ACC accepting proposals for rotating practical nursing sites

ACC issued a call for proposals today to communities interested in hosting a rural rotating practical nursing site for the college.

“By extending our Practical Nursing program to regions outside Brandon and Westman, we expand education opportunities beyond larger centres, giving students the chance to study closer to home,” said Karen Hargreaves, ACC’s Dean of Health and Human Services. “The intent is that most of these graduates will stay and work in their regions, helping to meet the demand for trained nursing professionals in these areas.”

Three communities will be selected to host the delivery of the college’s two-year Practical Nursing diploma program, each during one the following dates:

1. September 2016 – May 2018;
2. January 2017 – September 2018; and
3. September 2017 – May 2019

There will be 25 seats available in each of the three intakes.

Proposals will be assessed based on labour market demand; health care partnerships, which primarily involve practicum placements for students; available facilities; student demand and student experience. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 13.

An announcement for the three locations selected is expected towards the end of this year. The college anticipates opening the application process for prospective students in February 2016.

Since 1999, ACC has delivered the Practical Nursing program in rural rotating sites in addition to its permanent sites at campuses in Brandon and Winnipeg. The last call for proposals was in late 2013.

Over the years, ACC has provided nursing training in communities including Dauphin, Selkirk, Steinbach, Winkler/Morden, Arborg, Flin Flon, Beausejour, Killarney, Carmen, Russell, Boissevain, The Pas, Neepawa, Ashern, Deloraine, Pine Falls and Portage la Prairie.

ACC’s two-year Practical Nursing diploma program teaches clinical nursing skills in a laboratory setting and applied skills in acute and extended care health facilities, personal care homes, community agencies and private homes.

The demand for ACC nursing graduates is high; more than 97 per cent of graduates in the past three years said they were employed in a job related to their training.

For details on the proposal process and related documents, visit the Practical Nursing Rotating Site page.