Parkland College honoured the Practical Nursing Class of 2014 in a pinning ceremony Friday in Yorkton. The celebration is a traditional way of welcoming the class of 22 students into the nursing profession.
“This is the 10th Practical Nursing class to graduate at Parkland College,” said Wendy Wilson, Post-Secondary Health Coordinator. “It takes a lot of dedication to reach this milestone, and we wish them the best as they begin their careers.”
Parkland College has been delivering the SaskPolytech (formerly SIAST) Practical Nursing program at its Yorkton campus since 1999. The two-year diploma includes more than 700 hours of theory and over 900 hours of clinical/lab instruction. Overall, Parkland College has now graduated more than 135 Practical Nurses. Every graduate has passed the licensing exam with marks exceeding the national average.
“The Board and staff of Parkland College are very proud of our graduates,” said President Dr. Fay Myers. “With the skills these students have, they will be of great value to health regions in our province.”
The diploma prepares students to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), which are in high demand in the health care system. Most graduates work in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, medical centres, and extended care facilities. LPNs typically work in an area of interest such as gerontology, maternal-child, medical, mental health, palliative, pediatric, rehabilitation, or surgical nursing.
