Offered at Surrey and/or Langley

Start date: September, January and March

Description

This unique program prepares graduate nurses from other countries to work in the nursing profession in British Columbia. This program is designed for nurses who are required by the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia (RNABC), to upgrade their English language skills to accepted levels on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE). Nursing knowledge and skills are also upgraded prior to writing the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination.

This program is designed to:

• Prepare graduate nurses from other countries to work in a Canadian health care setting;
• Upgrade nursing knowledge and skills to levels required for beginning practitioners in British Columbia as outlined by the RNABC;
• Upgrade English skills to levels required by the RNABC and to enable effective communication with clients and colleagues;
• Prepare graduates to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination required to apply for registration as a nurse in British Columbia.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be eligible to apply to work as a Registered Nurse in British Columbia upon successful completion of the program and the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination.

As space is limited in this program, students are encouraged to apply early.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for this program are under review.

In addition to meeting Kwantlen's general admission requirements, applicants tot he Graduate Nurse with English as an Additional Language program must complete the following prerequisites before final acceptance into the program.

• A letter from the RNABC stating eligibility to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination.
• English language assessment of written TOEFL 535 (reading comprehension 55) or Computer TOEFL 202 (reading comprehension 22), or IELTS of 5.5 with a minimum Academic Reading score of 6 and a minimum speaking score of 6 or SLEP 59 (reading comprehension 30) and TSE or SPEAK 45, or a 40 for students with two years acute nursing experience within the last five years. A TOEFL is required if the SLEP has been written three times without achieving the required level.
• Registered or graduate nurse experience in a medical, surgical or related setting if initial nurse education occurred over five years prior to program application.
• CPR Level C certificate. CPR certification must remain current throughout the program. Immunization consistent with the requirements of clinical agencies.
• A Criminal Record Search completed within three months prior to enrolling in the program.
• An interview with the Program Coordinator or designate may be required.

A criminal record check is required by the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia prior to registration as a nurse and is a pre-practice requirement of some of the clinical agencies used during the program. Any costs related to having this check done are the responsibility of the individual student. The Registered Nurses Association may refuse to register any person who has been convicted of an indictable offence. Applicants with any criminal convictions should request advice from the Dean of Community and Health Studies at Kwantlen, or from the Registrar of the Registered Nurses Association before making formal application for admission to the program.

Clinical Agency Requirements

Some agencies may require students to take an Oath of Confidentiality. If any practice experience agencies require proof of current immunizations, all costs and responsibilities associated with these are the responsibility of the individual students. Failure to have documentation acceptable to the agency at the time of placement may mean denial of the experience, which in turn will prevent completion of the program of studies.

*Please note that these are entrance requirements for entry into the GNEAL program. The exit levels for the GNEAL program are higher: TOEFL 550 or computer TOEFL 213; TSE 50, IELTS 6.5 (reading 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Content

This full time nine-month program is offered three times a year. The program includes classroom instruction, independent study, English laboratory sessions, nursing skill laboratory sessions and hospital clinical experience.

The content is presented at a basic level and is aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to give safe nursing care to adults in medical-surgical units and extended care facilities throughout BC. The courses are organized in three levels.

Level 1

Level 1 is two months in length and is a prerequisite to clinical experience. This level emphasizes acquisition of English language skills to enable effective communication in clinical areas. Level 1 also includes communication skills, assertiveness skills, the study of Canadian culture and values, and upgrading of nursing psychomotor skills.

EASL 1100 English Upgrading for Graduate Nurses I

GNEA 1102 Nursing Theory I

GNEA 1103 Canadian Culture and the Health Care
Environment

Level 2

Level 2 is five months in length and includes medical, surgical and extended care clinical experiences, as well as theory review of medical-surgical nursing. English language upgrading continues as does upgrading of psychomotor skills.

EASL 1200 English Upgrading for Graduate Nurses II

GNEA 1201 Nursing Theory II

GNEA 1202 Nursing Experience

Level 3

Level 3 includes review of maternal and pediatric nursing, mental health nursing and Canadian Registered Nurse Examination preparation, plus a practicum experience.

EASL 1300 English Upgrading for Graduate Nurses III

GNEA 1301 Nursing Theory III

GNEA 1302 Practicum

A student must achieve a minimum grade of C in a theory course and mastery in a clinical course in order to progress to a subsequent course and to receive the program certificate. Evaluation in clinical experience courses includes interpersonal skills and professional behavior as well as clinical knowledge and skills.

Costs

In addition to tuition fees, students will spend approximately $2,000 for textbooks, course materials, uniforms, English language testing etc. during the program. Students are also responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical experiences.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of this program a Certificate in Graduate Nurse with English as an Additional Language Upgrading Program awarded.