This article contains the best nursing schools in Alberta. In these schools you’d be able to carry out practicals , also we have indicated the school requirements for nursing in Alberta.
The need for certified nurses is rising in Alberta to satisfy the province’s expanding healthcare needs.
Nurses are needed in every aspect of life. They have been found in a variety of locations, including hospitals, prisons, schools, war zones, and the military.
Thus, it makes sense to pursue a career in nursing. However, if you want to work as a registered nurse in Alberta, you must enroll in a nursing program.
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What Is Involved in a Nursing Career?
How do nurses work? Nurses must be knowledgeable, adaptable, trained, and adept in critical thinking because they are always assessing and analyzing patients.
Coordinating with several specialists is one of a nurse’s duties to make sure that their patients are sufficiently on the road to recovery.
A nurse’s abilities are expanded by the various sorts of care; contrary to popular belief, which has nurses dressed in hospital scrubs, a nurse can take many other forms.
Here are some specific tasks that nurses perform on a daily basis:
- Make physical examinations
- Consider thorough medical histories
- Consider the patients’ emotional and physical demands while you listen to them.
- Patients should receive counseling and health education.
- Care coordination with other medical professionals and experts
- Keep abreast of modifications in medical procedures, drugs, and therapies.
- Perform blood tests and other medical examinations.
- Verify the patient’s vitals
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School Requirements For Nursing Schools In Alberta
Students must have graduated from high school with at least a C average in English, arithmetic, biology, and chemistry in order to be admitted to either a diploma or undergraduate college program (BN or BSc) in nursing. You should study physics.
A pre-nursing year is offered by various schools for students who lack the basic requirements.
Many nursing schools have specialized advanced programs; some examples are emergency nursing, cardiac nursing, oncology nursing, school nursing, pediatric nursing, and geriatric nursing.
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Nursing Programs in Alberta
You should carefully consider your alternatives until you locate the nursing program that is best for you because there are many different types of nurses and nursing training programs.
The training programs that allow you flexibility and choice in your learning options are created by post-secondary schools working together.
In Alberta, there are 4 different categories of professional nursing programs:
1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
However, in order to practice, you need a two-year diploma.
LPNs collaborate with other medical professionals to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and adhere to a patient’s care plan.
They may also gather information such as blood pressure or blood glucose levels and help with procedures like catheterization, but they are unable to independently evaluate a patient.
They may answer to a unit lead instead of an RN or doctor as their supervisors (if they themselves are not the lead).
A two-year diploma, a minimum of 900 hours of clinical and lab experience, and 750 hours of theoretical education are needed to become a licensed practical nurse.
2. Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
For admittance into practice, this requires a diploma (2.5 years at a least).
RPNs are trained nurses that look after the mental and developmental well-being of their patients.
Only Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Yukon employ RPNs, which are regulated nurses.
Other Canadian provinces and territories employ registered nurses (RNs) with a specialty in mental health.
However, you must have a Psychiatric Nursing Diploma or Post-Diploma Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing in order to work as an RPN in Alberta.
3. Registered Nurse
RNs consult with patients to ascertain their medical need. After receiving their degree, individuals can enroll in additional training programs to specialize in fields like surgery or pediatrics.
Leadership opportunities can also come with being an RN; for instance, some community health centers in northern Canadian communities are administered by RNs.
Additionally, in order to work as a registered nurse in Alberta, you must possess (at a minimum) one of the following undergraduate degrees:
Bachelor of Nursing (BN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) are different degrees; the former is not the same as the latter (BSc).
4. Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are clinically educated nurses with graduate-level education.
In order to work as an NP in Alberta, candidates must:
- Be a Registered Nurse (RN) with 4,500 hours of clinical nursing experience
- possess extra training, such as a master’s in nursing
- Take and pass the NP qualifying exam in the nurse’s chosen practice area, such as all ages, adult, pediatric, or neonatal.
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The List of Nursing Schools In Alberta
1. MacEwan University
This is one of the best nursing schools in Alberta where theories and practicals in nursing are being carried out.
Three nursing programs are offered by this university: a bachelor’s degree in psychiatric nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and a diploma in physical therapy nursing.
Furthermore, your abilities for a more advanced role in nursing leadership, education, and research are provided by the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which also prepares you for entry into direct practice.
The way their curriculum is organized promotes the application of information and a variety of abilities, including clinical judgment, risk and health assessment, health promotion, and injury prevention.
The focus shifts from learning about individual health to considering the interrelated health situations of people, families, groups, populations, and communities at all stages.
Furthermore, It is crucial to take courses in the appropriate order since theory and practical experience are linked, and courses are organized so that one year builds on the next.
Additionally, the Psychiatric Nursing diploma builds on principles from nursing and psychiatric nursing, as well as from the biological, health, and social sciences, via comprehensive theory, laboratory work, and clinical experience.
The Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada Examination and the application to become a Registered Psychiatric Nurse are both open to graduates of the psychiatric nursing diploma program.
The Tuition costs for Bachelor of psychiatric nursing , Bachelor of Science in Nursing is CAD$29,000.00 (US$ 20,906) per year whereas that of diploma in nursing is CAD$26,000.00 (US$ 18,743) per year.
2. University Of Alberta
This school has 6 nursing courses. They include;
- Bachelor of science in Nursing
- Bachelor of science in nursing in Bilingual
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing
- Master of Nursing
- master of nursing with a specialization in aging
You can enter a range of occupations in nursing and beyond by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree, which is the first step toward becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).
One of the best nursing schools in Canada is the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta.
With this four-year curriculum, you’ll receive the most thorough training available to go ready for a rewarding nursing profession.
The first semester of your degree program is dedicated to practical training, and you will have multiple opportunities to complete clinical assignments.
You can seek to join the BScN Honors Program after your second year, but admission is tough and involves additional homework.
The annual tuition cost for a Bsc in nursing is $27,000.00 (about 19,464 USD).
The following are the tuition fees for the other nursing programs in this school.
- Master In Nursing: Course-Based yearly fee: CAN $9,321.6; Thesis-Based yearly fee: CAN $8,700).
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing: Course-Based yearly fee: CAN $9,321.6; Thesis-Based yearly fee: CAN $8,700
- master of nursing with a specialization in aging:Course-Based yearly fee: CAN $9,321.6; Thesis-Based yearly fee: CAN $8,700
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) :CAD$28,281.60 (US$ 20,388) per year
3. University of Lethbridge
They offer the following nursing courses
- Bachelor of nursing
- Master of science in nursing
- Bachelor of Nursing – After Degree
In partnership with Lethbridge College, the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Sciences provides the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing After Degree programs.
Graduates are equipped to work as compassionate, holistic professionals who base their nursing care on standards for good practice, research, and theoretical understanding.
The curriculum gives students the background knowledge they need to pass the Canadian nursing license exam (RN).
The annual tuition is CAD$19,324.00 (US$13,931).
The B.N. After Degree program runs continuously for 24 months beginning in September of each year. Six semesters in a row will be used to deliver the 81-credit curriculum.
4. Mount Royal University
They offer two nursing courses
- Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing(ACCN) – Post Diploma Certificate
- Bachelor of Nursing
The ACCN program offers the ideal balance of semester-based theoretical coursework and practical clinical experiences that are only available through distance learning, allowing you to fit it into your busy schedule and location.
You have six years to finish the program, so you can go at your own pace while taking the courses. There is built-in flexibility throughout the semester to help adult learners handle outside responsibilities.
The annual cost of tuition for this program is C$11,000.00 (US$7,930).
The nursing education prepares students to meet the entry-level competences required to practice nursing safely and ethically.
The annual tuition for the bachelor of nursing program is CAD$22,000.00 (US$ 15,860).
5. NorQuest College
They offer two courses in nursing. Diploma in practical nurse and Practical Nurse Diploma for Internationally Educated Nurses.
The need for licensed practical nurses is rising in Alberta as a result of the province’s expanding healthcare needs.
One of the largest practical nurse programs in Canada, offered by NorQuest College, will train you to work as a professional practical nurse who is qualified to provide clients with excellent care in a range of healthcare environments.
There are four practicums totaling 680 hours in this curriculum. Practicums may be scheduled near or in the student’s neighborhood.
However, during the practicum, students must work full-time and arrange for their own transportation to the facility.
The cost of this program’s tuition is CAN $456 per credit.
The Diploma for Internationally Educated Nurses program will train you to become a professional practical nurse who will offer clients high-quality treatment in a range of healthcare environments.
The goal of this two-year diploma program is to prepare nurses with international training for academic and professional success.
You will be prepared for practicum, writing the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam, and future job success through cooperative classes, labs, workshops, and unique learning methodologies that are tailored to target specific student requirements.
The annual cost of tuition for this program is C$40,008.00 (US$28,841).
6. Bow Valley College
This is one of the best nursing schools in Alberta that has a program in Practical Nurse Diploma – Internationally Educated Nurses
The Practical Nurse Diploma – Internationally Educated Nurses program places a strong emphasis on practical training and gets students job-ready while preparing them to deliver high-quality nursing care.
While updating your knowledge and abilities to meet the most recent College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) practice standards and license criteria, this program gives learners acknowledgement of prior learning and professional practice.
Candidates must, however, have held a prior international Registered Nurse (RN) license.
The annual tuition for this course is CAD$28,233.00 (US$20,353).
7. Athabasca University
This university offers three nursing courses; Bachelor of Nursing, Post-LPN and master of nursing- nursing practitioner.
The goal of this Post-LPN program is to give participants the chance to pursue a bachelor degree in nursing with flexible modalities of course delivery and opportunities to build a clinical focus.
Graduates may apply for registration with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta and sit for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).
Your preparation to identify and treat common illnesses and injuries in patients of all ages comes from your Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner degree.
Also, For your advanced nursing practice, you will receive both theoretical and clinical preparation.
8. University of Calgary
To educate students for the potential and difficulties of a nursing career in a changing healthcare system, this institution provides an innovative Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Students receive a solid theoretical foundation throughout the program as well as supervised practice experience in a range of nursing settings.
BN students must finish the fourth year program requirements with a minimum 2.50 grade point average in order to be qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Through research and education, their master’s degree in nursing aims to develop nursing practice and promote health. The curriculum can be finished in six years for course-based students.
This degree is ideal for RNs with extensive knowledge bases and complex decision-making abilities since it prepares nurses for advanced practice in specialized fields such as direct clinical practice, teaching, or health policy and leadership.
9. Robertson College
Although there may not be an RN program offered here, you could start your career with the Nursing Assistant Diploma program.
The practical training, where you put what you’ve learned in the classroom to use in an entry-level job, will be a significant part of your education.
Both the health unit clerks and the health care assistant work – based learning are six-week-long requirements for the Nursing Assistant program.
10. Nightingale Academy
Students from this school are prepared to enter employment in the province, whether it be in hospitals, assisted living, or long-term care facilities.
The Alberta Government has granted certification to Nightingale Academy’s 35-week Health Care Aide training course. With their renowned instructors and small class groups, you can anticipate highly focused training because this is the only curriculum they offer.
The Nightingale Academy Program, approved by Alberta Health Services, consists of classroom instruction, laboratory work, clinical training, a practicum, and post-graduation continuing education.
You’ll get knowledge of taking vital signs, using aseptic sterile procedures, and interacting with patients in long-term care facilities, among other things.
VISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE
Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions on nursing schools in Alberta:
How are nurses paid in Alberta?
In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the average salary for a registered nurse is $101,139 per year and $49 per hour.
A Registered Nurse may expect to make between $70,494 and $123,086 per year on average. The highest level of education often required for becoming a registered nurse is a bachelor’s degree.
Where Do Nurses Practice?
Registered nurses don’t all work in hospitals. A nurse can be found in a wide range of medical facilities, including clinics, urgent care facilities, pharmacies, hospitals, and many other places.
Additionally, nurses may practically anywhere in the world use their abilities to fulfill the requirements of their patients.
For instance, many nurses now provide in-home care for the elderly or incapacitated. The following are some typical places where nurses work:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Ambulance/Helicopter
- health care settings at home
- Assisted living facilities
Conclusion:
The path to becoming a nurse is not easy as it sounds. Nevertheless it is a fulfilling and rewarding career.
There is no better place to learn how to become a nurse than in Alberta.
In this article, we’ve provided the best Alberta nursing schools that carry out practicals and theory in nursing as well as school requirements.
Hope you found this article insightful?
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References
- 9 Institutions offering Nursing Courses In Alberta – Hotcourses Abroad
- https://www.bestinedmonton.com/best-nursing-schools-edmonton/