Nursing, Bachelor of Science - University Of Alberta

Contact Information
Contact Name: 
Jennifer Cross
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean

Program Information

Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca

Department Information

For more information visit Nursing Department.

The Program

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).

Transfer Features

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.

Application Deadline

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

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

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.

Other Requirements: 

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 (also known as a Criminal Record Check) including a Vulnerable Sector Check to most agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of police information or 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 police information check.

Program Content

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

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.

Year 1

Fall Term

Winter Term

NURS 280 (7 weeks)
NURS 281 (7 weeks)
NURS 230 (15 weeks) (Human Physiology and Pathophysiology I)
*NURS 215 (Anatomy)

NURS 284 (7 weeks)
NURS 285 (7 weeks)
NURS 231 (15 weeks) (Human Physiology and Pathophysiology II)
NURS 273 (Integrated Microbiology)

Intersession
ENGL 219
PSYC 260 or SOCI 260

  

 

Fall Term Winter Term
Year 2

NURS 380 (7 weeks)
NURS 381 or 385 (7 weeks)
NURS 305 (Pharmacotherapeutics part 1)
NURS 304 (Using & Interpreting Statistics for Nursing Research part 1)

NURS 384 (7 weeks)
NURS 385 or 381 (7 weeks)
NURS 305 (part 2)
NURS 304 (part 2)

Intersession
Elective (3 credits)
SOCI 260 or PSYC 260

 Note: To proceed to third year, all courses listed in Year 1 and Year 2 must have been passed.
Fall Term Winter Term
Year 3

NURS 390 (7 weeks)
NURS 391 or 395 (7 weeks)
*PHIL 388
NURS 301 (Nursing Research part1)

NURS 394 (7 weeks)
NURS 395 or 391 (7 weeks)
POLI 324
NURS 301 (part 2)
Intersession
Elective (3 credits)		 Note: To proceed to fourth year all third year courses including electives must have been passed.
Fall Term Winter Term

Year 4

NURS 490 (7 weeks)
NURS 491 (7 weeks)

 NURS 494 (4 weeks)
NURS 495 (10 weeks)

 

Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

NURS 215

A survey of the structure of the human body.

NURS 230

Underlying concepts with a focus on the body systems responsible for communication and control of body functions. Selected topics in pathophysiology related to these systems. Co-requisite: Nurs 215

NURS 231

Human Physiology with a focus on systems responsible for body maintenance and regulation. Selected topics in pathophysiology related to these systems. Pre-requisites: Nurs 230; Nurs 215

NURS 273

Relevant medical microbiology concepts intergrated into nursing through context based learning.

NURS 280

Introduction to the professional discipline of nursing; communication theory; and context based learning. The primary health care emphasis is on health promotion and disease prevention across the life span. Restoration and rehabilitation will be introduced. Health assessment and basic nursing skills will be introduced.

NURS 281

Beginning nursing practice with a focus on health promotion and interaction with clients across the life span in a variety of non-traditional settings. Prerequisite: NURS 280

NURS 284

A continuation of the study of concepts introduced in NURS 280 with a focus on teaching and learning principles and increased health assessment and basic nursing skills. Prerequisite: NURS 280; 281

NURS 285

Nursing practice includes health status assessment of clients and appropriate health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Practice occurs in settings where clients live or in community agencies (non-acute) where services to clients are offered. Prerequisite: NURS 280; 281

PSYC 260

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include the nature and history of psychology; research methods; the biological foundations of behavior; genes and evolution; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning and adaptation; and memory. Note: This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses and is normally followed by PSYC 261.

SOCI 260

Sociological perspectives and concepts used to analyse social behaviour. The nature of group behaviour and social interaction. Culture; social organization; the social personality; and deviance. Note: SOCI 260 is the prerequisite for most advanced courses.

Year 2 Course Descriptions

NURS 304

An introduction to reading; understanding and interpreting commonly used statistics in published health sciences research. Provides hands-on approach to understanding measurement; sampling; and common statistical analysis techniques through critical appraisal of results from published health care studies.

NURS 380

Within the context of pimary health care; the focus shifts to restoration; rehabilitation and support of clients experiencing chronic and less acute variances in health. Discussion related to health promotion and disease prevention continues. Intermediate health assessment and nursing skills will be introduced. Prerequisite: NURS 284; 285

NURS 381

Nursing practice will focus on restoration; rehabilitation and supprt (including health promotion and disease prevention) of clients with chronic and less acute variances in health across the life span. Practice will occur primarily in primary level acute care centres and agencies. Prerequisites: NURS 284; 285

NURS 384

Continuation of NURS 380 with increasing situational complexity. Prerequisites: NURS 380 and 381 or 385; or permission of chair.

NURS 385

Practice focuses on health across the life-span in child-birth facilities; homes; community health clinics; schools and other community based settings. Integration of the concepts of primary health care; health promotion & disease prevention and determinants of health are examined in the community context. Prerequisites: NURS 284; 285

PSYC 260

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include the nature and history of psychology; research methods; the biological foundations of behavior; genes and evolution; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning and adaptation; and memory. Note: This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses and is normally followed by PSYC 261.

SOCI 260

Sociological perspectives and concepts used to analyse social behaviour. The nature of group behaviour and social interaction. Culture; social organization; the social personality; and deviance. Note: SOCI 260 is the prerequisite for most advanced courses.

Year 3 Course Descriptions

NURS 301

Introduction to the process of research through a comparative analysis of selected studies exemplifying different theoretical; methodological; and analytical approaches. Emphasis will be on the communicability of research; the needs of the research consumer; and the development of skills of critical appraisal. Prerequisite: Statistics elective

NURS 390

Within the context of primary health care focus is on retsoration; rehabilitation and support of clients experiencing more acute variances in health. Discussion related to health promotion and disease prevention continues. Advanced health assessment and nursing skills will be introduced. Prerequisites: NURS 215; 274; 381; 384 and 385

NURS 391

Nursing practice will focus on restoration; rehabilitation and support (including health promotion and disease prevention) of clients experiencing more acute variances in health across the lifespan. Practice will occur in primary; secondary and tertiary level acute care settings. Prerequisites: NURS 215; 274; 381; 384 and 385

NURS 394

Continuation of NURS 390 with increasing situational complexity. Credit is given for Health Assessment upon successful completion of the term. Prerequisite: NURS 390 and 391 or 395 or permission of chair.

NURS 395

This clinical course provides students with opportunity to work with clients experiencing mental health issues and/or addictions. Students have an opportunity to develop therapeutic relationships with clients; families; groups and/or aggregates to recognize community as client. Nursing practice over a continuous block of time occurring in a variety of settings. Prerequisites: NURS 215; 274; 381; 384 and 385

PHIL 388

This course involves elementary methods and principles for analyzing reasoning in everyday contexts as well as a philosophical examination of concepts and issues central to knowledge and practice in nursing. Note: This course is available only to students registered in the BscN-Collaborative Program.

POLI 324

A comprehensive overview of health care in Canada. The development of the health care system. Legislative and philosophical groundings. Financing and delivery from a comparative perspective. Current stresses in the health care system.

Year 4 Course Descriptions

NURS 490

A comprehensive approach to primary health care components in the care of clients in complex; ambiguous situations. Case management and multidisciplinary leadership skills are emphasized. Students may have the opportunity to lead a multidisciplinary student group. Prerequisites: NURS 391; 394; 395 and 301

NURS 491

Management and care of clients in ambiguous; complex situations occurring over a variety of settings. Prerequisite: NURS 391; 394; 395 and 301 Prerequisite or Corequisite: NURS 490

NURS 494

Synthesis and focus of nursing knowledge and application of nursing research in a specific area of practice. To be permitted to enroll in this course; students must have passed all course of their nursing program; except the co-requisite NURS 495.

NURS 495

Comprehensive approach to professional practice of nursing in an area of special interest to the student. Co-requisite: NURS 494

Recognition of Prior Learning/Experience

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. Students who are transferring into the program or students that have been out of the clinical area for an extended period of time may be required to pass a competency screen prior to admission to the program.

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