Deciding to become a Practical Nurse involves a major decision of choosing the right school. With the several available programs for nursing, it is not easy to discern which one will give you the best education and the right experience, thereby offering you a high success rate in your future career.
In this discussion, we shall highlight the top five colleges that you can enroll in Ontario at for practical nursing program. We will also take a look at some of the most important variables you need to take note of when deciding on a program and school, so you can make a good decision.
Importance of Practical Nursing Program in Ontario
PNs play a vital role in the Ontario healthcare system. As a PN, one will be caring for patients in various settings: hospitals, long-term care, and community health. Practical nursing is a rewarding and secure career; with an aging population, the need for healthcare services is ever-growing. However, proper education is what starts one off to become a successful PN, and for that, the best school needs to be chosen.
Criteria for the Top Practical Nursing Schools
Before we get into the best nursing schools, let’s go over the criteria that make these programs stand out from the rest.
1. Accreditation and Licensure
One of the first things to look for when you are checking the nursing schools is if they are accredited by the College of Nurses of Ontario. What that simply ensures is the program in question is up to standard and will prepare a person to sit and pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination. That is one of the pass-fail tests required by the Practical Nurse license in Ontario, so you can’t miss attending an accredited school.
2. Program Reputation and Success Rate
One thing to consider is the reputation of the school among the nursing community. How reputed a program is for making successful careers for its students may be great insight when looking at CPNRE pass and placement statistics from schools. The better the rates, the better the chances of its students making their way ahead in their careers.
3. Quality of Curriculum and Clinical Placements
Practical nursing is, well-practical! You will need a solid mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience to be fully prepared. Be sure to enroll in programs that offer strong clinical placements in credible centers. The proper school will offer the right curriculum, balancing theory with practice, to align perfectly so that you can be properly prepared to work with real patients in real-world settings.
4. Faculty Experience and Support
The only way you are going to have a good education is from the people teaching you. So, make sure the school that you choose to attend has qualified and experienced faculty. Next, look for programs offering dedicated support services for students, which would go a long way in helping you with mentorship, tutoring, and career guidance.
5. Accessibility and Affordability
You can also factor in cost and convenience. Likely, nursing schools are expensive; consider tuition fees, financial assistance, and scholarships. More importantly, consider geography—in case you are far off, will you need to relocate, or is the school within your vicinity?
The 5 Best Nursing Schools in Ontario for Practical Nursing
With that information in hand, let’s take a closer look at the five best schools across the province.
1. George Brown College (Toronto)
Program
George Brown College primarily offers a two-year-based Practical Nursing program, which is fully accredited by the CNO. The program is primarily taught in an in-class mode with clinical experiences in practice settings.
George Brown College has strong connections with major healthcare providers in Toronto. With them, you will stand a chance of your clinical placements in top-class hospitals and clinics for a top-notch experience. The institution also has a sound reputation in the healthcare community, getting a job after school won’t be a headache.
George Brown’s program also proudly has high CPNRE pass rates for its graduates who are more sought after by employers in the Greater Toronto Area; in fact, many students achieve jobs before they finish the program since some are hired out of their placements within the facility.
2. Centennial College (Toronto)
Program Description
The Centennial College Practical Nursing program has been designed based on the fact that in-depth learning is the chief architecture of the development of technical abilities and teamwork. The program is accredited by the relevant bodies and trains and prepares you adequately for the CPNRE once you leave college.
Centennial is widely recognized for community health nursing. Clinical experiences are sought in hospitals, long-term care settings, community clinics, etc. Interprofessional collaboration is also promoted at Centennial, so you are likely to work with other students in healthcare programs, which will oblige further development of teamwork and communication skills.
Centennial College does a great job of setting up its grads for success, most pass their CPNRE and find employment within months of graduation. The college also provides extensive support to help students move from the world of school to the world of work.
3. Humber College (Toronto)
Program Overview
Humber College has one of the most respected Practical Nursing programs in the province. A CNO-accredited program. Here, students learn by doing, through extensive lab work and clinical placements in a diverse array of healthcare settings
Humber is home to state-of-the-art simulation labs where you can practice your nursing skills in a controlled, safe environment. These labs use advanced technology to closely replicate real-life medical scenarios, thereby allowing you to prepare your skills before working with actual patients.
Humber College boasts a high pass rate of CPNRE and graduates from this college are in a high level of competition in the market. Most of the positions offered in the market are within the same hospitals in which the students are put for their internship.
4. Fanshawe College, London
Program Overview
Fanshawe College offers a very extensive program for Practical Nursing that includes a lot of academic lessons and a wide range of clinical experiences. The curriculum is accredited by CNO and is known for its genuine hands-on learning.
Unique Features
Fanshawe College truly is a college marked differently by infusing education with community engagement programs. You will have opportunities to work in bounteous community settings; thus, this will give you a very diversified education that extends its scope beyond that of the hospital. With great relations and partnerships with other local healthcare providers, the institution easily provides their students with faculties for placements, which go a long way in ensuring guaranteed job opportunities post-graduation.
Fanshawe College graduates boast high CPNRE pass rates and very good job prospects, particularly in the London area region. Possible career paths after graduation include working at long-term care centers, community clinics, and hospitals.
5. Conestoga College (Kitchener)
Program Summary
The Conestoga College Practical Nursing is known for its profoundly intensive rural and regional provision of healthcare. The program of study is fully credited to involve the students in classroom learning and clinical training that best prepares them for the CPNRE.
Distinctive features
The program is committed to the essence of rural/remote community practice. If you prefer regional settings or small, rural communities, this one is for you. The use of clinical placements and refreshers further embed these skills within the curriculum.
Conestoga graduates have relatively good employment opportunities, particularly in rural and regional healthcare workplaces. The school also enjoys higher CPNRE pass rates and career services supporting graduates in finding gainful employment.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Practical Nursing Program
Let’s consider some of the important points in developing your generalized set of criteria for choosing the best one.
1. Career Opportunities
Again, the potential future career will determine some of the factors of where you can go to be schooled. Some schools are better known in the healthcare community and feel free to accept applications from their students when applying for jobs. You should also research if the program offers placement or further education of some kind which may help you to make decisions about whether to take the offer.
It’s important to choose a school that offers support services for its graduates. Look for programs that provide career counseling, help with job placement, and opportunities for continuing education. These services can be a huge help as you transition from student life to working as a Practical Nurse.
2. Class Sizes and Learning Environment
Finally, the size of the class and the overall learning environment is also a very important factor. Smaller class sizes can mean that you are part of more proactive attention from instructors. This potentially could have a positive knock-on effect in terms of learning outcomes. Some students do well in bigger programs that offer lots of opportunities, other students perform more optimally if they are smaller or more intimate.
Conclusion
Choosing your school is almost as big a life decision as choosing your program. With the focus you place on the opportunities, a solidly accredited program with nothing but the best clinical placements, and high CPNRE pass rates, you place yourself in an important position. George Brown College, Centennial College, Humber College, Fanshawe College, and Conestoga College are some of the top schools in Ontario for practical nursing that fully assist and equip you with whatever you need to take the first steps toward a fulfilling health profession.
All the best in your quest, and remember, the best nursing school will greatly impact your success in the near future!
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