List of Online Nursing Programs: Nursing Assistant Diploma Program

If 2020 has shown us anything, it’s the importance of our essential healthcare workers. Nurses, doctors and surgeons (among many others in the healthcare field) have been our champions through a particularly tough year. If your goal is to pursue a career in nursing, we can help you get there. 

We’ve put together a list of online nursing programs in Canada, including some things to consider if you’re still trying to decide if it’s the career path for you. Today, nurses are needed more than ever and it’s certainly a career path that can help you make a difference in someone’s life. 

Online nursing programs in Canada

Here are seven online nursing programs across Canada that will help you start a meaningful career, advance your current one or help you specialize your skills. 

1. Nursing Assistant Diploma Program at Robertson

We offer a 46-week Nursing Assistant Diploma Program at our Winnipeg campus. This program prepares graduates to work in hospitals and other care facilities, completing clerical work and caring for patients. They’ll be equipped to offer support, whether it’s helping with basic hygiene or ensuring patients are comfortable during recovery. 

Right now, students are learning in our Virtual Classroom where they attend scheduled lectures and collaborate with peers and instructors virtually. We crafted this new learning format so you can focus on your goals in an environment that mirrors the structure of on-campus learning. Students can access course materials, submit assignments and collaborate with peers on our online learning platform, Brightspace. At Robertson, you can still work towards a meaningful career in nursing while you’re at home.

Reach out to a Student Admissions Advisor to get started! 

2. Master of Nursing at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta offers an online Master of Nursing program that challenges students to push their skills and shape processes in the healthcare field. Students can choose a thesis-based approach (the research project) or a course-based approach (the capstone project). They also choose from one of four advanced areas of study: education, leadership, research or clinical. This program must be completed after an undergraduate degree.

3. Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Regina

This program is offered in partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and graduates will receive a Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner degree. The online program includes 11 courses as well as student and faculty-led web conference discussions. Students must also complete 702 clinical practical education hours alongside qualified nurse practitioner preceptors. For anyone wanting to pursue a Master of Nursing, this is a great online option. 

4. Children’s Mental Health Certificate at Durham College

This certificate will prepare graduates to work with infants, children or adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Students will learn how to identify abnormal psychological disorders and their effect on individuals, their behaviour and family dynamics. This certificate will prepare students to work in community health organizations, child care facilities, schools and even group homes. This is a great alternative if you’re specifically interested in mental health. 

5. Neonatal Specialty Nursing Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology

This is the only neonatal certification program in Canada. It prepares nurses to care for infants in neonatal intensive care as well as support their families. The program mixes clinical and theoretical training so students have a well-rounded knowledge of infant care and clinical procedures. Registered Nurses who want additional training, undergraduate nursing students or individuals with six or more months of relevant training in an acute care setting can benefit from this program. 

6. Master of Science in Nursing at Memorial University

Students who want to continue their nursing education can take the Master’s program at Memorial. Choose from the Practicum (course-based) or one of two Nurse Practitioner streams: Family/All Ages or Adult. The program offers online course work, practicum projects and clinical practice, depending on your chosen stream.

7. Health Care Aide Certificate Program at Robertson

In our Virtual Classroom, we also offer a Health Care Aide program to give students the skills they need to work as a health care aide. Graduates will be trained in assisting patients with their personal care and hygiene, prepare meals and empathetically communicate with clients and family members. If you’re interested in helping others but would prefer to work in an environment other than a hospital, this is a great alternative. The program lasts 26 weeks and graduates can find work in long-term care facilities, personal care homes, community settings as well as hospitals. 

Why pursue a career in nursing? 

It takes a special person to be a nurse or health care provider. Here are some of the many reasons this is a great career choice. 

• You get to help others. Arguably the most obvious reason but one of the most important – nurses simply help. Your constant hard work and sacrifice will help people in need. 
• You can make a difference. And not only in your patient’s lives, but also in hospitals or other health care facilities. Nurses are on the frontlines, which means they experience the good and the bad firsthand. If there’s room for improvement in some area of the hospital, nurses may be able to impact change that could benefit everyone, both patients and staff. 
• You can work in many places. Just because you’re a nurse doesn’t mean you have to work in a hospital. Even if that’s your goal, you could work in the delivery, emergency, neonatal or psychiatric wards, to name a few. If hospitals aren’t your thing, you can work in care homes, schools, shelters and other organizations. 
• You can be someone’s hero. Nursing is hard, but it also has some of the biggest rewards. Nurses have the opportunity to provide comfort and positivity to people who are struggling. Being injured or ill isn’t fun, but nurses have the opportunity to make a bad experience just a little bit better for their patients. 

Along with the good times, every job has its struggles. It’s important to consider those too before choosing this career path. 

Here are some of the challenging aspects of being a nurse: 

• Working night shifts
• Seeing patients in pain
• Being so busy you can’t take a break on shift
• Saying goodbye to your patients
• Feeling physically and mentally exhausted

Despite these challenges, being a nurse is an incredibly rewarding career. With Robertson, you can prepare for a meaningful career through online learning, while still having the freedom to live your life while you study. 

If you have any questions about virtual learning and our online programs, reach out to our Student Admissions Advisors. Simply fill out the form with your question and they’ll reach out to you with the information you need to help you get started on your career journey.