diploma program in nursing, a basic educational program that is designed to prepare nursing students for entry into practice, usually in 2 or 3 years. The recipient of a diploma is eligible to take the national certifying registration examination to become a registered nurse. In the United States, most diploma programs are conducted in hospitals, although some are located in community colleges. In Canada, diploma programs are conducted in community colleges or Collège d’Enseignement Général et Professionnel (in Quebec), as well as in a few hospital schools of nursing in the western provinces. These schools are negotiating collaboration with university schools of nursing. Once a significant venue for nursing education, diploma programs are increasingly rare.
