There are 3 Clinical placements in Years 3 and 4 of the Bridge Program prior to Consolidation.

1. BSN525 Professional Practicum 3: 12 hr in person - 144 hrs total

2. BSN625 Professional Practicum 4: 12 hr in person - 144 hrs total (<1000 hours of practice experience = group placement, >1000 hours =preceptored)

3. BSN725 Professional Practicum 5: 12hr in person - 144 hrs total (preceptored placement)

And finally:

BSN825 Integrated Professional Practicum - 460 hours total

• Scrubs for BSNB are Navy Blue scrubs. They can be purchased anywhere. They need to be all navy blue - no extra colours or piping.

• You will need to have your clinical student ID, which can be clipped onto your scrubs.

• Nails should be clean, not extend beyond the fingertips and contain no sharp edges.

• Nail coverings that are not a protectant and or neutral skin/nail tone is not permitted.

• Artificial nail tips/nails are not permitted.

As a registered practical nurse - you are required by the CNO to be able to identify your scope of practice (CNO, 2023). This includes the authority, context and competence to care for a patient or practice a skill (CNO, 2023, p.3).

If you are an employee at the place you are doing a clinical placement - you may or may not be able to do some skills that students normally can't. For example - perform a bedside blood glucose test - or point of care blood glucose test. Some organizations will allow their employees who are there as students to perform this skill as you have been certified by them and have already demonstrated you have the knowledge, skill and judgement to do so. You also have the appropriate access to the technology needed to do this skill. Other non-employed students do not. It is YOUR responsibility to understand if your scope is larger at your place of employment and to facilitate your clinical supervisor or preceptor having this information. Outside of your employer stating that it is ok for you to do so - you will be subject to the same limitations as all students.

Students are not permitted: 

• To be left ‘in charge’ of the unit

• To take verbal or telephone orders from any healthcare provider

• To perform any added nursing skills or special procedure or sanctioned medical act that requires certification

• To witness consents

• To carry narcotic keys or to take responsibility for a narcotic count at shift change

• To sign for blood products or administer blood products independently

• To feed a patient oral feeds via syringe.

• To assume responsibility for patient care during an independent observational experience if the student is not directly supervised the preceptor

References

College of Nurses of Ontario. (2023). Scope of practice. https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/49041-scope-of-practice.pdf