The first graduating class of Selkirk College’s Practical Nursing Program includes: (front L-R) Marcayle Brown, Amber Jones, Syndel Rogowski, Vannesa Lewis; (back L-R) Sydney Howe, Lindsay Ferreira and Ayla Pedersen. Missing from photo: Joscelyn Harris.

Filling an essential gap in the region’s frontline health care needs, the first cohort of graduates from Selkirk College’s Practical Nursing Program are now out in communities making a difference.
Spurred by staff shortages across the sector, the Provincial Government provided funding for new seats at post-secondary institutions across British Columbia in late-2022. Students in the Selkirk College Practical Nursing Program began the two-year diploma program in January 2023 at the Trail Campus with eight students from the program graduating this past November.
Essential to the continuity of care, licenced practical nurse’s (LPN) scope of practice is geared towards stable patients and predictable outcomes. Generally working in a team that includes registered nurses and doctors, LPNs work in a variety of settings that includes hospitals, long-term care homes, doctor’s offices, clinics, extended care facilities, acute care centres, community hospices and private homes.
“The graduates of the first Practical Nursing Program cohort are a group of compassionate, dedicated and fierce individuals who worked hard alongside their instructors to develop and refine their skills and professionalism as nurses,” says program coordinator Sarah Lechthaler. “They conquered challenges with humility and grace. I am incredibly proud of every single one of them.”
Nursing shortages in rural regions of the province have weighed down the health care system. The goal of the program was to help train and retain nurses, improving access to health care that is relevant to rural communities. With graduates having a clear pathway to employment in a high-demand field, the program supported their career growth and is ultimately contributing to the local economy.
The program’s second cohort began the two-year program in January 2025 and the start-date for the next intake will soon be announced. Individuals interested in this career can also explore first steps in the Health Care Assistant Certificate Program that is accepting students for February 2025 and September 2025. A 30-week program that includes blended on-line and in-person instruction, learners spend 10 weeks on theory, 10 weeks in lab/theory and then complete a 10-week clinical practice. There is also the Pathways to High-Demand Careers route which helps those looking for academic upgrading opportunities get the proper pre-requisites for a number of different programs at Selkirk College.
Find out more information about how to enter this rewarding program at: selkirk.ca/practical-nursing.

Selkirk College