Description This program prepares individuals wishing to enter the practice of nursing as practical nurses. Following successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to write the Registered Practical Nursing examination. After passing this examination, the graduate will be granted a Certificate of Registration by the College of Nurses of Ontario and be eligible to practice as a Registered Practical Nurse in the province of Ontario.
The program has been designed to meet new entry-to-practice requirements adopted by the College of Nurses of Ontario and new program standards set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The program provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of nursing, human anatomy and physiology, disease processes and the humanities. Students will have an opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a variety of health-care settings.
All four semesters of the program are 14 weeks in length. The fourth semester is primarily a consolidation semester in which the student has a pre-graduate clinical experience under the guidance of a preceptor.
Semesters typically run from September through December and from January through April. An offering for summer semester 4 students typically occurs between May and August for approximately 70 students. Students are informed during their semester 3 of the eligibility criteria for summer semester 4.
Offerings in the summer for either semester 2 or semester 3 students are dependent upon program ability to offer quality clinical and academic courses.
George Brown School of Nursing is currently engaged in a partnership with City Adult Learning Centre (CALC) and Yorkdale Adult Learning Centre (YALC) to provide access for students wishing to pursue Practical Nursing and also complete their high school diploma. Students who choose this avenue take semester 1 at CALC/YALC and then enter semester 2 at GBC.
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
ANAT1052 Anatomy and Physiology I
NURS1026 Profession of Nursing I
NURS1029 Clinical Applications I
NURS1067 Foundations of Nursing Theory
GSSC1057 Lifespan Development
COMM1007 College English
COMP1082 Computer Skills and Applications
MATH1135 Mathematical and Pharmacological Foundations for Practical Nurses
GNED General Education Elective
SEMESTER 2
ANAT1053 Anatomy and Physiology II
PATH1016 Pathology and Therapeutics I
NURS1027 Nursing Theory for Practical Nurses I
NURS1030 Clinical Applications II
NURS1057 Pharmacology for Practical Nurses I
NURS1068 Health Assessment in Clinical Practice I
NURS2016 Profession of Nursing II
COMM1147 Critical Enquiry in Practical Nursing I
SEMESTER 3
PATH1017 Pathology and Therapeutics II
NURS1028 Nursing Theory for Practical Nurses II
NURS1059 Pharmacology for Practical Nurses II
NURS2018 Clinical Applications III
NURS2019 Profession of Nursing III
NURS2023 Health Assessment in Clinical Practice II
COMM Critical Enquiry in Practical Nursing II
SEMESTER 4
PATH2016 Pathology and Therapeutics III
NURS2017 Nursing Theory for Practical Nurses III
NURS2020 Clinical Applications IV
NURS2024 Clinical Applications V – Consolidation
GSSC1120 Sociological Perspectives
GNED General Education Elective
For detailed course outlines click here.
For a list of General Education Electives click here.
Admission Requirements School of Nursing Admission Requirements and Fees 2012-2013
Apply To Ontario CollegesHealth Policy School of Social & Community Services Admission Requirements and Fees 2012-2013
Additional Mandatory Requirements
Pre-placement Health Form
- Upon acceptance and confirmation into the program, students must meet all the mandatory pre-placement health requirements for this program. This may take up to four months to complete all the requirements.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- Details and to download the mandatory pre-placement health form, go to the Pre-placement website at www.georgebrown.ca/preplacement.
- Students must submit proof of a satisfactory medical examination before entering field placement. Students who are unable to provide a clear medical to the College will not be able to start their field placement and therefore be unable to complete the program.
Police Vulnerable Sector Check (must be valid annually)
- In compliance with requests from our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a police vulnerable sector check completed and must be renewed annually before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The police vulnerable sector check application process typically takes 2 to 3 months but under some circumstances can take from four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the police record check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s)”.
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their police vulnerable sector check. Students who are unable to provide a clear police reference check may not be able to start their field of clinical placement and therefore unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment.
- The fees for the police record check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Pre-placement website at www.georgebrown.ca/preplacement/record_check
Placement Test Based upon mandatory placement testing, some students may be required to enrol in courses aimed at enhancing profession-based written and verbal English language skills. Success Stories 
“It’s a place where people are going forward to the next stage of life, and our job is to provide them with the best possible care,” she says.
Julia Phelan (2008 graduate, Practical Nursing)
Contact Us Call us at 416-415-5000, ext. 2367 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. , ore-mail nursing@georgebrown.ca.
School of Nursing Info Sessions
Register for a free information session for a chance to:
- talk to faculty in greater detail
- check out our Simulated Practice Centre
The School of Nursing hosts regular information sessions. Visit our website at georgebrown.ca/infosessions for current dates and times