Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Description
The program is recognized by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) and is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).
The purpose of the program is to educate nurses to work with individuals, families, groups and communities from a health promotion perspective and with an ethic of caring.
The program will assist students to develop sensitivity to people's experiences with health and healing. Students will learn to work as partners with clients and with other health care providers. Through their understanding of and participation in the changing health care system, graduates will be active participants in creating health for all.
Students complete seven (7) academic semesters and two (2) consolidated nursing practice experiences over four years to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Graduates will be eligible to apply to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as registered nurses in British Columbia. Access to degree completion by registered nurses is outlined separately.
The curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is based on the concepts of caring and health promotion and has been developed in consultation with nursing practitioners, theorists, professional associations, and various government ministries. The program includes non-nursing courses that complement nursing theory and practice. The curriculum considers the changing health care needs of our society. Caring is understood as the attitude and activity of nursing and is considered in every nursing course.
A health promotion perspective has been used to organize the curriculum. This shift in focus from illness to health represents a deliberative move away from a medical model to an understanding of nurses' work as focusing on people and their experiences with health and healing. Inherent in this orientation is the use of teaching methodologies that encourage the development of critical thinking and the discovery of personal meaning and personal power.
There is an emphasis on practice experiences as the foundation of nursing and the recognition that nurses' work requires thoughtful, reflective action as defined by the concept of praxis. To assist in actualizing the concept of praxis, nursing practice experiences have been integrated throughout the program of studies. The concept of praxis is used to guide students to critically reflect on their practice and on their application of nursing knowledge and clinical judgment within the practice setting.
Students who enrol in the program have access to an online student manual that provides information regarding program guidelines. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with University policies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing guidelines. The faculty are continually reviewing the program guidelines in order to offer the best program possible. Guidelines are updated on an annual basis. Therefore, the most current version of any guideline is the one that will apply to all students in that calendar year.
Nursing Practice Experiences
Nursing practice experiences are essential in the nursing program. Students will be directly involved with clients in their homes and in institutional and community settings in each semester. These experiences may involve evenings and weekends. Practice experiences occur throughout the Lower Mainland. Students are responsible for their own transportation and other expenses incurred as part of these experiences.
Some agencies may require students to take an Oath of Confidentiality, have an additional criminal record search, have required immunizations, or have a successful interview with their personnel prior to their agreement to accept the student. Failure to have documentation acceptable to the agency at the time of placement may result in denial of the experience, which in turn may prevent completion of the program of studies.
Degree Completion for Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses pursuing degree completion (BSN), please see Degree Completion for Registered Nurses for more information.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program will be prepared to function as team members in non-specialized/specialized acute care, intermediate and/or long term care hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, and community health agencies.
Program Admission Requirements
Important Notice for Applicants
Students are encouraged to complete the non-nursing courses prior to admission or during the semester in which they are scheduled. The workload of the program makes it difficult to take these courses at any other time.
Please be advised that applications to this program will only be accepted from Canadian citizens and permanent residents / landed immigrants of Canada.
Year One Admission:
In addition to KPU's General university admission requirements including the undergraduate-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply.
- English 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum of C+; or ENGL 1100 level (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+
- Biology 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+
- Chemistry 11 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+
- Pre-calculus 11 or Foundations of Math 11 (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B; or undergraduate equivalent with a minimum grade of C+
Once students have received a conditional offer of admission and before final admission to the BSN program is granted, students must submit the following:
- Standard First Aid and Canadian CPR Level C courses that are current at the time of entering the program. CPR certification must be current throughout the program and may be required annually by some practice agencies. (All costs and associated updates are the responsibility of the student)
- Immunizations consistent with the requirements of practice agencies. (All costs are the responsibility of the student)
- An acceptable criminal record review issued by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, completed within six months of enrolling in the program. The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia requires a criminal record search prior to registration as a nurse and a criminal record search may also be a pre-practice requirement of some of the clinical agencies used during the program. (All costs related to having this search done are the responsibility of the student).
- Applicants who have lived outside of Canada as an adult are required to secure a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from their country of origin. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further direction on obtaining your criminal record check.
- An interview and/or letters of reference may be required
- Any other specified conditions of admission prior to the date specified in the offer of admission letter
Note: This program is recognized by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) which is the regulatory body for registered nurses in this province. In order to practice nursing upon graduation, students must meet the CRNBC English Requirements and Requisite Skills and Abilities for practicing nurses. To learn more visit www.crnbc.ca.
Selection of Qualified Applicants
Only students who meet all of the program’s admission requirements as outlined above will be considered for admission. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission to the program will be made through an established process that includes the selection of sixteen (16) high school applicants and sixteen (16) post-secondary applicants.
High School Category
Applicants in the high school category will be selected using the highest cumulative percentages from the English, mathematics, chemistry and biology courses required for admission. One program seat will be reserved for a self-identified Aboriginal student with the highest cumulative percentage. Students currently attending high school will be offered conditional acceptance based on interim grades. Final grades must be equal to or greater than interim grades or acceptance may be withdrawn.
Post-secondary Category
Students who have a minimum of 24 eligible undergraduate post-secondary credits with a minimum GPA of 2.33 qualify under this category. Sixteen (16) students with the highest CGPA from a recognized post-secondary institution will be selected.
Application Guidelines
Applications will be accepted for Fall semester from November 1 to March 31 and for Spring from March 1 to July 31. Applications may be submitted online at www.kpu.ca/apply.
All documents in support of an application for admission must be submitted by March 31st for Fall (September) semester, and by July 31st for Spring semester. Applications for which documentation is not received by these deadlines will be considered abandoned.
For more information about the admission process, visit www.kpu.ca/admission.
For further details regarding the selection process, please contact the Office of Admissions (604.599.2000).
To accept and secure a seat in the program, applicants must pay a non-refundable admissions deposit.
Program Continuance Requirements
Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.33 with no grade lower than C in all required courses, including electives.
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 141 credits of course requirements.
In accordance with the Indicators of Nursing Education Standards established by College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC), the maximum allowable time students enrolled in KPU's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program have to complete all program requirements for graduation is seven years.
Note: Students re-admitted to the program after an absence are not guaranteed equivalency of previous course-work. Course substitution will be considered only on a case-by-case basis.
Year 1
Semester 1: Personal Meaning of Health
All of: |
|||
| BIOL 1160 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits | |
| ENGL 1100 | Introduction to University Writing (or any first year University transferable English course) |
3 credits | |
| NRSG 1122 | Professional Growth 1: Introduction to the Profession of Nursing | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 1131 | Self and Others 1: Self-Awareness and Interpersonal Communications | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 1142 | Nursing Practice 1 | 5 credits | |
Semester 2: Chronic Health Challenges
All of: |
|||
| BIOL 1260 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 credits | |
| ENGL 1202 | Reading and Writing about Selected Topics: An Introduction to Literature (or any first year university transfer English course) |
3 credits | |
| NRSG 1211 | Health: Societal Perspectives, Health and Healing | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 1243 | Nursing Practice 2 | 11 credits | |
Year 2
Semester 3: Episodic Health Challenges
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 2112 | Nursing Applications 1: Complex Episodic Health Challenges | 2 credits | |
| NRSG 2142 | Nursing Practice 3 | 12 credits | |
| NRSG 2160 | Health Science 3: Pathophysiology 1 | 2 credits | |
| Elective | 3 credits | ||
Semester 4: Complex Episodic Health Challenges
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 2212 | Nursing Applications 2: Complex Episodic Health Challenges | 2 credits | |
| NRSG 2220 | Professional Growth 2: The Nursing Profession | 2 credits | |
| NRSG 2242 | Nursing Practice 4 | 12 credits | |
| NRSG 2260 | Health Science 4: Pathophysiology 2 | 2 credits | |
Year 3
Semester 5: Prevention
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 3130 | Self and Others 2: Advanced Interpersonal Communications & Reflection on Practice | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 3142 | Nursing Practice 5: Mental Health | 4 credits | |
| NRSG 3143 | Nursing Practice 5: Child and Family Health | 4 credits | |
| NRSG 3161 | Health Sciences 5: Health Challenges for Children and Mental Health | 3 credits | |
| PHIL 3010 | Health Care Ethics | 3 credits | |
Semester 6: Health Promotion and Community Empowerment
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 3212 | Health 2: Health Promotion and Community Empowerment | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 3213 | Public Health & Maternity Nursing Theory | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 3242 | Public Health Nursing Practice | 2 credits | |
| NRSG 3243 | Nursing Practice 6: Maternal Child | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 3244 | Nursing Practice 6: Community Development | 6 credits | |
Consolidated Nursing Practice Experiences (CPE) 1 occurs in the academic semester following Semester 6.
| NRSG 3350 | Consolidated Nursing Practice 1 | 4.5 credits |
Year 4
Semester 7: Societal Health
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 4112 | Health 4: Influencing Change | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 4121 | Professional Growth 3: Inquiry and Research Methods | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 4122 | Professional Growth 4: Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis | 3 credits | |
| NRSG 4142 | Nursing Practice 7: Change | 6 credits | |
| Elective | 3 credits | ||
Semester 8: Transitions
All of: |
|||
| NRSG 4242 | Consolidated Nursing Practice | 8.5 credits | |
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
