Offered at Surrey

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

The Nursing program is offered at Kwantlen University College in partnership with nine other institutions in the Collaborative Nursing Program in British Columbia: Camosun College, Douglas College, Langara College, Malaspina University College, North Island College, Okanagan University College, Selkirk College, the University College of the Cariboo, and the University of Victoria. The Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing has accredited the program.

The program was created as a result of the recognized need for increased education for nurses, the changing directions in health care, and the recommendation made by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Registered Nurses Association of BC, regarding the minimum competencies for entry to practices.

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 eight academic semesters and five consolidated practice experiences to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Graduates will be eligible to apply to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as Registered Nurses in British Columbia. Access to this option by Registered Nurses is outlined separately.

Diploma

Important Notice for Applicants: The diploma program will not be an option for those entering Semester 1 after January 2002.

Students admitted on or before January 2002, may choose to exit from the program with a nursing diploma after completing three years of the program preceptorship. They are then eligible to apply to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as Registered Nurses in British Columbia.

Program Description

The curriculum of the Collaborative 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 arts and science 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, which 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 theory 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 judgement within the practice setting.

Students who enroll in the program will receive a detailed student manual, which provides information regarding program policies. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with University College and nursing program policies.

Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 65% with no grade lower than 60% in all required courses, including electives.

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 or to have a successful interview with agency 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 will prevent completion of the program of studies.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the degree 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.

Admission Requirements

(currently under review)

Year One Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting Kwantlen's general admission requirements, applicants to the nursing program must submit proof of having met the following academic requirements at the time of application.

Applicants currently in high school must submit an interim transcript at the time of application, indicating that the program academic admission requirements will be completed by the end of June.

1) Mathematics requirement

Principles of Mathematics 11, ( ACPM 0082 or ABEM 0082 or PSPM 1082), MATH 0093 1093 or MATH 1100 level or equivalent with a grade of C

2) Science requirement

(must meet Group 1 or Group 2 requirements)

Group 1

Biology 12 or ( ACPB 0096 or ABEB 0096 or PSPB 1096) or equivalent with a grade of C+

and

Chemistry 11 or CHEM 0094 1094 or equivalent with a grade of C+

or

Group 2

BIOL 1110 or equivalent with a grade of C

3) English requirement

One of the following:

• English 12 grade of B or
• ACPE 0091 C+ or ABEE 0091 C+ or PSPE 1091 C+)or
• ENGL 1100 level or equivalent grade of C

Selection of Qualified Applicants

The number of applicants to the Collaborative Nursing Program far exceeds the number of available seats. As a result, the Collaborative Nursing Program will admit qualified applicants through a computer generated random selection and a priority point system. Variable points will be awarded for the following non-academic criteria:

• geographical location
• relevant education experience
• persistent interest in the program

For further details regarding the selection process, please contact admissions.

In order to secure a seat in the program, applicants must pay a deposit up to one year prior to the start of classes.

Upon acceptance to the program, additional admission requirements need to be completed prior to entering. These include:

• Standard First Aid and CPR Level C courses must be current at the time of entering the program. CPR certification must remain current throughout the program. All costs and associated updates are the responsibility of the student.
• Immunizations consistent with the requirements of clinical agencies. All costs are the responsibility of the student.
• An acceptable Criminal Record Search completed within six months prior to enrolling in the program. The Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia requires a criminal record check prior to registration as a nurse and may be a pre-practice requirement of some of the clinical agencies used during the program. Any costs related to having this check done are the responsibility of the individual student.
• An interview and/or letters of reference may be required. Evidence of competence with written and spoken English (under review).

Content

Important Notice for Applicants:

The curriculum for the program is currently under review and may be revised for students who started in the program in or after September 2001.

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. Academic courses occur mainly on the Surrey Campus.

Semester 1: Personal Meaning of Health

The first semester of the program focuses on people's personal experience with health. Students explore their own experiences of health and healing. They begin to learn about the complexities of nursing work through observing and interacting with nurses in various areas of practice. Students visit a resource family in order to acknowledge and understand other people's experiences of health and healing. Biology and English courses are offered concurrently with the nursing courses.

BIOL 1160 Anatomy and Physiology I

ENGL 1100 Writing, Reading, and Thinking: an Intro.

(*any first year university transfer English course)

NRSG 1111 Health 1: Health Styles

NRSG 1120 Professional Growth 1: Nurse's Work

NRSG 1130 Self and Others 1: Self-awareness

NRSG 1141 Nursing Practice 1

Semester 2: Chronic Health Challenges

The second semester focuses on people's experience of living with a chronic health challenge. From a socio-environmental perspective, the chronic health challenge might include a chronic physical condition, or an experience such as poverty. Students obtain nursing practice experience on Rehabilitation and Medical units in an institutional setting. In addition, students visit a family living with a chronic health challenge. Biology and English courses are offered concurrently with the nursing courses.

BIOL 1260 Anatomy and Physiology II

ENGL 1202 Topics in Literature

(*any first year university transfer English course)

NRSG 1210 Health 2: Facilitating Health and Healing in Families

NRSG 1231 Self and others 2: Health Promoting Relationships

NRSG 1241 Nursing Practice 2

The six-week long practice experience enables consolidation and integration of the concepts and skills learned in the first year of study. Experiences are on a Medical or Rehabilitation unit.

NRSG 1350 Consolidated Practice Experience 1

Semester 3: Episodic Health Challenges

Students continue to develop a health promotion perspective with people experiencing challenges around healing. Students work with a generative family and with a family experiencing an episodic health challenge. Nursing practice experiences also involve placements on acute Medical and Surgical units.

NRSG 2111 Healing Workshop 1: Episodic Health Challenges

NRSG 2141 Nursing Practice 3

NRSG 2160 Health Science: Pathophysiology 1

Elective

Semester 4: Complex Episodic Health Challenges

In the fourth semester, students continue to visit their generative family, and also work with a family with a complex episodic health challenge. Nursing practice experiences also involve placements on Medical and Surgical units. Students further develop their repertoire of cognitive, interpersonal, organizational, and practice skills to promote healing. Pattern recognition, critical decision-making, and increased self-directness are emphasized. Students are also provided with the opportunity to understand factors that affect work life and the impact of this on a nurse.

NRSG 2211 Healing Workshop 2: Complex Episodic Health Challenges

NRSG 2220 Professional Growth 2: The Nursing
Profession

NRSG 2241 Nursing Practice 4

NRSG 2260 Health Science: Pathophysiology 2

The five-week long practice experience enables consolidation and integration of the concepts and skills learned in the first and second year of study. Practice experiences will occur in Medical/Surgical and Obstetrical settings.

NRSG 2350 Consolidated Practice Experience 2

Semester 5: Prevention

In the fifth semester, students work as members of the health care team and begin to use leadership skills. They work in a variety of agencies focusing on issues of prevention. Acute care nursing practice experiences take place in Pediatric and Mental Health settings. Students also work with families, focusing on prevention strategies. A teaching/learning course provides opportunities for students to consider health education from a primary, secondary and tertiary preventive perspective.

NRSG 3110 Health 3: Prevention

NRSG 3120 Professional Growth 3: Teaching and
Learning

NRSG 3125 Professional Growth 4: Empowerment

NRSG 3140 Nursing Practice 4 (will change to Practice 5 in fall 2003)

NRSG 3170 Bioethics

Semester 6: Health Promotion

Semester 6 focuses on health promotion and community development using the concept of "community as client". Nursing practice placements are in health related community organizations. Students in this semester also explore the processes of nursing inquiry and research as a foundation for evidence-based practice.

NRSG 3210 Health 4: Health Promotion and Community Development

NRSG 3220 Professional Growth: Research

NRSG 3225 Professional Growth: Nursing Inquiry

NRSG 3230 Self and Others 3: Helping Relationships

NRSG 3240 Nursing Practice 5 (will change to Practice 6 in spring 2004)

Consolidated Practice Experiences 3 and 4 occur in the academic semester following Semester 6. These experiences are each five weeks long with CPE 3 focusing on practice in acute care and CPE 4 involving experiences in community agencies.

NRSG 3350 Consolidated Practice Experience 3
(optional for RNs)

NRSG 3355 Consolidated Practice Experience 4
(optional for RNs)

Semester 7 focuses on societal health and nurses influencing change. This semester explores ways nurses can influence and create their future as professionals within the health care system. Nursing practice placements are in a wide variety of community organizations.

NRSG 4110 Health/Professional Growth: Nurses Influencing Change

NRSG 4120 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

NRSG 4130 Self and Others 4: Group Process

NRSG 4140 Nursing Practice 6 (will change to Practice 7 in fall 2004)

Elective

Semester 8: Transitions

Semester 8 provides students with opportunities to enrich their overall program of study. The theme for this semester is Transitions, that is, making the change from student to practitioner. Students refine previous learning and develop proficiency in an area of practice.

NRSG 4210 Health: Transitions

NRSG 4220 Professional Growth: Transitions

NRSG 4240 Nursing Practice 7 (will change to Practice 8 in spring 2005)

Consolidated Practice Experience 5 immediately follows NRSG 4240, Nursing Practice 7. This five-week experience is designed to prepare students for practice as a Registered Nurse.

NRSG 4350 Consolidated Practice Experience 5
(optional for RNs)

Bridge Out:

Preparing for Nursing Practice (Diploma Exit Option)

This option will not be available for those entering the program after January 2002.

A bridge-out experience is provided for students who choose to exit at the diploma level. The main focus of this semester is to prepare the students for diploma entry-level practice, successful completion of RN examinations, and provincial registration. Students gradually assume the role of professional nurse while working with a preceptor in a Medical or Surgical setting.

NRSG 3250 Healing/Professional Growth: Bridge Out

Access to Degree Completion for Registered Nurses

This option provides Registered Nurses with access to Semester 6 of the Collaborative Nursing Program for completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Once admission requirements are met, Registered Nurses complete the equivalent of three semesters of study.

Diploma graduates from other partners in Collaborative Nursing Program in BC may be admitted directly into Semester 6 depending on seat availability and date of diploma program completion.

An access course, NRSG 3190, for registered nurses is available for graduates of other nursing programs. Potential students are advised to apply early, as seats are limited.

Semester 6 of the Collaborative Nursing Program is offered twice a year, in September and January.

Prior Learning Credit may be available for registered nurses that have successfully completed continuing education and nursing specialty courses. The cost of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the responsibility of the student. Degree completion courses may be taken in a part or full time basis, dependent on seat availability.

Consolidated Practice experiences 3, 4 and 5 are optional for nurses who show evidence of current, competent nursing practice. It is recommended that nurses enroll in one of these consolidated practice experiences if they wish to change their practice focus.

Admission Requirements for Registered Nurses

Admission to the degree completion component for Registered Nurses into Semester 6 is based on seat availability and the following program requirements:

1) Completion of one of the following:

• the diploma option at a Collaborative Nursing Program in B.C, partner institution

or

• the Bridge In courses offered at a Collaborative partner institution within two (2) years prior to entry

or

• an individual assessment and the access course ( NRSG 3190) offered at Kwantlen within two (2) years prior to entry.

2) Completion of one of the following

• English 12 Grade of B or
• ACPE 0091 C+ or ABEE 0091 C+ or PSPE 1091 C+)or
• English 1100 Level or equivalent grade of C or
• Kwantlen English Placement Test (Student Responsible for Placement Test Fee)

3. Proof of practicing membership in the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia which is current at the time of entering the program.

4. Two references indicating current, competent nursing practice.

5. A letter from an employer confirming employment as a Registered Nurse for a minimum of 540 hours.

6. Submission of an official transcript indicating completion of a diploma-nursing program.

7. Proof of completion of a CPR Level C course, which is current at the time of entering the program. This certification must remain current throughout the program.

8. Immunizations consistent with the requirements of practice agencies.

9. An interview and/or letters of reference, if requested.

10. Evidence of competence with written and spoken English (under review).

Program of Studies for Registered Nurses

The Kwantlen access course or the Bridge In courses for Registered Nurses (see other Collaborative sites for information) must be completed by all non-Collaborative diploma graduates in order to ensure that those entering Semester 6 have the knowledge and abilities equivalent to other students in the program.

Block credit will be given for all nursing courses in Semesters 1-5, including Consolidated Practice Experiences 1 and 2, with proof of completion of a diploma-nursing program.

Registered Nurses will not be required to complete Consolidated Practice Experiences 3, 4, and 5 providing they submit a letter from an employer confirming that they have been employed as a Registered Nurse for the hours equivalent to these CPE's (currently 540 hours).

The program of studies for Registered Nurses to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will include:

NRSG 3210 Health 4: Health Prom. & Community Devel.

NRSG 3220 Professional Growth: Research

NRSG 3225 Professional Growth: Nursing Inquiry

NRSG 3230 Self and Others 3: Helping Relationships

NRSG 3240 Nursing Practice 5

NRSG 4110 Health/Profess. Growth: Influencing Change

NRSG 4120 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

NRSG 4130 Self and Others 4: Group Process

NRSG 4140 Nursing Practice 6

NRSG 4210 Health: Transitions

NRSG 4220 Professional Growth: Transitions

NRSG 4240 Nursing Practice 7

In addition, Registered Nurses must have completed:

• 2 English courses (6 credits)
• 2 University transfer level electives (6 credits)

It is anticipated that many Registered Nurses will have met the English and elective requirements as some or all of these courses were required within their diploma program.

Graduates from a Collaborative Program who are not yet Registered Nurses may enter Semester 6 as transfer students. They will follow the regular program of studies until such time as they meet the admission requirements for Registered Nurses. Once the requirements are met, they may change their registration status and take the program of studies for Registered Nurses.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of the Kwantlen Collaborative Nursing program, students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.