FAQ

You can find information by visiting the Nursing Program Home Page. It includes the following information: description of the program, admission requirements, course list (nursing specific courses and general education courses).

Please see the Admissions page for details.

You can take these courses or their equivalents at a Quebec college such as Dawson or at an adult education center e.g., through the high school boards.

Note: that the Physical Science 436 course is a pre-requisite for the Chemistry 534.

We can accommodate, in terms of our lab and clinical facilities, approximately 120 students. This is about 35% of the applications we receive.

  • Previous relevant academic performance (high school, college and/or university).
  • Preference is given to students who have chemistry 551-504 or Chemistry 534.
  • Proficiency in English.
  • Relevant experience demonstrating aptitude for working with people and caring for others.
  • Quality and content of letter of intent.

The Program is 3 years long and a student must complete the program within 5 years from the time of admission to receive a Nursing diploma (D.E.C.). We do not have any intensive programs (shortened program) for students who have college/university credits or for nursing assistants. Nursing courses are offered in each of the 6 semesters. We do not offer any nursing courses in the summer semester. The first semester starts in the fall semester only.

No. The program is offered only on a full-time basis. If you have work or family responsibilities that will make it difficult for you to be a full time student, then you might investigate options for reducing the course load, such as taking the general education courses either the year before entry into the Nursing Program during the evenings on a part-time basis or in the summer if they are available.

No. Each nursing program is different in the way it implements its curriculum and deals with the competencies especially concerning the nursing specific courses such as nursing and biology.

  • Unless you have a reduced course load (because you have already taken some of the general education courses at college, or are out of phase in the Nursing Program) you will find that your program schedule and study time will be demanding of your time and effort.
  • Nursing chairperson pre-registers or predetermines your group placement on the timetable for the Nursing Specific courses, so your schedule is fixed for these courses, and this may interfere with your job plans for that semester.
  • Currently in 2nd and 3rd year, part of the student’s clinical experience may take place in the evening.

Textbooks for nursing specific courses (Nursing, Biology, Sociology & Psychology courses). Note that the books are used over the 6 semesters and are valuable references even after graduation.

  • 1st semester approximately $525
  • 2nd semester approximately $350
  • 2nd year approximately $250
  • 3rd year approximately $250

Approximate costs: uniform – $45, stethoscope – $50-80, miscellaneous items (scissors, penlight, name tag) – $20, white shoes. All are purchased in the first semester.

Currently we are using the following clinical facilities for clinical practice: St. Mary’s Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal General Hospital, Shriners, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Douglas Hospital. Clinical experience is predominately in hospital settings; however our clinical objectives are also met in community settings such as elementary schools, YMCA day care centers, and in ambulatory settings such as outdoor clinics, geriatric day centers. In the 6th semester, some students may be given the option of working in emergency departments, intensive care units, and palliative care units.

Until 2014, the Order of Nurses has estimated that Quebec will need to recruit more than 2,500 persons/year.
www.oiiq.org/
Based on research published by Canadian Nurses Association, “Canada will have a shortage of 78,000 registered nurses by 2011 and up to 113,000 by 2016.”
https://www.cna-aiic.ca/en
How much do nurses currently earn?

  • Nurse with diploma (DEC) 32,250 to 48,000
  • Nurse with a degree 33,500 to 61,500
  • Nurse clinician specialist 50,000 to 68,500

www.oiiq.org/services/emplois/recherche_emplois.aspx

Even though Quebec allows for licensing to practice nursing with a diploma (D.E.C.), it is strongly recommended that students continue their studies and obtain a degree in nursing to allow them greater mobility to work outside of the province and to have access to a broader range of job opportunities. Many options are available including an Integrated Bachelor of Nursing Program set up between the anglophone nursing programs in Quebec and McGill University.

www.mcgill.ca/nursing/

Nursing students may be required to complete a written criminal background declaration/verification on the first day of their clinical (hospital) stage. Health Care Institutions have been mandated by the Minister of Health and Social Services (MSSS) to conduct these criminal background verifications in order to ensure safe competent care.



Last Modified: July 27, 2016