EDMONTON – Starting next spring, a college at the centre of several Global Edmonton Trouble Shooter investigations will no longer be able to offer a Licensed Practical Nurses program.
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses ruled on Tuesday that LPNs currently enrolled at CDI College will be allowed to finish their diplomas; however, there will not be any new admissions into the program, which is offered in partnership with Bow Valley College.
Last fall, seven students had their licenses suspended until they were re-tested because of a clerical problem between Bow Valley and CDI. Since then, students claim that clinical trials and hands-on training was postponed.
They believe the decision to terminate the program couldn’t come soon enough.
“I know that at least if I go get my education somewhere else that it’s going to be at a level that is to standards and I’m going to be able to be a competent nurse,” says Jenna Bath, a single mom who ended up dropping out of the program. She plans on finishing her LPN program at Norquest College.
Former instructors are also now speaking out about what they considered to be a lack of professionalism at the College.
“Our students are our customers, and having said that, they failed shamefully to give their students their money’s worth,” says Khalid Taha.
Another former instructor, who did not want to be identified, says students would sometimes voice their concerns to her about other instructors.
“They just didn’t feel confident, they started to tell me how their instructors in their classroom would just stand at the front of the room and read from the textbook verbatum.”
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She adds that she feared her own licence may be at risk if she continued to work with CDI students. She says the College ignored her concerns.
The school, however, stands by its program.
“Our current students are doing well,” says Kyle Ferbey, “and we believe we are giving them the education they need to be successful.”
He claims it was decided at the end of last year that the College would not renew its contract with Bow Valley. The contract expires next spring.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against CDI. It will focus on the $30,000 students paid for tuition, as well as damages for time spent in the program.
But students say even if they are successful with the lawsuit, there are some things they won’t be able to get back.
“Definitely I’ve lost time, and money and effort,” says Bath. “And all the times I was studying and doing stuff instead of spending time with my child, those are things I can’t get back.”
With files from Jenna Bridges and Quinn Ohler, Global News
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