> Kwantlen Polytechnic University > Calendar 2010-11 > Programs & Entrance Requirements > Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Description

For information on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing January 2012 intake please click here.

The program is approved 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 eight (8) academic semesters and five (5) consolidated practice experiences 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 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 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.

Students in the program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.33 with no grade lower than C 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, 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 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.

Entrance 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.

Year One Admission Requirements

Applications for the September semester are accepted between November 1–7 each year. Applications for the January semester are accepted between March 1–7 each year.

In addition to meeting Kwantlen's general university admission requirements, applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program must submit official proof of having met the following academic requirements by the third Friday of November (for the September intake), and the third Friday of March (for the January intake).

Applicants currently in high school must submit an official interim transcript by the third Friday of November for September and the third Friday of March for January, indicating that the program academic admission requirements will be completed by the end of June.

Mathematics requirement

Principles of Mathematics 11 with a grade of C or equivalent

Science requirement

Biology 12 and Chemistry 11 with a grade of C+ or equivalent, or BIOL 1110 with a grade of C or equivalent

English requirement

English 12 with a grade of B or equivalent, or ENGL 1100 with a grade of C or equivalent

Selection of Qualified Applicants

The number of applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program far exceeds the number of available seats. As a result, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will admit qualified applicants through a computer-generated random selection and a point system. Variable points will be awarded for:

For further details regarding the selection process, please contact Enrolment and Registrar Services (604.599.2000).

To accept and secure a seat in the program, applicants must pay a non-refundable commitment fee up to one year prior to the start of classes.

Additional Requirements

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

Content

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 nurses' 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.

Semester 2: Chronic Health Challenges

The second semester focuses on people's experience of living with a chronic health challenge which 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.

Following completion of Semester 2, students have a six-week practice experience that enables consolidation and integration of the concepts and skills learned in the first year of study. Experiences are on a medical or rehabilitation unit.

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.

Semester 4: Complex Episodic Health Challenges

In the fourth semester, students continue to visit their generative family, and also to 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-directedness are emphasized. Students are also given the opportunity to understand factors that affect work life and the impact of this on a nurse.

The five-week practice experience that follows semester 4 enables consolidation and integration of the concepts and skills learned in the first and second years of study. Practice experiences will occur in medical/ surgical and obstetrical settings.

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 groups and families, focusing on prevention strategies. The health course (NRSG 3111) provides opportunities for students to consider health education from a primary, secondary and tertiary prevention perspective.

Semester 6: Health Promotion and Community Empowerment

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

Consolidated Practice Experiences (CPE) 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.

Semester 7: Societal Health

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.

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. The eight week nursing practice experience involves working full time directly with a registered nurse.

The faculty are continually reviewing the Program in order to offer the best program possible. Therefore, courses are subject to changes as curriculum is revised.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of this program, students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Degree Completion for Registered Nurses

Description

This option provides registered nurses with access to Semester 6 for completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Once admission requirements are met, registered nurses complete the equivalent of three semesters of full-time study.

Diploma graduates from the Collaborative Nursing Program in B.C. may be admitted directly into semester 6 depending on seat availability and date of diploma program completion.

An access course, NRSG 3190, is available for registered nurses who are graduates of other nursing programs. The course is offered once each year, and potential students are advised to apply early as seats are limited.

Credit for prior learning may be available for registered nurses who have equivalent learning experiences or have completed continuing education and nursing specialty courses. The cost of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the responsibility of the student.

Entrance Requirements

Admission into semester 6 for registered nurses is based on seat availability and Kwantlen's general admission requirements, plus the following program specific requirements:

1. Proof of practicing membership with the College of Registered Nurses of BC (CRNBC) that must remain current throughout the program.
2. Submission of an official transcript indicating completion of a diploma in nursing program. 
3. Completion of a CPR Level C course that is current at the time of entering the program and that is consistent with the requirements of clinical agencies.
4. Immunization consistent with the requirements of practice agencies.
5.Completion of ENGL 1100 and 1202 (or equivalent 6 credits of undergraduate English) and NURS 3190 (graduates from a Collaborative Nursing Program in BC do not require NRSG 3190)
6. One university non-nursing elective (3 credits).

Content

The Kwantlen access course for registered nurses must be completed by all nursing program diploma graduates who are not graduates of a Collaborative Nursing Program in order to ensure that those entering semester 6 have the knowledge and abilities equivalent to other students in the program. The program of studies for registered nurses includes:

Semester 6: Health Promotion and Community Empowerment

Semester 7: Societal Health

Semester 8: Transitions

It is anticipated that many Registered Nurses may have met the English and elective requirements as part of their diploma program.

The degree completion program for registered nurses is offered as a cohort model. The entire class remains together and progresses through the program taking 2-3 courses per semester. The course time varies from 6-12 hours per week. Classes may be scheduled during the day, evening, or weekend. The access course is offered from February to April of each year, and the cohort program begins each summer semester.

NRSG 3190 is only offered once a year so please register early to be able to complete the course prior to entry into the BSN Program. Maximum number of students in each cohort class is 30. Applications are taken all year round, so please apply early to secure a spot.

Graduation

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

This option provides registered nurses with entry to semester 6 for completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Page not found | Kwantlen Polytechnic University
The requested page could not be found.