4 years at RDC collaborative with U of A

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 focus is on concept based and intentional clinical learning.  Intentional clinical learning is a purposeful approach to providing students with the foundational knowledge and skills to provide safe quality patient care in todays' complex health settings. 

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).

The Bachelor of Science Nursing program recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners.  In order to facilitate greater participation of Indigenous 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 Indigenous 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 Indigenous as an Indian, Inuit, or Métis person of Canada, or a person who is accepted by one of the Indigenous peoples of Canada as a member of their community.

Indigenous 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 Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission.
• Providing proof of Indigenous ancestry.

Proof of Indigenous 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 Indigenous ancestry from Indigenous and Northern Affairs 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.

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.

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: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

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

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).

Note: Transcript deadline for the initial GPA calculation is March 1.

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

Note:  Health Sciences workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards. As a student of a Health Sciences program you also are required to meet these standards of practice. These Health and Safety Requirements do not need to be submitted as part of your application. You are encouraged to become familiar with the requirements as soon as possible to ensure completion prior to program start and before the first day of classes. Once you have been accepted into your program please start submitting these Health and Safety Requirements.  See full information at Health & Safety 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 current Heart and Stroke Foundation: Basic Life Support Provider Level. You must be recertified in each year of the program.
3. Evidence of a valid Standard First Aid certificate.

Note:  Please see Clinical performance section of Academic Calendar for further information.

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 access Office 365 which is provided as part of the RDC student account.

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.

1. Permission of the Associate Dean is required before students can register in courses in which they have previously received a grade of F, NCR, or WD.  Students who receive a grade of F or WD or NCR in any NURS course will be considered out of sequence. As a result, program length will be extended and program completion may not be guaranteed.
2. Reregistration in Courses - A student who has a grade of WD, or does not achieve the minimum grade of C+ in a foundational nursing course, or minimum grade of C in non-foundational nursing course, or who receives a grade of no credit (NCR) for a clinical nursing course may be permitted a second attempt of the course or its equivalent.  

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 one elective are part of the program.

Course Sequence

1.  Open Elective will be selected from a discipline of the student's choice.  It must be completed by the end of Year 3 in order to progress to Year 4.

2.  To proceed to Year 4, students must have successfully completed all courses listed in Years 1, 2, and 3.

3.  Students who receive a grade of F or WD in any NURS course be considered out of sequence.  As a result, program length will be extended.

4.  Courses may be configured differently depending on clinical placement availability.

5.  NURS 485 may be offered in the Winter term of Year 4.  In this case, students would take NURS 422 and NURS 425 in the Fall Term.

6. Students who withdraw or fail a  fourth year nursing course (NURS 422, NURS 425, NURS 485) are required to follow applicable University of Alberta policies.  Fourth year students who have been out of clinical for a year or more are required to follow the applicable University of Alberta Academic Calendar.  

Nursing courses from other programs will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for prior learning. Nursing coursework older than two years from Bachelor of Science Nursing admission date is not eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning.