Diploma in Practical Nurse for Internationally Educated Nurses

at NorQuest College - Edmonton Campus Canada

The Addictions Recovery Practitioner post-diploma certificate program provides health and human services professionals with the knowledge and skills to work with clients experiencing substance use and concurrent disorders. The program is offered in a flexible combination of online courses and live classroom instruction on evenings and weekends.

The program emphasizes acquisition of applied skills and best practices in direct client care, advocacy, ethics, and work with families and communities. The program builds upon students’ previous training and experience, and graduates are equipped to meet client and employer needs in a range of relevant settings.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes 15 hours of community service learning.

Laddering Opportunities

• Upon completion of this program, you can continue your studies by taking one additional semester to receive certification in the Mental Health Recovery Practitioner program.
• Laddering opportunities are being explored for related diploma and degree programs within Alberta and across Canada.

In this nationally accredited diploma program, you will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work in this fast-paced and highly respected occupation. This includes dispensing prescriptions, compounding medications, preparing sterile products, and providing patient care.

Student Success
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• Are detail-oriented
• Have strong arithmetic skills
• Can multi-task and problem-solve effectively
• Have access to a computer with strong computer and typing skills
• Have good written and verbal communication skills
• Have good vision and manual dexterity and can stand and sit for extended periods of time.
• Applicants are requested to review the job requirements listed below and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the occupation of pharmacy technician.

As a pharmacy technician, you must be able to:

• Work day, evening, and weekend shifts
• Stand and sit for extended periods of time
• Use your knees, back, and arms to move objects that weigh up to 10 kilograms
• Have good manual dexterity and vision, which are essential for some tasks
• Physically and emotionally manage workplace demands
• Function effectively in stressful situations
• Multi-task and problem-solve
• Perform all skills independently
• Work collaboratively with other health-care professionals
• Communicate effectively in written and verbal form with patients, colleagues, and other health care professionals.

Additional Program Details
NorQuest’s pharmacy technician lab provides students with practical, hands-on training in compounding, sterile product preparation, repackaging, inventory management, and dispensing. In the lab, students have the opportunity to use technologies currently employed by those working in the profession, including laminar airflow hoods and Kroll® computer software.

Our state-of-the-art simulation lab prepares students to work collaboratively with other health-care professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team.
For more information on becoming a registered pharmacy technician in the province of Alberta, visit the Alberta College of Pharmacy website.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes two practicums totalling 320 hours.

NorQuest College's Practical Nurse Diploma for Internationally Educated Nurses program will prepare you to become a professional practical nurse who will provide high-quality care to clients in a variety of health care settings.

Building on your previous education and experience, you will be supported in learning about Canadian health care while strengthening your professional communication and English language proficiency.

What to expect from the program
This two-year diploma program is designed to train internationally educated nurses to achieve academic and professional success. Language training instructors and practical nurse instructors will help you acquire the nursing knowledge, clinical judgement, and communication skills needed to become a practical nurse in Canada.

Collaborative classes, labs, workshops, and innovative learning strategies are designed to target specific student needs to prepare you for practicum, writing the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam, and future career success.

Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands
• have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their clinical practice
• have access to a computer and Internet, and basic computer skills
• are able to demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour

Build the skills you need to thrive in a dynamic business world and choose from five specializations in the second year—Management (entrepreneurship or business operations), Accounting, Human Resources Management, Finance, or General Studies—in which you will develop a core understanding of business fundamentals for any career you choose.

Specialization
Applicants can apply directly to the specialization of their choice. Specialization courses are usually taken in year two.
There are five specializations for the Business Administration program; each provides a flexible and dynamic core understanding of business fundamentals with a wide assortment of job opportunities:

Accounting specialization
Graduates with an accounting specialization have an aptitude for numbers and enjoy problem-solving. They are able to look at the overall big picture while determining the bottom line. They are prepared to work with companies in financial, computerized tax, and cost accounting areas.

Human Resources Management specialization
Graduates with a human resources management specialization will know how to improve corporate culture and increase employee productivity. They will be confident in creating performance management policies, employing effective hiring and retention practices, reviewing and recommending employee compensation packages, creating hiring selection criteria, and applying employment law.

Management specialization
Graduates with a management specialization are becoming increasingly important to business in our competitive economy due to their strategic planning and analytical skills. They assist companies in integrating planning and development strategies using problem-solving techniques and consensus building. Leadership, marketing, and financial information are also studied.

• Entrepreneurship focus: for students who are interested in starting a business of their own or who wish to help a newly formed business grow. It provides a thorough understanding of what is required to start and maintain a sustainable venture. Students will acquire the tools necessary to identify opportunity, assess entrepreneurial potential, produce a business plan, organize, promote, and finance a business, and prepare a marketing and sales structure.
• Business operations focus: for students who are interested in how businesses supply, produce, and distribute goods and services in the most efficient and profitable way possible. Students will learn how to plan, control, and optimize business systems and techniques to deliver projects on time and on budget. Learning how to assess and improve productivity throughout an organization will make these graduates a valuable asset to any organization.

Finance specialization
Graduates with a finance specialization will be well positioned for work opportunities in banks and any financial services organization. As a financial professional, this program prepares students in the areas of financial planning, principles and industry standards, financial products and services, tax and legal implications, managing risks, and building financial customer service sales and expertise.

• Financial services focus: for students who are interested in securing a role in a bank where they can serve customer needs for saving and borrowing. Students will learn principles of personal finance and banking including consumer and business lending, credit management and financial services selling and ethics.
• Financial planning focus: for students who are interested in helping people achieve their financial goals. Students will gain technical knowledge in personal financial planning, Canadian investment funds, insurance and taxation

General Studies
Students may elect not to have an area of specialization. These students would take the common first-year courses, then choose 10 additional courses out of all Year 2 courses offered.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes an optional paid co-op placement totalling 640 hours.

The Early Learning and Child Care diploma program will combine theory with practice to prepare graduates for Child Development Supervisor certifications from Alberta Human Services.

Early learning and child care professionals play an important role in supporting families and promoting healthy growth. Research shows the early years are critical in shaping a child's overall development. The importance of play in how children understand the world around them is embedded throughout this program, and it aligns well with current Canadian curriculum frameworks in early learning and care.

Note: Graduates of NorQuest's Early Learning and Child Care – certificate program or other Early Learning and Child Care certificate programs should apply to the Early Learning and Child Care – diploma (year 2 only) version of the program.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes four practicums totalling 800 hours.

This program is designed to provide employment preparation training for adults with mild cognitive developmental disabilities.
Through a combination of classroom and workplace instruction, students will acquire training on current equipment, an understanding of current workplace practices, and increased self-confidence while receiving ongoing, intensive support and mentoring from staff.

During the classroom portion (term 1) of the program, you will participate in Job Safety Skills, Workplace Communication, and Career planning. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of community based learning events including various field trips and volunteer opportunities.

The work experience (in terms 2 and 3) is critical in assisting you in obtaining real world, hands-on, practical training. By experiencing work in variety of local businesses that you are interested in, you will gain valuable skills and business connections.
Transitional Employment Program is also known as the Transitional Vocational Program. Visit Alberta Community and Social Services for more information.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes 450 hours of work experience:

The Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant diploma program prepares students to work in today's interdisciplinary health care systems. This program will provide students with a strong occupational and physical therapy assistant background, and incorporate essential assistant-level skills in speech language therapy and therapeutic recreation. Equipped with skills in these four rehabilitation disciplines, students will be prepared to meet industry demand and work in various general therapy, rehabilitation, as well as discipline-specific positions. If you enjoy helping people and want a career assisting patients to overcome injuries, or impairments, this diploma program could be for you.

The program delivers theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills using a balance of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary courses.

Program graduates will be prepared to:

• Communicate and collaborate as a valuable member of a client-centred interdisciplinary health-care team
• Assist with effective physical therapy and occupational therapy practice by providing safe and competent care across client populations
• Support other rehabilitation disciplines, including therapeutic recreation and speech-language pathology
• Demonstrate effective professionalism, leadership, and reflective practice skills

Applicants are requested to review the job requirements listed below and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the therapy assistant occupation. As a therapy assistant, 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 assist clients
• Lift 30 pounds
• Touch and provide care for clients of all ages, cultures, and genders
• Manage time and resources in a busy work setting
• Communicate and collaborate effectively in a team
• Enjoy working with people

The Disability Studies program is a two-year diploma that will develop the skills needed to effectively work in supporting individuals with disabilities across their lifespan. Individuals with developmental disabilities need support in early intervention, community settings, schools, recreation, and employment opportunities. A skilled workforce is needed to help people with disabilities achieve their goals and effectively participate as members of the community.

Disability service workers can work in a family or community setting in teams or independently to support individuals and their families. Graduates will create, implement, assess and modify plans to help utilize individuals’ strengths and abilities to increase avenues for meaningful participation in the community and society.

The Community Support Worker program is an eight-month certificate designed to develop fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes in students to work with marginalized communities and individuals. Graduates are expected to work at the front line of human-service delivery settings.

The following are some of the agencies and organizations that provide these services:

• Street work organizations
• Group homes
• Emergency shelters
• Settlement agencies
• Cultural organizations
• Child and family service agencies
• Indigenous service agencies
• Cultural societies
• Personal and in-home supports for persons with disabilities
• Services that support older adults

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes a 200-hour practicum and a 45-hour practicum seminar.

Environmental technicians provide an important service to society by helping protect and sustain the long-term health of our ecosystems. This two-year diploma program will prepare students for technical work in the environmental sector.

Students will gain the practical knowledge and skills needed to offer professional advice on a wide range of subjects, including: environmental impact assessment; hazardous and non-hazardous waste management; waste reduction and reuse strategies; air, soil, and water pollution prevention and monitoring; compliance auditing; and contaminated site investigation and remediation.

This skill set is based on an integrated, hands-on training program that gives graduates a good working knowledge of physical and life sciences, including general biology, ecology, toxicology, chemistry, physics, and statistics.

The program includes hands-on training in both laboratory and field settings. Students will also have the option of taking part in a co-operative work term. Following completion of the program, students will be eligible for designation as a certified technician.