Practical Nursing ─ Diploma

Effective Term:

Winter

Effective Year:

20240101

Advanced Standing:

1. A student who has successfully completed any of the required college/university courses (or equivalent) may be given advance credit:

a) Application for advance or transfer credit must be made prior to entry into the program as per Policy 8614: Advanced Standing – Course Challenge, PLA, Transfer Credit, and approval obtained from the Registrar.

b) A student who applies for advanced standing from another Practical Nurse Program will be considered on an individual basis.

c) A student who wishes to prove proficiency in part or all a course’s content must apply for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). The School Chair, in consultation with program instructors will determine whether PLA credit is assigned.

.

Re-Entry Instructions:

1. Re-entry to the PNP is permitted only when seats are available. Applications for re-entry must be received six months before the first day of the semester the student wants to re-enter.

2. Students who fail to complete a semester successfully may apply to re-enter and repeat the incomplete semester when it is next offered. Normally, there is a waiting period of 24 months between offerings of the same course or semester.

3. Returning students will be required to write a letter outlining their plans for success in addressing the factors that were salient in their original departure from the PNP.

4. Returning students will be required to complete a Directed Study course prior to commencing the incomplete semester. The Directed Study will be developed by the Program Coordinator, instructor, and student to address identified learning needs.

a) The Directed Study course is numbered according to the program year and the associated fee is determined by the Registrar’s Office.

b) Students enrolled in the Directed Studies course are NOT enrolled in the PNP.

5. Priority for re-entry will be given as follows:

a) Students in good standing who interrupted their program for illness or other personal reasons.

b) Students who failed to meet program requirements for promotion.

c) Students transferring from another program within B.C.

d) Where two or more applicants are from the same category, re-admission will be determined by the re-application date.

6. Normally, returning in two years or less will permit the student to maintain full credit for all courses successfully completed. After more than two years' absence, students may be required to update or repeat courses previously completed.

7. Students must complete the entire PNP within 60 calendar months (5 years) of initial entry. Re-entry applicants who cannot meet this deadline will not be readmitted.

8. The PNP reserves the right to deny re-admission to any student who violates Selkirk College policies.

.

Assessment:

a) Grading in theory and lab courses will be as per the Standard Academic and Career Grading Table as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading.

b) Grading in practice courses will be as per the Competency Based Grades as defined in Selkirk College Policy 8612 Grading.

.

Grading Table:

Other

Types of Assessments:

a) Students are evaluated and graded in each theory course as indicated in the respective course outlines. This may include but is not limited to exams, written papers, presentations; individual and group projects. Competency appraisals are used to assess competence in relational and psychomotor skills in integrated nursing practice classes.

b) In practice courses, assessment occurs continually. All activities in which students participate may be considered assessment. Informal verbal and/or written feedback is regularly provided by the instructor and/or preceptor. Students complete self-reflective appraisals throughout courses and within the Performance Appraisal Form (PAF); the instructor includes this in their determination of the final grade of CRG/NCG.

c) The PAF is used to provide formal feedback within Consolidated Practice Experience courses based on performance criteria. Student performance is assessed as satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory.

Supplemental Assessment(s)

a) Requests for supplemental assessments must be received within 48 hours of the posting of marks and completed within 7 calendar days of approval.

b) Supplemental assessments will be limited to one per course.

c) The result of a supplemental assessment cannot exceed 70% and is used in calculation of the final grade.

.

Program Specific Regulations:

1. Students shall prepare for and demonstrate knowledge in their nursing practice performance. Instructors may refuse to permit students to continue in the clinical area if there is evidence in their performance of lack of preparation or lack of knowledge or if they compromise the safety or learning of others.

2. Students in nursing courses held in the Nursing Skills Labs shall actively participate in the practical learning experiences. In all nursing practice situations students will require supervision until such time as the instructor has stated that they are competent in the skill. Students who practice skills unsupervised when they have not received such clearance may be putting the client and/or themselves at risk. Students are legally and morally bound to adhere to this rule of supervision until deemed safe to be independent with each new nursing skill. Students may be asked to leave the nursing practice site if they do not comply with this requirement.

3. A student shall access clinical areas as a nursing student only when accompanied by an instructor, or at such times as arranged for with the practice agencies by the PNP (e.g., practicum or preceptorship experiences, to research assigned client records, or with the specific written permission of a Practical Nursing instructor).

4. The College’s PNP dress code must be followed in clinical areas. The student’s name/ID tag is always to be worn when the student is in clinical practice sites.

5. Students are subject to the policies of the clinical agency in which they are obtaining their practice experience, as well as to the policies of the College’s PNP.

6. Students in the PNP are subject to the relevant provisions of the BCCNM as it applies to students.

.

Attendance:

1. Student attendance in class supports their progress toward meeting the course learning outcomes and contributes to the learning community. They will gain valuable insights and opportunities that would not be possible without the conversations and activities they will participate in. If a student finds themselves in a situation where they are not able to get to class or will be late, they will need to contact the relevant instructor so that they can collaborate on a plan for continued student success. When students miss class, the chances of successfully meeting the learning outcomes may be reduced and/or prevent the student from passing the class.

2. Students absent from any class or learning experience, for any reason, are responsible for the course material they have missed. As part of the plan for success, they may be required to make up missed assignments, activities, lab and/or practice education hours to successfully meet the learning outcomes. Absence from learning experiences may impact the student’s ability to meet the learning outcomes for that course and in turn, progression to the next semester.

3. If 2 or more classes are missed, the relevant instructor will check in with the student to ensure they are set up with appropriate resources and to collaborate on a plan for success. Plans will be documented on record of advisement and/or learning plan forms.

4. Dates and times are set for written and competency/skill-based assessments. These dates and times are shared with students at the beginning of the course for them to plan and organize themselves accordingly. If a student is absent from a written or competency/skill-based assessment for reasonable cause (e.g., illness, family emergency, adverse weather conditions, etc.), they may be allowed a make-up assessment on the first day the student returns to the program (please check the course outline for specific details). A physician's note for illness, or a note substantiating the family emergency, may be required prior to arranging the make-up testing.

5. Students are expected to notify the course instructor before the scheduled written or competency/skill-based session if they are unable to complete the assessment. Whether they can reschedule your assessments will be addressed case-by-case. If the student does not notify the instructor, they may forfeit their opportunity for a make-up assessment.

6. A student who must be absent from a practice or simulated learning experience must notify the instructor at least one hour prior to the experience's scheduled time. Missed hours may be rescheduled if learning outcomes are not being met and/or if the student has exceeded the allowable absences as described in course outlines. Absence for reasons that are not deemed professional (i.e., vacation, personal choice) will be noted as "unsatisfactory" or "needs improvement" in the Practice Appraisal Form. Students missing more than 10% of a practice experience may be required to repeat the course or complete extra hours at an additional cost to the student.

7. The School of Health and Human Services cannot provide substitute or "make up" learning experiences outside of regularly scheduled practice education courses when students have been absent.

.

Professional Requirements:

Students in the PNP shall:

1. acknowledge that Indigenous specific racism and colonialism exist and that students will integrate trauma-informed practice and work towards reconciliation of Indigenous health and wellness. (See also In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).

2. conduct themselves in an informed way to be inclusive, culturally safe and always striving towards cultural humility. (See also Selkirk College Policy 6040: Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity and In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).

3. adhere to the Professional Standards of Practice for the Licensed Practical Nurse (See also British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM): Professional Standards of Practice for LPNs)

a) Responsibility and Accountability: The licensed practical nurse maintains standards of nursing practice and professional conduct established by BCCNM.

b) Competency-Based Practice: The licensed practical nurse applies appropriate knowledge, skills, judgment, and attitudes consistently in nursing practice.

c) Client-Focused Provision of Service: The licensed practical nurse provides nursing services and works with others in the best interest of clients.

d) Ethical Practice: The licensed practical nurse understands, upholds, and promotes the ethical standards of the nursing profession.

4. maintain current vaccination status as required by practice partners and as ordered by the Medical Health Officer of British Columbia.

5. provide proof of negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test as required by practice partners.

6. maintain a current CPR-Basic Life Support with oxygen therapy (BLS) certificate while enrolled in the program; re-certification is required annually.

7. maintain clear criminal record as per Ministry of Justice BC.

8. be prepared to meet current registration requirements of BCCNM.

.

Other Regulations:

A. REQUIRED WITHDRAWAL (See Selkirk College Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)

1. Breaches to confidentiality, as outlined in the PNP Confidentiality Agreement, IHA Policy AU1100, or the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) Code of Ethics for Licenced Practical Nurses in Canada are grounds for dismissal from the program.

2. Students who compromise the safety of clients in nursing practice courses will be required to withdraw from the PNP.

3. Students who fail two practice courses will be required to withdraw from the PNP.

B. PROBATION (See Policy 8619 Student Probation and Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)
In addition to criteria outlined in the above policies, students may be placed on probation if they fail to adhere to the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) Code of Ethics for Licenced Practical Nurses in Canada or the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) Practice Standards.

1. Students will be limited to one probationary period while enrolled in the PNP. Subsequent unacceptable behaviours or academic performance will result in required withdrawal.

.