Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Advanced Entry

Description

This program is intended for students who already have a baccalaureate degree (four-year undergraduate degree) and allows students to transition to the field of nursing.

Students that have not completed an undergraduate degree may wish to consider the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

The program is recognized by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC).

The purpose of the program is to educate nurses to practice with a variety of clients in various settings, guided by a health promotion perspective and a capacity for effective relational engagement.

Through relational engagement, 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. Students learn to be independent, accountable, reflective, self-directed, self-motivated and life-long learners with questioning minds and familiarity with inquiry approaches to learning. They make decisions for nursing practice based on multiple ways of knowing such as critical thinking, intuition, research and evaluation. Students learn to create and influence the future of nursing practice at political, social and professional levels by responding to and anticipating changing needs of society. 

Students complete seven (7) academic semesters to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Graduates will be eligible to apply for membership with CRNBC which includes successful writing of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam.

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Advanced Entry program is based on the concepts of health promotion, relational engagement, praxis, critical inquiry and professional role. Two concepts, health promotion and relational engagement are considered over-riding concepts since they represent the essence of nursing. The other three concepts are considered core concepts since they are essential elements of nursing practice. In the curriculum, the five concepts are used in course titles as organizing threads and are also threaded through each course in the program. As well as reflecting the nature of nursing, these concepts relate to the process of nursing education. For example, client-centeredness and a focus on strengths, relational engagement, critical inquiry, praxis and professionalism are essential elements in learning to become a nurse, thus are key features of the learning environment.  

Delivery Methods

Program courses are offered in a hybrid or blended course format through residencies at KPU, practice within health care agencies and communities, combined with distributed or online learning formats, taking advantage of the well-developed higher order thinking skills of a baccalaureate graduate. Hybrid courses are those in which a significant portion of the learning activities have been moved online, and time traditionally spent in the classroom is reduced but not eliminated. The goal of hybrid courses is to join the best features of face-to-face teaching with the best features of online learning to promote active, independent learning, and reduce place-bound learning. Using computer-based technologies (including personal computers, ePortfolios, tablets and apps), instructors use the hybrid model to redesign some lecture or laboratory content into new online learning activities, such as case studies, tutorials, self-testing exercises, simulations, and online group collaborations.

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. Professional and faculty mentorship is implemented to provide orientation, social support, and networking partnerships with clinicians and researchers. Practice experiences occur in diverse geographical areas, and may be organized in students' own communities as appropriate and available. 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 a 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.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program are prepared to work as professional nurses in direct care provider, educator, clinician, manager, and/or entrepreneur roles. Graduates will also be prepared for entry to graduate studies in nursing and other disciplines.

Admission Requirements

Please be advised that applications to this program will only be accepted from Canadian citizens and permanent residents / landed immigrants of Canada.

In addition to the Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:

• Successful completion of a recognized undergraduate degree within the last 6 years, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67, and including 30 undergraduate credits at the third and fourth year level
• Successful completion of first-year anatomy and physiology courses (BIOL 1160 and BIOL 1260, or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+
• 6 credits from outside the Health discipline, including 3 credits of English (ENGL 1100 or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+

KPU Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing graduates who have practicing membership with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia, with no conditions, and are currently employed as Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN) will be considered for advanced placement into semester three (3) of the program, pending seat availability.

Once students have received a conditional offer of admission and before final admission to the program is granted, students must submit the following:

• Canadian CPR Health Care Provider (Note: CPR certification must remain current throughout the program.)
• Current Standard First Aid Certificate
• An acceptable Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Program within 6 months prior to the start of the program.
• 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

Note: Current immunization records are required prior to placement in a clinical or practice course. Students are responsible for all costs related to immunization. Failure to have acceptable immunization documentation at the time of placement or clinical practice course may jeopardize completion of the program.

On June 25, 2018 changes to the admission requirements for this program were approved by Senate. Effective September 2019 the following amended conditions will apply, along with the other unchanged requirements:

• Completion of a recognized undergraduate degree within the last 6 years, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67, and including 30 undergraduate credits at the third and fourth-year level
• 6 credits of undergraduate-level human anatomy and physiology with a with a minimum grade of C+ in each course
• 6 credits from outside the Health discipline, including 3 credits of English (ENGL 1100 or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+ in each course

On June 25, 2018 changes to the admission requirements for this program for Psychiatric Nurses were approved by Senate. Effective September 2019 the following conditions will apply:

In addition to the Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:

• An unconditional license with the College of Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia
• Current employment as a psychiatric nurse
• Completion of a recognized Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing degree within the last 6 years, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67, and including 30 undergraduate credits at the third and fourth year level
• 6 credits of undergraduate-level human anatomy and physiology with a with a minimum grade of C+ in each course
• 6 credits from outside the Health discipline, including 3 credits of English (ENGL 1100 or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C+ in each course

Once students have received a conditional offer of admission and before final admission to the program is granted, students must submit the following:

• Canadian CPR Health Care Provider (Note: CPR certification must remain current throughout the program.)
• Current Standard First Aid Certificate
• An acceptable Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Program within 6 months prior to the start of the program.
• 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

Note: Current immunization records are required prior to placement in a clinical or practice course. Students are responsible for all costs related to immunization. Failure to have acceptable immunization documentation at the time of placement or clinical practice course may jeopardize completion of the program.

These changes will appear in the 2019-20 University Calendar to be published in June 2019.

Continuance Requirements

Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.67, with no grade lower than C+ in all required courses, including electives. Non-adherence to these requirements will result in removal from the program.

Curricular Requirements

The program consists of 93 credits all at the upper (third- and fourth-year) level.

Following enrollment into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Advanced Entry (BSNAE) program, the maximum allowable time that students have to complete all program requirements for graduation is seven years.

Semester One

Theoretical Focus: Individual Health and Health Promotion
Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles & Responsibilities in Medical and Surgical Nursing

All of:
	NRSG 3500	Program Orientation: Introduction to Nursing	2 credits
	NRSG 3510	Practice and Praxis 1: Episodic Health Challenges	4 credits
	NRSG 3520	Relational Engagement 1	2 credits
	NRSG 3530	Health Promotion 1: Episodic Health Challenges	3 credits
	NRSG 3540	Critical Inquiry 1: Quantitative Research	1.5 credits
	NRSG 3640	Critical Inquiry 2: Qualitative Research	1.5 credits

Semester Two

Theoretical Focus: Individual Health and Chronic Health Challenges
Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles & Responsibilities in Mental Health and Geriatric Nursing

All of:
	GNQU 1301	Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing	3 credits
	NRSG 3550	Professional Role 1	2 credits
	NRSG 3610	Practice and Praxis 2: Older Adults, Mental Health	7 credits
	NRSG 3620	Relational Engagement 2	2 credits
	NRSG 3630	Health Promotion 2: Pharmacology	3 credits
	NRSG 3740	Critical Inquiry 3: Data Analysis	2 credits

Semester Three

Practice Focus: Nurses Roles & Responsibilities: Consolidation of practice in medical surgical and mental health nursing

	NRSG 3710	Practice and Praxis 3: Capstone 1	15 credits
KPU Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing graduates with advanced placement into Semester Three must also complete:
	NRSG 3700	Program Orientation: Access for BPN graduates	2 credits

Semester Four

Theoretical Focus: Family Health
Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles & Responsibilities with Generative families and in Pediatric Nursing

All of:
	GNQU 1309	Fundamentals of Maternal-Child Nursing	3 credits
	GNQU 1321	Fundamentals of Pediatric Nursing	3 credits
	NRSG 4510	Practice and Praxis 4: The experience of nursing of families	5 credits
	NRSG 4520	Relational Engagement 3: Family Context	1 credit
	NRSG 4550	Professional Role 2: Teaching and Learning	1 credit

Semester Five

Theoretical Focus: Community Health and Community Capacity Building
Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles & Responsibilities in Community Health and Community Capacity Building

All of:
	NRSG 4530	Health Promotion 3: Community Context	2 credits
	NRSG 4540	Critical Inquiry 4: Nursing Theories	2 credits
	NRSG 4610	Practice and Praxis 5: Community Context	5 credits
	NRSG 4620	Relational Engagement 4: Community	2 credits
	NRSG 4640	Critical Inquiry 5: Health Care and Bioethics	2 credits

Semester Six

Theoretical Focus: Global Health and Leadership
Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles and Responsibilities in Primary Health Care (International/Aboriginal)

All of:
	NRSG 4650	Professional Role 3: Health Care Leadership	2 credits
	NRSG 4710	Practice and Praxis 6: Global Context: Capstone 2	5 credits
	NRSG 4720	Relational Engagement 5: Global Context	2 credits

Semester Seven

Practice Focus: Nurses' Roles & Responsibilities in Full-time Nursing Practice

All of:
	NRSG 4810	Practice and Praxis 7: Practice Consolidation: Capstone 2	10 credits

Other Information

Students are required to purchase a tablet and selected apps, and need access to a personal computer and reliable Internet connection.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).