About this program
- Awards: Practical Nursing Advanced Entry Eligibility
- Delivery Location: Online
- Delivery Type: OntarioLearn Part-Time Asynchronous
The new Nursing Transformation Initiative (NTI) is a bridging opportunity for working PSWs who wish to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).
The courses are designed to offer flexible study options for working PSWs for core components of the bridging to Practical Nursing programs offered at Niagara College.
This bridging program is facilitated by OntarioLearn. To learn more about the initiative, please visit the Ontario Learn website.
Courses
The PSW to PN bridge (Nursing Transformation Initiative) consists of six courses offered online and are available through Ontario Learn on a part-time basis. Each course has a unique start date (typically monthly), and registration is on a course-by-course basis processed online and paid for at the time of registration. As the theory courses are available 24/7 and course schedules have week-to-week timelines, coursework may be completed at any time within the week.
*Important Note: NURS1705P
Niagara College’s PSW to PN bridge program does not require students to complete the NURS1705P – Health Assessment course (listed below). If you plan to apply to Niagara College’s Practical Nursing program, you do not need to register for this course.
However, other colleges may require this course. If you will be applying to Practical Nursing advanced entry at an Ontario college other than Niagara College, we encourage you to confirm your college’s entrance requirements prior to enrolling into this course.
| Course Code | Course Title | Delivery Method |
|---|---|---|
| NURS1700P | Anatomy & Physiology (PSW-PN) | Online |
| NURS1701P | Nursing Theory Bridge (PSW-PN) | Online |
| NURS1702P | Nursing Professionalism (PSW-PN) | Online |
| NURS1703P | Math for Practical Nurses (PSW-PN) | Online |
| NURS1706P | Transition to Practical Nursing Theory (PSW-PN) | Online |
| NURS1705P | Health Assessment (PSW-PN)* | Online |
Eligibility Criteria:
- NURS1700P – Anatomy & Physiology (PSW-PN) (Minimum Required GPA: 60%)
- NURS1701P – Nursing Theory Bridge (PSW-PN) (Minimum Required GPA: 60%)
- NURS1702P – Nursing Professionalism (PSW-PN) (Minimum Required GPA: 60%)
- NURS1703P – Math for Practical Nurses (PSW-PN) (Minimum Required GPA: 80%)
- NURS1706P – Transition to Practical Nursing Theory (PSW-PN) (Minimum Required GPA: 60%)
Admission Requirements
PSW to PN bridge courses are available to Personal Support Workers (PSWs) who:
- Have Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent resident status or appropriate authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) that permits an individual to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.
- Graduated with a 65% cumulative average from a PSW program in Ontario that meets the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities program standards (includes PSW programs offered by the public colleges, private career colleges, and district school boards in Ontario).
- Have worked as a PSW in Ontario within the past five years on at least a part-time or casual basis in a regulated environment.
Practical Nursing Eligibility and Application
Students who successfully complete the bridging courses will be eligible for admission into semester 2 (level 02) at a participating college for the Practical Nursing diploma program. However, students will need to apply and be accepted into the Practical Nursing program. Admission to a receiving college will be subject to some conditions, including the start date of semester 2 (level 02) and the availability of spaces at the respective college. The evaluation will be competitive as seats are limited. This means there will be a formal selection and ranking process. Selection and ranking will be based on the timing of the application and final grades from all the required courses.
If you wish to bridge to Practical Nursing at Niagara College (following successful completion of the bridging courses), and/or to know when offers are released, please review the Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Bridge (NTI) pathway and application.
For an estimate of fees for terms 2, 3 and 4 of the Practical Nursing program, please visit the on the Practical Nursing program webpage.
Important Note:
Admission decisions for this bridging opportunity into the Practical Nursing program are made very close to the start of classes. Should a seat become available the student will be notified by email 1 - 2 weeks before the start of classes. If a seat is not available for a particular term, the student will be placed on a waiting list for the next possible intake. Seat availability is directly related to the attrition rate of the level 01 cohort and therefore we cannot guarantee admission. It is natural that some students will not progress into semester 2 (level 02). However, this number is different from cohort to cohort.
Practical Nursing – Sample Education Plan
The below sample education plan is based on the application and acceptance date to semester 2 (level 02) of Practical Nursing.
Fall Start
- Term 2: Sep to Dec on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Break: Jan to Apr
- Term 3: May to Aug on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Term 4: Sep to Feb on Campus Classes – Full time status
Winter Start
- Term 2: Jan to Apr on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Break: May to Aug
- Term 3: Sep to Dec on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Term 4: Jan to Jun on Campus Classes – Full time status
Spring Start
- Term 2: May to Aug on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Break: Sep to Dec
- Term 3: Jan to Apr on Campus Classes – Full time status
- Term 4: May to Oct on Campus Classes – Full time status
Funding
PSWs enroled in the PSW to PN bridge may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through the Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) program offered by the Registered Practical Nurses Association, also known as WeRPN.
The BEGIN program provides tuition reimbursement to PSW students enrolled in approved education bridges leading to RPN certification. PSWs studying to be PNs must meet the BEGIN eligibility criteria and agree to work in Long-Term Care and/or Home and Community Care sectors in Ontario for a period following graduation.
Further information about the BEGIN program can be found on the WeRPN website.