So, as a recent graduate of the Practical Nurse Program, here are my honest thoughts…read more
The school itself is very unorganized, and the student advisors are terrible. I graduated a year later than expected due to the student advisors, so be very mindful of what they tell you and always ask for a second opinion. After failing one course, I was told I couldn't attend an upcoming clinical. I later found out that other people who failed that very same course were able to attend said clinical. I then requested to take two other courses while taking my second clinical of the program, to which the student advisor told me was not an option and that I had to pick between clinical and the two other courses, because I could not take all three at the same time. I ended up choosing to take the clinical course instead of the two theory courses, only to find out during said clinical that all the other students were not only enrolled in the same clinical as I was, but they were also enrolled in both of the theory courses that I originally requested to be enrolled in but was told I couldn't. Because of two student advisors in particular, my completion of the course was pushed back by a year, and I was unable to graduate with my original cohort.
Once I finally completed the program, I experienced multiple issues trying to get NorQuest to send my official transcripts to the CLHA. I had multiple job opportunities that were delayed; some opportunities were even lost due to NorQuest not processing my transcript request. I was originally told to send the official transcript request form to enrollment, but then I was later told, after weeks of not hearing back, that I was supposed to send the transcript to a different NorQuest email for processing. I was also told to sign a form that did not require a signature and was led to believe that was why my transcripts hadn't been processed, but then later received confirmation that the form did not have to be signed. Once again, a huge delay. This especially frustrated me because, as a student who lost her job during the program due to back-to-back clinicals lasting a total of 3 months, preventing me from being able to pick up shifts, I was trying to get my temporary license as soon as possible so I could start working, since I was also unable to work during preceptorship, but experienced such a long delay that, as stated earlier, I missed out on employment opportunities. I ended up requesting my official transcripts to be sent to MyCreds so I could send them myself to the CLHA, as I no longer trusted NorQuest to do it for me. Once I took matters into my own hands, I ended up receiving my provisional permit a day later.
The school and the staff are terrible. I wish that weren't the case, but unfortunately, that has been my experience.