Webinar Wednesday Recap: Practical Nursing
Last week, we hosted a Webinar Wednesday session shining a spotlight on our Practical Nursing program. If you couldn’t join us virtually, don’t worry. Below are the highlights from the session, along with the full recording below to watch at your convenience.
Fleming College’s Practical Nursing program, within the School of Health and Community Services. is known for its hands-on training, real-world clinical experience, and strong student support. During the webinar, prospective students connected with Shannon from Student Recruitment, Sol from the International team, and Ashley Millar, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator, to learn what the program looks like in practice, including delivery options, lab and simulation learning, clinical placements, and the career pathways available after graduation.
Why Practical Nursing at Fleming?
Our nursing program is designed to prepare students for the realities of healthcare from their very first semester. Through a strong blend of theory, hands-on nursing skills labs, high-fidelity simulation, and extensive clinical placements, students gain the knowledge and practical experience needed to thrive in a variety of care settings. With more than 900 hours of clinical experience and a final consolidation placement, graduates leave the program with the confidence, competence, and professional readiness to step into rewarding roles across hospitals, long-term care, community agencies, and beyond.
Three Key Takeaways
1. Flexible Program Options Designed for Student Success
Fleming offers three Practical Nursing program delivery options to meet diverse student needs: the Accelerated full-time program, the part-time program, and a PSW to PN Bridge. In addition to these delivery options, Fleming also offers a HyFlex Practical Nursing program, providing added flexibility for students. Keep an eye out for upcoming information sessions and webinars dedicated to this option.
The Accelerated program runs over five consecutive semesters with three intakes each year. The Bridge program allows eligible Personal Support Workers to enter in semester two and complete the program over four consecutive semesters. The part-time option spans nine consecutive semesters and is structured to accommodate students balancing other commitments.
All streams follow a hybrid delivery model. Lectures may be virtual or in person and are scheduled synchronously. Labs and seminars take place on campus, while clinical placements are completed on site with community partners in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, and surrounding areas.
Clinical experience is a cornerstone of the program. Students complete more than 900 hours of hands-on training, including placements in long-term care, hospital settings, community agencies, and a final 400-hour consolidation placement. This structure ensures graduates are confident, competent, and practice ready.
2. Hands-on Learning that Builds Real World Confidence
Throughout the program, students engage in progressive skills development. Nursing skills labs begin with foundational bedside care and advance to more complex competencies such as IV insertion, catheter care, wound management, and medication administration.
Simulation is also integrated into the learning experience with on-campus simulation labs providing safe, supportive environments where students can practice and refine their skills in small groups before entering clinical placements. Lab sections are capped to maintain quality instruction, and clinical groups are kept small to ensure individualized mentorship.
This layered approach to experiential learning allows students to develop both technical proficiency and strong therapeutic communication skills. By the time students reach their consolidation placement, they are working one on one with a preceptor and applying everything they have learned in a real healthcare environment.
3. Clear Career Pathways and Meaningful Community Impact
Graduates of the Practical Nursing program enter a workforce with strong demand and wide-ranging opportunities. Registered Practical Nurses can work in hospitals, long-term care homes, rehabilitation centres, clinics, community health settings, private homes, and more. The profession continues to expand, with increasing opportunities in specialty areas.
For those interested in further education, pathways from PN to RN are available through articulation agreements with partner institutions. Graduates can apply to bridge into Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, with some transfer credits recognized.
Fleming also incorporates Indigenous knowledge throughout the curriculum. Students have the option to complete the Indigenous Perspective Designation, deepening their understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis histories, cultures, and contributions. This commitment to culturally informed care reflects the evolving needs of healthcare in Canada.
CHECK OUT THE FULL WEBINAR:
HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO LEARN MORE?
If this session sparked your interest or you’re considering a future as a Practical Nurse, we’d love to connect with you. Our Student Recruitment team and program representatives are here to answer questions, help you explore admission pathways, or guide you toward the right next step. Be sure to check out our upcoming Webinar Wednesday sessions online. We’re hosting new topics in the months ahead and it’s a great way to learn more about programs that excite you.
CAN’T MAKE A LIVE WEBINAR WEDNESDAY EVENT?
No problem! We’ll save video recordings on Fleming’s official YouTube channel. And don’t worry, Program Coordinators are always available to answer your questions!
For more information about Webinar Wednesdays, please contact Student Recruitment.