Practical Nursing (PND)

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant
• A minimum grade of 70% is required in each of the following:
  • English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course
    
  • Mathematics: Grade 12 C or U, or Grade 11 U or M, or equivalent course
    
  • Biology: Grade 11 C or U, or equivalent course
    
  • Physics or Chemistry: Grade 11 U or Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course

To be eligible for clinical practicum placements, students must have a completed Clinical Preparedness Permit which includes:

• current immunization records as outlined in the Canadian Immunization Guide for health-care workers
• bloodwork for immune status of hepatitis B/varicella/measles/mumps and rubella
• TB testing/CXR as required

• a current Basic Life Support Certificate renewed annually
• Standard First Aid valid for four years, online courses are not acceptable
• record of mask fit test, renewed every two years
• criminal record check and vulnerable sector screening (annually)

Clinical practicum placements are in a variety of agencies in the Greater Toronto Area. Students are required to provide their own transportation. Placements may be six-, 10- or 12-hour days starting as early as 6 a.m. and may include weekends and evenings.

Admission to this program is highly competitive. Applicants are ranked based on academic strength. Only the top ranked applicants will be offered a seat in the program.

Students in the Practical Nursing Diploma program are required to provide a current criminal record check and vulnerable sector screening from a recognized police service before they are permitted to start their clinical/practicum or work placement. Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned, will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical/practicum or work placement. A student with an outstanding charge or who has been convicted of a criminal offence and has not obtained a full pardon will be counselled to withdraw from the program as a successful practicum placement is a requirement to progress through the program.

Ontario practical nursing diploma programs are responsible to the public for providing their enrolled students with opportunities to develop the qualifications (academic knowledge, professional behaviours, attitudes and clinical skills) to enter the profession of Registered Practical Nursing in Ontario.

The description of the essential requirements is included in the Requisite Skills and Abilities document from the College of Nurses of Ontario.

This document is not intended to exclude individuals who may require reasonable accommodation to achieve competency development. It is advisable to discuss such accommodations and/or learning supports with the Counselling & Accessible Learning Services during the pre-admission or admission phase.