As the country’s population ages, filling the demand for skilled health care workers becomes an even more important task for post-secondary institutions. Parkland College is doing its part to supply medical professionals to the health regions where they’re needed most, right here in Saskatchewan.
Students can enroll at Parkland College to begin a career in health care through a one-year Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) Certificate, a two-year Practical Nursing Diploma, or a four-year Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Degree.
The CCA program from Sask Polytech runs every year at Parkland College. This certificate program prepares graduates to work in care homes, community health centres, and home care settings. It consists of a mix of theory courses, hands-on lab training, and clinical placements. Students learn to work with disabled, recovering, and chronically and terminally ill people, providing assistance with essential activities of daily living. The certificate can be taken full-time or part-time.
Another long-running program, the Sask Polytech Practical Nursing Diploma is offered in two-year cycles. It follows a high-demand admissions process and students apply for entry nearly a year in advance. The next program begins in February 2017 and concludes in December 2018. Applications for this program will be available from March 1 to June 30, 2016. Graduates are eligible to write the national licensing examination for registration as Licensed Practical Nurses. Most graduates work in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, medical centres, and extended care facilities.
The BSN Degree from the University of Saskatchewan can also be taken entirely in Yorkton. It’s a non-direct entry program, consisting of a pre-professional year of prerequisite university courses, followed by three years of concentrated nursing education and clinical practice opportunities. Most graduates of the College of Nursing become head nurses, nursing supervisors, graduate nurses, and registered nurses who provide and/or coordinate patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, nursing agencies, rehabilitation centres, and extended care facilities.
Health care is a rewarding career with strong job opportunities. Visit www.parklandcollege.sk.ca for full details about starting on your path to a career in health care.
