an individual must be a graduate of an approved Ontario Community College two-year Practical Nursing Diploma program and pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE).
“In the most recent CPNRE, our Practical Nursing graduates achieved a 98 percent pass rate and they consistently score at or above the national and provincial average in all categories assessed,” said Karen Brooks-Cathcart, Dean of Health, Human and Justice Studies. “A nursing career is both challenging and rewarding. We educate graduates who are passionate about helping others, caring and compassionate and driven to make a difference in their patients’ quality of care.”
Practical Nursing students apply knowledge and skills on the job during clinical practice placements. Lab courses offer students a safe environment to practise in the College’s state-of-the-art Human Simulation Lab prior to actual clinical practice experiences. They complete placements in hospitals, community agencies and long-term care facilities, gaining experience in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, continuing complex care and mental health. In the final semester, students work one-on-one with an RPN preceptor during an intensive eight-week clinical consolidation, preparing for independent practice.
Loyalist College prepares students for a rewarding career by combining rigorous academic standards with experiential learning offered by industry experts. Programs range from apprenticeships and certificates to diplomas and post-graduate studies. Loyalist offers 65 full-time programs and 77 university transfer agreements around the world. Loyalist is committed to helping students find great jobs, as well as supporting and enhancing the economic and social development of all individuals in its communities.
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For more information, contact:
Kerry Lorimer
Director, Marketing & Communications, Loyalist College
klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca or (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536