Nipissing launches educational upgrade for RPNs

The School of Nursing at Nipissing University is pleased to announce the launch of a flexible distance education bridging program for Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) to upgrade their education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN).

This part-time program will begin in September 2010.

“This is a great opportunity for RPNs in Ontario to achieve their BScN.  It offers a lot of advantages and benefits,” said Dr. Rick Vanderlee, Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Professional Schools.  “Not only can students stay employed at their current health care agency, the flexible learning model allows RPNs choices about when, where and how they learn so that it suits their work and life schedule.”

To register, RPN applicants must be registered through the College of Nurses of Ontario.  The health care agency employing the applicant must arrange a partnership with Nipissing to help arrange clinical lab time and support the learning process.  All non-clinical courses are delivered on-line or arranged close to an applicant’s partnering health-care agency.

To be eligible for transfer credit, RPN courses must have been completed within the past 10 years.

To register, or for more information, please visit the program web site: www.nipissingu.ca/nursing

The School of Nursing will be hosting information sessions for individuals interested in the RPN to BScN Bridging Program at various locations on the following dates:

• June 22 — Toronto Rehab, E.W. Bickle Centre for Complex Continuing Care, 130 Dunn Avenue, Toronto, 2 – 3 p.m.
• June 22 — Trillium Health Centre, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, 5 – 7:30 p.m.
• June 29 — West Parry Sound Health Centre, 6 Albert Street, Parry Sound, noon – 1 p.m.
• June 30 — North Bay General Hospital, 720 Scollard Street, North Bay, 11 a.m. – noon
• June 30 — North East Mental Health Centre, 4700 Highway 11 N, North Bay - 1 – 2 p.m.