Practical Nursing Diploma

In the first of a two-course sequence, you will explore the human body focusing on the interaction between structure and function and the regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. You will learn how the levels of organization of the body and the components of cells, tissues and organs impact form and function. You will examine the following body systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and special senses.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0

You will demonstrate, at an introductory level, the assessments and skills associated with the care of adult and geriatric patients. Your experiential learning will provide opportunities to practice your skills and abilities for patients in long term care environments. You will apply the nursing process and principles of patient teaching and practice documentation.

Credit Units: 10  Course Hours: 150.0
Corequisites(s): PHAR 101

You will explore the concept of self in relation to others. You will illustrate the role of caring in the practice of nursing and begin to develop reflective practice and critical thinking skills. You will demonstrate principles of verbal and non-verbal professional communication and explore the professional image of nursing.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0

You will discuss the metaparadigm of nursing in the context of nursing theories and philosophies. You will describe health determinants, primary health care and health care delivery in Canada. You will discuss law and ethics as they pertain to the nursing profession. You will describe critical thinking and apply key elements of patient safety. You will describe the concepts of culture and ethnicity with a focus on Indigenous and other predominant cultures in Saskatchewan.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0

You will begin to apply critical thinking skills, explaining the physiological and psychological health changes of the aging adult. With guidance, you will apply the nursing process and describe evidence-informed practice related to the aging adult patient. You will describe specific health variations using a systems approach and recognize health promotion strategies in gerontological care.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0

You will identify Canadian medication systems, medication classifications and names. You will identify the principles and nursing responsibilities for competent medication calculation and administration. You will demonstrate evidenced informed care and knowledge of medication actions, differentiating medication actions and effects in the body, and examining strategies for safe administration. Your theoretical learning will focus on vitamins, complementary medications, antihistamines and drugs affecting the gastrointestinal system.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Corequisites(s): CLIN 103

In the second of a two-course sequence, you will continue to explore the human body focusing on the interaction between structure and function and the regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. You will examine how the levels of organization of the body and the components of cells, tissues and organs impact the form and function for the following body systems: endocrine, blood, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance and reproductive.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102

You will practice assessments and skills associated with rehabilitative and supportive care. Your experiential learning will provide opportunities for assessment and care of adults with chronic health challenges. You will demonstrate the concepts of patient safety, critical thinking, and evidence informed practice in the delivery of patient care and teaching.

Credit Units: 9  Course Hours: 135.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102, CLIN 103, NURS 163, NURS 171, NURS 172, PHAR 101
Corequisites(s): PHAR 102

You will describe mental health concepts, legal and ethical considerations, and social stigmas related to mental health disorders. You will examine the role of nursing in relation to mental health and describe evidence-informed nursing practice for patients and their families. You will promote mental health for patients and their families using the metaparadigm of nursing, demonstrating critical thinking and inquiry in your application of the nursing process. You will examine specific mental health disorders and examine strategies to promote safety in the context of mental health.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102, CLIN 103, NURS 163, NURS 171, NURS 172, PHAR 101

You will examine therapeutic relationships with an emphasis on caring, advocacy, diversity, and managing ethical dilemmas. You will examine trends and issues in Canadian nursing practice and identify the scope of professional practice for the practical nurse.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102, CLIN 103, NURS 163, NURS 171, NURS 172, PHAR 101

You will examine variations in health and common chronic conditions diagnosed in the adult population. You will apply knowledge of anatomy and pathophysiology to explore health challenges affecting body systems. You will examine the diagnostic findings, nursing interventions, and treatments associated with specific health challenges. With guidance, you will apply the nursing process, promote safety, and apply critical thinking and evidence-informed practice to deliver holistic nursing care.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102, CLIN 103, NURS 163, NURS 171, NURS 172, PHAR 101

You will demonstrate the skills and abilities required for medication administration to pediatric and adult populations. You will prepare and administer medications through enteral, percutaneous, and parenteral routes. You will examine medication classifications for the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, central nervous and autonomic nervous systems, and demonstrate evidence-informed practice in applying principles of safe medication administration.

Credit Units: 4  Course Hours: 60.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 102, CLIN 103, NURS 163, NURS 171, NURS 172, PHAR 101
Corequisites(s): CLIN 104

You will apply your knowledge and skills related to the holistic nursing care of patients. Your experiential learning will focus on rehabilitative and supportive care for patients experiencing a variety of health challenges. With faculty guidance, you will demonstrate the principles of health teaching and perform complete and focused health assessments. You will demonstrate professional behaviour and practice collaborative relationships with patients and the interprofessional team to deliver safe, competent, and ethical patient care.

Credit Units: 8  Course Hours: 120.0
Prerequisites(s): BIOL 103, CLIN 104, NURS 176, NURS 240, NURS 293, PHAR 102

Using your sociological imagination, you will examine how to practice sociology, and learn about the importance of culture, socialization, and the family. You will discuss social inequality in Canada, as well as explore the concepts of social control and deviance. Your studies will also include issues related to the power of mass media, the dualism of sex and gender, and race and ethnicity. You will have an opportunity to examine collective behavior, social movements, social change, and globalization.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0

You will apply knowledge and skills associated with curative and restorative care and perform focused health assessments. Your experiential learning will include organizing care for adult patients with acute health challenges in the context of medical and surgical environments. You will plan patient-centred care, prepare patient teaching, and apply concepts of patient safety and critical thinking supported by your use of evidence-informed practice.

Credit Units: 13  Course Hours: 195.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 105

You will examine the professional roles, ethical responsibilities and relationships of the practical nurse. You will explore nursing standards of practice, and concepts of professional development and reflective practice in the context of life-long learning. You will analyze conflict resolution in relation to personal and professional relationships, and examine nursing informatics and skills for professional employment.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 105

You will examine substance abuse and the physiological and psychological risks related to addiction. You will describe the processes of withdrawal and detoxification and examine the principles and application of the harm reduction model. You will examine addiction treatment models and describe the challenges of addiction treatment for patients with concurrent disorders. You will apply critical thinking and inquiry throughout the nursing process in addiction care.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 105, SOCI 160

You will examine the concepts of holistic nursing care related to acute variations in health for the adult patient. You will interpret laboratory and diagnostic findings in the context of acute health challenges. You will interdependently use the nursing process to deliver competent care; applying concepts of safety, critical thinking, and evidence informed practice. You will compare specific surgical treatments and apply concepts related to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative nursing care.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 105

You will explore the cultural diversity of Canadian society. You will discuss immigration trends, cultural values and the implications to the provision of health services. Cultural safety in healthcare and the role of the healthcare professional will be discussed in context.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): SOCI 160

You will perform assessments and skills with increasing proficiency for adult patients requiring curative and restorative medical and surgical care. You will plan holistic nursing care supported by evidence-informed practice and critical thinking. Your experiential learning will provide opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to maternal, newborn, and pediatric patients. You will examine medical emergencies and plan care with increased interdependence in collaboration with the health care team.

Credit Units: 15  Course Hours: 225.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 240, NURS 294, NRSG 257, NRSG 258, SOCI 201
Corequisites(s): PHAR 215

You will examine the role of the practical nurse in the context of patient care in the community with a focus on Indigenous health. You will examine the health promotion model and apply the determinants of health through experiential learning with community agencies. You will examine the leadership role of the practical nurse and prepare for the transition from the role of a student to that of a graduate practitioner. You will examine interprofessional collaboration and apply critical thinking and inquiry in the context of community health nursing.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 240, NURS 294, NRSG 257, NRSG 258, SOCI 201

You will examine the complex nursing care of patients with multi-system challenges and medical emergencies. You will plan ethical and competent holistic nursing care related to acute variations in health. You will apply concepts of safety-critical thinking, and evidence-informed practice in the delivery of patient care.

Credit Units: 2  Course Hours: 30.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 240, NURS 294(concurrent), NRSG 257, NRSG 258, SOCI 201

You will examine foundational assessments in the context of maternal, newborn, and pediatric patient populations. You will identify growth and development milestones from newborn to adolescence with a focus on family-centred care. You will apply critical thinking and inquiry to examine common medical, surgical, nutritional, and mental health issues common in childhood and adolescents. You will examine the health promotion, teaching, and safety of these populations in a variety of contexts.

Credit Units: 3  Course Hours: 45.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 240, NURS 294, NRSG 257, NRSG 258, SOCI 201

You will demonstrate skills and abilities required to safely prepare and administer medications through the intravenous route. You will interpret diagnostic tests and provide evidence informed patient care related to medication administration. You will recognize medications used in emergency patient care and examine traditional and alternative medications. You will identify the purpose and schedule for specific immunizations and plan patient teaching related to medication administration.

Credit Units: 2  Course Hours: 30.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 240, NURS 294, NRSG 257, NRSG 258, SOCI 201
Corequisites(s): CLIN 241

You will plan safe, competent patient care working in partnership with a licensed practical nurse. You will manage patient care with increased interdependence and confidence, demonstrating enhanced organization, decision-making, and critical thinking abilities. You will examine the leadership role of the practical nurse in the context of the health care team. You will examine the value of reflective practice in relation to lifelong learning. You will establish collaborative relationships, use professional communication, and demonstrate respect for diversity and ethical practice.

Credit Units: 11  Course Hours: 165.0
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 241, NURS 292, NRSG 298, NRSG 299, PHAR 215