Practical Nurse

What to expect from the program

Do you enjoy helping others? Are you looking for a rewarding and meaningful healthcare career? Practical nurses are essential to Alberta’s healthcare system and are currently in high demand. In this program, you’ll gain a combination of theoretical knowledge, hands-on training, and practicum experience.

There are multiple ways you can attend classes including:

In person
2 years

Attend face-to-face classes at our Edmonton or Wetaskiwin campus with instructors and classmates. Due to the more demanding course load, this in-person option is best suited for students who can commit to full-time studies each term. All courses must be taken in the preplanned order. Otherwise, you are considered an online student taking the program over 3-4 years.

Online
3 – 4 years

Learn online from the comfort of your home. While online options are available for lecture material, students must attend labs and practicums in person. The online option is best suited for students who need more flexibility in their schedules and prefer a lighter course load.

Two online options are available:

• Online real-time attend live online classes with scheduled times. Labs can be completed at the Edmonton or Wetaskiwin campus
• Online anytime study and complete your assignments on your own schedule. Courses have a fixed start date, and you will have 12 weeks to complete each course. Real-time instructor support is available on request. Exam dates are scheduled by each student. Labs must be completed at the Edmonton campus

Graduate with experience

NorQuest College believes in the importance of on-the-job experience that provides an enriched learning opportunity.

You’ll graduate this program with 680 hours of work experience from four practicums.

Clinical placements

You will work full-time during the practicum and provide your own transportation to the facility.

• Instructor-led clinical placements (NPRT 1001, NPRT 2101, and NPRT 2102): For Edmonton campus and online anytime students, placements will occur in Edmonton or surrounding communities. Wetaskiwin campus students will be placed in Wetaskiwin or surrounding communities. Instructor-led clinical placements will be a combination of day and evening shifts.
• Your preceptored clinical placement (NPRT 2200) may be arranged in or close to your community. Your schedule may include day, evening, or night shifts any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

Additional information

Some courses have mandatory in-person labs.

• In-person students: you will complete your labs at your chosen campus. Labs will be scheduled 1-3 times per week throughout the term.
• Online real-time students: you will complete your labs at the Edmonton or Wetaskiwin campus. Labs will be scheduled 1-3 times per week throughout the term.
• Online anytime students: you will complete your labs at the Edmonton campus. Labs will be for 4-5 days and scheduled near the end of each course.

Career opportunities

Practical nurses find jobs in acute care hospitals, continuing care centres, community care settings, client homes, clinics, or doctors' offices.

For more information on related careers see:

• ALIS OCCinfo occupational profiles
• ALIS WAGEinfo salary info

What to expect as a practical nurse

Applicants should assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the practical nurse occupation.

As a practical nurse, you must be able to:

• work shifts and weekends
• be on your feet for extended periods of time
• use your knees, back, and arms to move clients who have minimal body strength
• provide care to support people of various diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual preferences, and socio-economic status
• function effectively in stressful situations
• perform all skills independently