Nursing, Bachelor of Science - University Of Alberta

Program Information
Credential: 
Bachelor's Degree
Duration: 

4 years at RDC collaborative with U of A

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Amy Toosi
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca

Department Information

For more information visit Nursing Department.

Related Careers

This program prepares you for entry-level nursing positions in any health care agency. You will be skilled in problem solving, critical thinking, clinical decision making, facilitating case management, coordinating and supervising the activities of interprofessional teams as well as promoting and maintaining good health and caring for the sick. A bachelor's degree is required for nursing positions. A degree also improves your chances for promotion.

The Program

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 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This is required for license to practice in Alberta as a registered nurse (RN).

Program Admission Features

The Bachelor of Science Nursing program recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners.  In order to facilitate greater participation of Aboriginal learners the Bachelor of Science Nursing program has designated four seats for applicants who are Status Indian/First Nations, Non-status Indian/First Nations, Metis or Inuit. Should no Aboriginal applicants apply and meet the admission requirements for the designated seats, they will be released after June 1st of each year to qualified applicants on the waitlist if one exists for the program.

In accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, Part II, Section 35(2) the applicant must meet the definition of Aboriginal as an Indian, Inuit, or Métis person of Canada, or a person who is accepted by one of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada as a member of their community.

Aboriginal applicants must meet the admission requirements for the program as outlined in the Academic Calendar and qualify for a designated seat by:

  • Self-identifying as an Aboriginal applicant on the Application for Admission.
  • Providing proof of Aboriginal ancestry.

Proof of Aboriginal ancestry (one of the following):

  • Certified copy of a Status or Treaty card, Metis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
  • Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in: the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, band list of an individual band or the Inuit roll.
  • Written confirmation of Aboriginal ancestry from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
  • Statutory Declaration by an applicant attesting to Aboriginal ancestry with supporting documentation.

Other forms of proof may also be considered at the discretion of the Registrar.

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.

Application Deadline

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

  • 20 high school credits from the following subjects: Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, Math 30-1 or 30-2, ELA 30-1. 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

For more information on program admission requirements, click on Requirements below.

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

Note: Bachelor of Science Nursing applicants will be offered admission on a competitive basis, based on GPA ranking. For more information on how GPAs are calculated, click on Application Deadline above.

Note: Aboriginal applicants to the Bachelor of Science Nursing program, go to Program Admission Features above for more information.

Note: In addition to the program admission requirements applicants, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Other Requirements: 

Note: Applicants are required to have either a MAC or a PC laptop that meet the following specifications:Laptop requirements:
Apple Laptop
Minimum requirement
MacBook Air with 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 Gb storage solid state, 4 Gb memory
Web camera (built in or as peripheral)
Microphone

Windows Laptop
Minimum requirement
Laptop with 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 Gb storage, 4 Gb memory and Windows 10 operating system
Web camera (built in or as peripheral)
Microphone

Software
Latest version of Adobe Flash
Google Chrome browser
Microsoft Word *

Other
USB memory stick (Flash drive)

* Microsoft Word is used for several purposes. Students can either purchase and install the Microsoft Word application, or install the free software client to use a Red Deer College virtual desktop with the full Microsoft Office Suite of applications.

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.

Note: Students with Study Permits that are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching or health service field occupations must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month prior to the start of classes.

Program Content

The goal of the collaborative program is to provide a comprehensive curricular approach to student learning that is learner centered and based on the development of discipline, profession, and practice components with mutual responsibility for teaching and learning by faculty and students. Year one of the program is a foundational year, years two to four build on this foundation. In addition, a 3 credit English course and six electives are part of the program.

Course Sequence

Note 1: In the winter of Year 2 students will be placed in sequence A or B for the remainder of the program.

Note 2: Electives - electives are those courses which transfer to the University of Alberta. At least one elective must be from behavioural or social sciences and one elective must be an INTD elective.

Fall term - Year 1
NURS 215 Anatomy
NURS 230 Physiology & Pathophysiology I
NURS 225 Intro to Nursing Theory I
ENGL (3Cr)
 
Winter term - Year 1
NURS 231 Physiology & Pathophysiology II
NURS 236 Medical Microbiology
NURS 227 Intro to Health Assessment
2 Electives*
 
Spring/Summer - Year 1
Elective*
 
Fall term Year 2
NURS 239 Intro to Nursing Theory II
NURS 240 Intro to Nursing Practice
NURS 308 Pharmacotherapeutics
NURS 304 Using and Interpreting Statistics for Nursing Research
 
Sequence A Sequence B
Winter term - Year 2 Winter term - Year 2
NURS 241 Mental Health Nursing Theory
NURS 242 Mental Health Nursing Practice
NURS 301 Nursing Research
Elective*
 
NURS 351 Acute Care Nursing Theory I
NURS 352 Acute Care Nursing Practice I
Elective*
Fall term - Year 3 Fall Term - Year 3
NURS 351 Acute Care Nursing Theory
NURS 352 Acute Care Nursing Practice
Elective*
NURS 241 Mental Health Nursing Theory
NURS 242 Mental Health Nursing Practice
NURS 301 Nursing Research
Elective*
 
Winter term - Year 3 Winter term - Year 3
NURS 353 Community Nursing Theory
NURS 354 Community Nursing Practice
Elective*
 
NURS 355 Acute Care Nursing Theory II
NURS 356 Acute Care Nursing Practice II
NURS 409 Leadership and Issues in Nursing
Fall term - Year 4 Fall term - Year 4
NURS 355 Acute Care Nursing Theory II
NURS 356 Acute Care Nursing Practice II
NURS 409 Leadership and Issues in Nursing
 
NURS 353 Community Nursing Theory
NURS 354 Community Nursing Practice
Elective*
Winter term - Year 4
NURS 494 (4 weeks) Nursing in Context
NURS 495 (10 weeks) Nursing in Practice
 
*one elective must be from the behavioural or social sciences and one elective must be from INTD studies

 

 

 

Year 1 Course Descriptions

NURS 215

A survey of the structure of the human body.

NURS 225

Focuses on the concepts of the nursing profession and discipline: nursing; person; health and environment. These concepts will be explored within the context of primary health care and changing perspectives of health and how this evolution has impacted the development of the profession of nursing. The philosopical; theoretical; historical; ethical and legal underpinnings of professional nursing practice will be examined.

NURS 227

Focus is on the health assessment of the well adult; with expected aging modifications. The course provides a beginning foundation of assessment skills and technologies necessary for determining client health status within the context of a nursing framework. Factors influencing lifestyles and personal health practices are included. Prerequisite: Nurs 225

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 236

Medical microbiology concepts for nursing students. Basic information on the identification of micro-organisms and their control; as well as disease principles; epidemiology; and the immune system with consideration to the health care perspective.

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).