The program is recognized by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC).
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 across the lifespan in a variety of settings. 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 the Health Foundations Certificate and six (6) additional academic semesters. Graduates will be eligible to apply to write national examinations to obtain registration to practice as registered nurses in British Columbia.
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.
A health promotion and constructivist perspective has been used to organize the curriculum. Pedagogy and teaching methodologies encourage the development of critical thinking and the discovery of personal meaning. There is an emphasis on practice experiences as the foundation of nursing and the recognition that nurses' work requires thoughtful, reflective action.
Please be advised that applications to this program will only be accepted from Canadian citizens and permanent residents / landed immigrants of Canada.
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.
Program Guidelines and Manuals
Students who enroll 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.