Georgian Owen Sound nursing program image. (supplied by Georgian College)
Georgian College will be offering a new program for registered practical nurses (RPN) to bridge their careers into a new designation.
The RPN-to-RN honours Bachelor of Science degree is a three-year program that allows an RPN to get certified as a registered nurse.
The program will be launching at Georgian’s Owen Sound campus this fall. It will also be offered at campuses in Barrie and Orangeville. It’s intended to provide career opportunities for nurses in hospitals, long-term care, primary care and community and home healthcare services.
A statement from Georgian College says RPNs registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario could be eligible for an accelerated RN transition in two years, instead of three.
“We are thrilled to provide this pathway for career advancement to RPNs in our local communities. This continues Georgian’s long-standing commitment to providing local nursing education designed to create a robust nursing workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of our local communities,” says Georgian College Associate Dean of Health, Wellness and Sciences Dr. Sara Lankshear in a prepared statement.
A release from Georgian College says the program will include a clinical placement where students will get hands-on learning under supervision of an experienced professional.
“Nurses are a critical member of the health-care team at Brightshores Health System. We are excited to see Georgian College begin offering this new pathway for RPNs currently practising in our area to obtain their RN nursing degree and continue to practise locally,” says Brightshores vice president of patient care & quality, nursing executive Judy Shearer.