PN Program Update
Renewal and Positive Developments in the PN Program
In February 2008, the Eminata+ Group of Colleges underwent significant changes following the addition of a number of new colleges and a new education organization. The Eminata+ Group now includes Vancouver Career College, PCU College of Holistic Medicine, CDI College, and Reeves College. This restructuring has resulted in a new educational organization comprising a network of campuses in four provinces. The Eminata+ Group’s Mission Statement reflects a core purpose to “Change Lives through Education.” It has been a time of positive change, reinvestment, and growth.
An underlying value of the Eminata+ Group is a commitment to continuous improvement and assessment. Over the past several months, the Eminata+ Group has begun an ambitious program of reinvestment, renewal, re-evaluation, growth, and implementation of rigorous quality assurance practices and program effectiveness measures. The first program to undergo this vigorous review process is our Practical Nursing (PN) program, which had been the subject of audits instituted by the Private Career Training Institutes Agency (PCTIA) and the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia (CLPNBC). In addition to our own thorough internal review and assessment of the program, an external review of the program was conducted by PCTIA and CLPNBC.
The reviews have resulted in a number of important recommendations for the strengthening of our PN program in key areas such as admissions, instructor credentials and training, equipment and resources, review and development of curriculum, implementation of internal policies and assessment of student learning outcomes, practicum placements and stakeholder feedback. Vancouver Career College has accepted the recommendations made for improvements in these areas and is taking action in accordance with a detailed action and implementation plan, which includes regular updates to CLPNBC and PCTIA. PCTIA and CLPNBC are expected to be undertaking follow-up reviews, including a campus visit, to review ongoing progress and implementation of corrective and strengthening measures. In addition, Eminata+’s five-year accreditation review is expected to take place in April 2009.
The PN program is a challenging professional program requiring dedication, focus and hard work. We are dedicated to the success of our students and remind students of the availability of student support, such as tutoring sessions, mid-term academic reviews and one-on-one reviews of failed quizzes. If you are experiencing difficulties, we encourage you to talk to your instructor, PN coordinator or the school director. Your success is our success, and we are here to help you succeed. To provide current students with added confidence as they prepare for the CPNRE exams, we will provide an opportunity to be assessed through a “mock” examination by an experienced RN education consultant. We will use CPNRE modeled exams and provide, at no charge, appropriate follow-up and, where required, remediation for students following the exam. A schedule of these exams will be provided to students by September 30, 2008. For students who will graduate on September 5, 2008, Vancouver Career College is committed to providing remedial assistance, at no charge, to graduates who are not successful in their first attempt in passing the CPNRE exam. We will update you as the positive developments continue at Vancouver Career College.
Yours in Quality Education,
Eminata+Group Leadership Team
