Our 2- year nursing program is where your faith meets your career. The program combines an accredited biblical/theological foundation from Prairie College with accredited practical nurse training from Red Deer Polytechnic. Our graduates are highly sought after and find employment in hospitals, continuing care agencies, community settings and other health-related areas. 

Why Practical Nurse?

Bible as the Foundation

As you prepare for your career in the medical field we believe that it is important to know the living word of God.

Small Class Sizes

Prairie College is a place where everyone knows your name and cares about your education success and personal growth. Your teachers and peers will support you as you prepare for this challenging and rewarding career.

World Class Training Facilities

The classroom portion of your program takes place on Prairie College campus where we have a state of the art lab as well as a simulator doll for you to train with. Meet Annie! (Link video).

Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Program Partner

We are pleased to offer our program on our campus in Three Hills, AB in partnership with Red Deer Polytechnic.  

Practical Nurse

All courses are three credits unless shown otherwise.

Bible & Theology (12 Credits)

NT 112 Reading the Gospels and Acts

In this course, students are introduced to the story of Jesus Christ and his earliest disciples as told by the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Students will grow in their understanding of who Jesus is as well as in their ability to interpret the bible by attending to its literary, historical, and theological character.

OT 112 Reading the Torah

A study of the first five books of the Bible, focusing on the historical, literary and theological features of these books as well as establishing a strong grounding in Torah principles as preparation for interpreting the rest of Scripture.

ST 105 The Christian Quest

The Christian life is the experience of God drawing us into a relationship that is nothing less than the believer’s participation in the life of God through union with Christ. This is the Good News (i.e. Gospel) that takes root through sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). The transformative participation in Christ and His purposes gives this present life value, direction and hope. The believer is called to the quest of faithful discipleship in this participation and engagement with Christ.

The course is an exploration of and involvement in that quest. You will be challenged toward intentional participation in the life of God through your faithful discipleship response to His person and work. The content will explore a Christian spiritual theology and practice of participation with Christ. The theological approach to this participation is as a transformational relationship with the triune God in which you have both responsibilities and privileges. The course is designed to stretch beyond a cognitive/intellectual exercise and therefore you will be encouraged to actively engage in whole-hearted participation with God, both inside and outside of the classroom. The desired result is that you will know God more deeply, relate to Him as one intimately known by Him, and desire to make Him known to others.

TH 100 Introduction to Christian Theology

This course introduces students to the biblical, doctrinal, philosophical and historical “big picture” outlines of the Christian faith. The course aims to equip students with the skills to develop a Christian mind by assisting them in constructing a theological foundation for thinking and dealing with life’s most important issues. This course will also enable students to begin to think theologically and to construct a Christian worldview for the edification of the community of faith and to the glory of the almighty God whom we serve.

Arts & Sciences (9 Credits)

HF 110 Written Composition

This course provides students with a solid grounding in the processes that writers use to communicate clearly in a behavioral and health science context with a focus on the mechanics of writing college level essays and papers. Students will be introduced to strategies for developing an essay, enhancing writing skills, appropriate research procedures including using a library effectively, essay formatting and documentation.

SS 150 Interpersonal Communication

This course is designed to introduce students to practical concepts of communication and challenge them to apply these concepts in the contexts of interpersonal and group communication.

SS 311 Lifespan Development

Beginning with the concepts of human growth and development, this course will present the major

theories of human physical, cognitive, psychosocial, moral and faith development. As an integral part of the study of the theoretical concepts regarding human development, the biblical nature of theories will be evaluated. As well, the role of culture and the nature and influence of cultural diversity are included as topics of study. The implications and applications of the concepts of human development for teaching and ministering form a significant portion of this course.

Intercultural Studies (3 credits)

IS 152 Preparation for Intercultural Ministry

Practical Nurse (70 credits)

     PN 1083 Anatomy and Physiology (6 credits)

     PN 1078 Leadership

     PN 1052 Nursing Foundations 1 (4 credits)

     PN 1080 Pathophysiology

     PN 1059 Adult Health Assessment (4 credits)

     PN 1060 Gerontological Nursing

     PN 1077 Pharmacology (5 credits)

     PN 1081 Nursing Foundations 2 (5 credits)

     PN 1063 Residential Care Clinical (4 credits)

     PN 1067 Pharmacology (4 credits)

     PN 2065 Nursing Foundations 3 (4 credits)

     PN 1082 Mental Health Nursing

     PN 1068 Acute Care Clinical (6 credits)

     PN 2070 Maternity & Pediatric Nursing (4 credits)

     PN 2079 Interprofessional Leadership

     PN 2071 Community Health Nursing

     PN 1075 Comprehensive Practicum (6 credits)

  1. Practice safe, respectful, holistic and competent nursing care using evidence based creative problem solving, critical thinking skills and clinical judgement when planning appropriate client care. 
  2. Demonstrate competence within current legislation for Licensed Practical Nurses based on the current Competency Profile, Standards of Practice, Policies and Practice Guidelines and the Code of Ethics. 
  3. Provide safe, culturally sensitive, patient centered care to diverse populations across the lifespan. 
  4. Engage in continuous learning and reflection to meet and maintain one’s own personal and professional accountability to safe practice. 
  5. Provide leadership and supervision when working with unregulated health care providers as appropriate. 
  6. Practice interprofessional collaboration and teamwork to meet the collective needs of client care. 
  7. Employ therapeutic communication techniques to develp therapeutic relationships that support client care. 
  8. Practice safe and ethical technology use when providing client care.

Upon successful completion of the Practical Nurse Diploma program students are eligible to write the national licensing exam. The Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE) is offered in each province/territory. 100% of our graduates in the last five years have passed the national exam.

Graduates are prepared to provide high-quality nursing care in the areas of medical, surgical, pediatric, maternity, mental health, and geriatric care. Trained LPNs are able to work in hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing facilities, home health care services, camp ministry and/or missions/overseas.

Graduates may transfer into one of Prairie’s 4-year programs. Those who have completed both the Diploma in Ministry and Practical Nurse diploma can earn the Bachelor of Marketplace Ministries degree with an additional 33 credits (11 courses). These courses are available via Prairie Online Education.

Academic Admissions Requirement: 

  • A minimum average of 60% in five grade 12 courses.
  • A minimum of 60% in English 30-1
  • A minimum of 60% in Biology 30
  • A minimum of 50% in Math 30-1 or 30-2 OR 60% in Math 30 Applied or 20-1 OR 70% in Math 20-2 

 

For Homeschool students and applicants outside of Alberta please visit our Steps to Apply page

 

Christian Life & Testimony: 

Prairie College requires that students demonstrate a Christian life and testimony in order to effectively participate in our Christ-centered community. Applicants show evidence of meeting this requirement in the following application items: 

  • Personal Testimony
  • Spiritual Reference
  • Declaration for Admission

 

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of English Proficiency. See International Admissions Procedures for more information. 


Program Post-Acceptance Requirements

  • CPR Healthcare Provider Level Certificate. This must be the course provided by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and it must be updated every 12 months. It is available for students in the spring and does not need to be taken before they enroll. 
  • Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Search. PICs are valid for the duration of the PN Program, however, students are responsible to inform faculty of any changes to their PICs during the PN program. The PIC must be dated no earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the start of the PN Program.
  • Immunization Records need to be submitted in the students first semester of studies.
  • The Practical Nurse program is very demanding and requires that you have the mental and physical stamina to: work shifts and weekends; be on your feet for extended periods of time; use your knees, back and arms to move clients who have minimal strength; function effectively in stressful situations; work unassisted to perform skills.
  • Students should ensure that they have a laptop computer that is compatible with the Respondus LockDown browser. This browser is only compatible with Windows and Mac computers and Apple iPads. It is not compatible with smartphones, Chromebooks, or Android tablets. For more information on this browser, click here.

 

Transfer Credit Request

If you have already completed college or university courses you may apply for transfer credit. Any nursing courses that were completed more than four years ago will not qualify. For complete details please contact the Admissions Office.

For our Tuition & Fee rates as well as Room and Board please see Fees & Financial Aid

Canada & United States Application

Winter 2025 (January start), Fall 2025 (September start) and Online Education (start anytime) applications are open. 

International Student Application

Prairie welcomes applications from individuals all around the world! To begin the International Student Application please click the link below. 

Master's Application

If you are applying for the Master of Christian Ministry Leadership or the Master of Global Christian Educational Leadership please click the link below. 

Information Request

Tell us a bit about yourself and an admissions representative will be in touch shortly!

Here are key opportunities you can partner with Prairie

We have launched our Campaign for Greater Impact to provide students with the very best learning opportunities and campus facilities for the decades ahead. 

In Phase One of this Campaign, we plan to invest in much-needed campus renewal, including: upgraded Infrastructure, a new Student Residence, Cafeteria, Worship Auditorium, and expanded Aviation Training Centre. A modern campus requires an investment that is bold, and even expensive, but each Campaign Project is strategic, and designed to enhance Prairie’s campus and student life experience.

Expansion of Prairie Aviation Training Centre

This expansion of PATC’s facility is a key project of Prairie’s Campaign for Greater Impact. It will increase the College’s capacity to train a new generation of Christian aviators to serve God in missions, and also address the growing need for trained pilots in the commercial aviation sector.

Scholarships & Education Fund

Invest in the next generation of missional professionals. Each year Prairie College distributes over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students. We are grateful for each gift that reduces the burden of students’ tuition and allows students to fulfill their God-given professions.

Prison Bible Encounter Program

Encourage inmates in five institutions across Alberta to discover or reconnect with Jesus Christ. This fund assists the students studying the Certificate in Bible program with scholarships, resources for classes, and instruction. 

General Ministries

Prairie College is educating students to pursue a Biblical foundation for life and career.  Your contribution to this fund assists in minimizing the College’s general operating expenses.  

To allocate your gift, please select one of the donation buttons below.

Join us for Preview Day November 15 & 16