Today's nurses work in a large variety of specialties where they assess, plan, implement and evaluate care. With nurses taking on more responsibilities, the field continues to expand. As such, there are so many nursing positions to be filled in Canada that a major shortage is being predicted. According to the Canadian Nurses Association, the shortage could mean that from 59,000 to 113,000 nurses will be needed. Students who attend nursing programs can find long-lasting careers in this field. Centennial College offers several nursing programs that will help a variety of people obtain the education they need to do this.

Students who apply directly out of high school for the nursing college programs will most likely benefit from the Practical Nursing option, which offers both a full-time program as well as a flexible program (Practical Nursing - Flexible). This undertaking emphasizes the newest skills needed and offers students access to well-equipped labs and faculty members who have experience in the field. Upon graduation, students obtain an Ontario College Diploma and are ready to care for more stable patients. The curriculum for the Practical Nursing - Flexible is the same, but is offered in a six semester, three-day-per-week format.

An option that results in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the Nursing (BScN) program, which takes eight semesters to complete. Students attend both college and university level courses at Centennial College, George Brown College and Ryerson University. By selecting Centennial for their first two years of the program, they benefit from a smaller academic setting, personalized attention, a student mentorship program and a state-of-the-art campus with excellent computer and hospital laboratory resources.

Other Centennial College nursing programs that see students benefiting from college and university-level studies include: the two-semester RPN Bridging to University Nursing undertaking, which is designed for Registered Practical Nurses who want to obtain a BScN in about three years. It combines theoretical studies with clinical setting courses that focus on ethics, professional practice, health assessment and more. Another option is the RPN Bridging to University Nursing - Regional Access Centre Part Time Hybrid Program. This undertaking is a hybrid delivery format that is offered at two Regional Access Centres (RAC's) in Ontario, which will allow Registered Practical Nurses to complete the first part of the Centennial College's RPN to BScN Nursing Bridging Program in six continuous semesters.

The final bridging option (Bridging to University Nursing - IEN) is for internationally educated nurses. It serves as an academic pathway to meet the needs of internationally educated nurses who are interested in working as Registered Practical Nurses in Canada. In addition, RPNs who possess a certificate but wish to upgrade to an Ontario College Diploma or RPNs who have been out of practice for 10 years or less and need a refresher will benefit. It lasts three semesters and includes 15 weeks of consolidation experience.

Lastly, if you have a Canadian college diploma the PR - Perioperative Nursing program, which is 400 hours and results in an Ontario College Graduate Certificate, may be for you. It prepares you to work in an operating room setting.

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