Alberta Rural Nursing Program

Hi there Heather...I am new here and in Alberta as well. I will be taking my LPN thru Norquest College as I am unable to go to school full time with three children. How are you finding distance education?? I hope to go on to my RN after...but one step at a time :)

Hi Karen,

Welcome and thanks for replying. I was taking the LPN program through Norquest as well. I had just completed the Anatomy & Physiology course when I decided to switch to the RN program. I think you'll enjoy the program very much. My Mom just graduated from it (at 54 yrs old) with honours. She's working in BC and the pay far exceeds Alberta's wages. She is making about $23 an hour.

Have you started A&P yet?

lol....kinda have to make $23 an hour in BC...but my understanding is that most if not all jobs in BC are part time. Have not started any courses yet..will be doing that next month hopefully. Your mom did it thru Norquest as well?? I had been accepted to Bow Valley College here in Calgary, but couldn't get funding..soooo gonna have to do it part time and work. Norquest seems to be my best bet at this point.

lol....kinda have to make $23 an hour in BC...but my understanding is that most if not all jobs in BC are part time. Have not started any courses yet..will be doing that next month hopefully. Your mom did it thru Norquest as well?? I had been accepted to Bow Valley College here in Calgary, but couldn't get funding..soooo gonna have to do it part time and work. Norquest seems to be my best bet at this point.

Yes my mom went through Norquest. She lives up in 100 Mile House and the cost of living is comparable to here. I think that people always assume that BC is extremely expensive to live in. Maybe in Vancouver or the Okanagon, but the reality is that it's expensive to live anywhere right now and Alberta is no exception.

I think Norquest is a great option to be able to work and study at the same time. I will work for the next year, take some courses by corespondence and then quit to go to school full-time. I will have a good sized debt by the time I'm done.

oh you are absolutely right!! It is expensive everywhere it seems nowadays. I am originally from BC but have been in AB for 12 yrs. Every winter I sure wonder why I stay here...I like the fact that with Norquest you pay for each class individually..which makes it a lot easier for a single mom. If its true that there are LPN jobs in BC..I sure would want to go back there when I am done. I was born on the island and grew up in Vancouver. Will you be working in Whitecourt when you are done school?? Good luck to you!!

It definitely is a small world! I grew up on the island as well. I lived in Duncan, Parksville and Victoria (for a short spell). I yearn for the ocean with every fiber of my being. My husband and I plan on getting there eventually. Nursing is my ticket back to the coast.

I live in the country between Edson and Hinton. I will attend school in Hinton and then work in either town. I know there are LPN jobs everywhere, but you probably wouldn't get a permanent FT position right away. My mom was hired casual this spring, but has barely stopped working since then.

Sure is a small world!! Seems like we have a lot in common....very nice to meet you Heather!!

Nice to meet you too! Good luck with your first course!

If I may ask....how many courses did your mom do at a time?? did she study full or part time??I am really concerned about how long this is gonna take me to complete....

My mom went through the program one course at a time. She completed it in 2.5 yrs. She didn't work throughout the program, but I know others who did. Everything was distance and then she went down to Kamloops for two of the practicums (7 wks and 5 wks). The last 2 practicums she did in her home town.

I used to live in Kamloops...thats where I was till I moved here...2 of my daughters were born there. Sure miss it!! So I guess that means I may not have to go to Edmonton for my practical training.Been here 12 yrs..never been to Edmonton!!

You should check with Liz Anderson at Norquest about where your practicums will be. I know that most students have to go there (even from out of province). My mom's group had enough students in it to warrant finding instructors close by but I don't think they'll be running the program that way there again for awhile. You may have to travel ...