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Additional Practical Nursing Program for PWC


Holland College will launch an additional Practical Nursing program on the Prince of Wales Campus in January, president Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald announced today.

The Practical Nursing program is currently offered on the Prince of Wales Campus with a start date in September and on the Summerside Waterfront Campus with a January start date. The two-year diploma program trains students to work in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, community care facilities, and hospitals, where their skills are in high demand, Dr. MacDonald said.

“We are all well-aware of the shortage of health care professionals in Prince Edward Island and across the country. This additional offering of the Practical Nursing program will help address the problem.”

The new offering of the program means 32 new students will start in January of 2022 and graduate in December of 2023, and another 32 will start January 2024 and graduate in December of 2025.  The Province is providing $700,000 of funding over four years to assist with the costs associated with the delivery of the January program.

“Government is proud to support the practical nursing program at Holland College, and it is wonderful to see this expansion,” said Health and Wellness Minister Ernie Hudson. “As we continue to find opportunities to expand our health care workforce in PEI it is so important to increase seats in programs, like the practical nursing program. This offers opportunities for both Island residents and those from off-Island not only to learn and train here, but our aim is also to have them work and live in our province for years to come.” 

Students learn anatomy and physiology, the fundamentals of nursing, and pharmacology, and are supported through extensive clinical placements. At the end of the program, they complete 160 hours of practicum in a clinical site with a licensed practical nurse as their preceptor. When they graduate, they must complete the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam to be eligible for initial licensure.

The admission requirements for this program include Grade 12 academic English, Grade 11 and 12 academic biology, and Grade 12 chemistry, all with a minimum mark of 70 per cent, and Grade 12 math with a minimum mark of 65 per cent. If individuals are interested in the program but do not have the required marks, they can upgrade free of charge through Holland College’s Adult Education program.  For a full list of admission requirements and other information about the program, including tuition and fees, visit the program page.

In this picture: (L-R) Holland College President Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, Practical Nursing students Candy Kayombo Ndaya, Sarah-Jane Parnell, and Danny Phalen, and Health and Wellness Minister Ernie Hudson in the Practical Nursing lab on Holland College’s Prince of Wales Campus.


For more information about this release, please contact:
Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Friday, October 15, 2021