This program prepares you for first-level nursing positions in any health care agency. You will be skilled in problem solving, critical thinking, and clinical decision making, with a focus on promoting and maintaining good health and caring for the sick. A bachelor's degree is often required for nursing positions, and is usually preferred by employers. A degree also improves your chances for promotion.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program began at RDC in September 1990 through a collaborative agreement between the College and the University of Alberta.

The program begins with admission to RDC in Year 1 as a student in the University of Alberta Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program with RDC. For the first three years you are registered as a RDC student. During Year 3 you apply for official admission to the University of Alberta for your fourth year. As long as you meet the criteria (see below), you continue at RDC to complete your 4th year.

After completing year 4, you will convocate from the U of A with a BScN. As a graduate, you will be eligible to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (C.R.N.E.) national examination. This is required for license to practice in Alberta as a registered nurse (RN).

University of Alberta (at off-campus RDC site)

You will apply to the University of Alberta for admission to Year 4 of the University of Alberta Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program with RDC as directed by the Nursing Department Staff. The University of Alberta will accept the completed first three years of the program as a block transfer. To be eligible to continue to fourth year, you must have completed all required 3rd year courses and have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.00. The U of A Faculty of Nursing also requires a satisfactory medical examination, up-to-date immunization including Hepatitis B, and a valid C.P.R. certificate at the Health Care Provider Level.

The GPA calculation for Conditional Admission will be calculated according to one of the following:

• 25 high school credits from the following subjects: Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, Math 30-1 or 30-2, ELA 30-1, and one 30-level subject from Group A, B, or C. If any of these courses are in progress at the transcript submission deadline, the 20-level in the subject will be used.
• 18 post-secondary credits including all credits from the most-recently completed term plus the best grades from the next most recent term.
• Applicants with fewer than 18 post-secondary credits will have their GPA calculated using all post-secondary credits plus the credits from the most recent semester from high school using the best grade(s) from the following five subjects: Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, Math 30-1 or 30-2, ELA 30-1 to reach 18 credits.

Note: Post-secondary credits will be used in the Conditional Admission GPA calculation before High School credits, regardless of when the post-secondary credits were taken. Post-secondary credits do NOT include any High School equivalents completed at a post-secondary institution (i.e. High School equivalents completed at RDC).

Transcript Deadline: March 1st

Related Link: Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admissions page for detailed group descriptions.

1. Minimum average of 65% with no mark below 50% in:

1. Biology 30
2. Chemistry 30 or Science 30
3. ELA 30-1
4. Mathematics 30 (pure) or Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2
5. Subject from Group A, B, or C

OR

2. Mature Student

You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school at least one full year before the program starts, and have a minimum average of 65% with no mark below 50% in:

1. Biology 30
2. Chemistry 30 or Science 30
3. ELA 30-1
4. Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2

Note: Bachelor of Science Nursing applicants will be offered admission on a competitive basis, based on GPA ranking.

In order to proceed to the next clinical nursing course you must satisfy the following requirements by September 1 of your first year in the Nursing Program:

1. A specific schedule of immunization (forms provided by college).
2. Evidence of a valid C.P.R. certificate at the Health Care Provider Level. You must be recertified in each year of the program.
3. Evidence of a valid Standard First Aid certificate.

Note: While not an admission requirement for the program, applicants are advised that they will be required to provide a Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check to most agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of a Criminal Record may prevent practicum placement, program completion, professional licensure and therefore affect future employment prospects. It is the decision of each agency or institution to accept or reject a student for placement or observation experience based on the results of the criminal record check. The current criminal record check process is under review by Alberta Health Services and may change during the academic year. You will be notified should these changes affect you.

A revised curriculum for the four year Collaborative program began in 1997. The method of instruction is Context Based Learning (CBL). Throughout the program, students work in small groups with a tutor to explore a series of learning packages based on situations of relevance to nursing. Content from nursing, physical sciences, medical science, social sciences and humanities is introduced and integrated beginning with the first learning package in NURS 280. Nursing practice normally occurs in concentrated blocks of time in each term in a variety of settings including community and institutions in each year of the program. In addition, a 3 credit English course and two electives are part of the program.

Course Sequence

A. For students commencing Nursing in or after September, 1997:

*Note 1: Content to be integrated within scenarios in NURS CBL courses (e.g., NURS 280, NURS 284, NURS 380, NURS 384, NURS 390, NURS 394, etc.). In some cases, students will register in successive parts of the courses across terms. A final grade is given when the course is complete.

Note 2: Electives - electives are those courses which transfer to the University of Alberta as courses numbered 100 (1xx) or higher. A grade of "C-" is required for transfer of electives.

Note 3: Any U of A transferable Political Science or Philosophy 3 credit course will be accepted instead of the Political Science or Philosophy courses listed in Year 3.

Note 4: Nursing 396: Students may receive credit for a 3 credit U of A transferable statistics course. In this case, they would register in Nursing 301 (Nursing Research) instead of Nursing 396.

Nursing courses from other programs will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for prior learning. When challenge examinations are approved, you must do them in sequence, meeting the prerequisites for each course.

With approval, BScN students have six years from the time of admission to complete requirements for the degree (U of A calendar, 2009/2010).