Northern Nurses Are In High Demand

Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

School:

Location:

Program length: 4 Years

Start date: September

Credential:

  • Degree

Delivery:

  • Classroom
  • Lab
  • Practicum
Tuition & Fees Housing Information

Program Description

The purpose of the curriculum is to educate people to become nurses to contribute to the enhancement of health for all Canadians and others in the global community. The curriculum fosters critically reflective, independent, and motivated learners and practitioners with an inquiry approach to lifelong learning in their practice. The curriculum assists students to develop knowledge, competencies, and understanding of their own and others’ (individuals, families, groups, populations, communities, society) diverse experiences of health and healing, including care of those who are dying. By being cognizant of nurses’ professional roles and the evolving health care system, students learn to work as partners with clients and other health care providers. Through their understanding of and participation in the evolving health care system, graduates will be active participants and leaders in influencing and contributing to the promotion of health. The BSN program is offered through a degree-granting partnership with the University of Victoria.

Program Eligibility

Applicants may be admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program based on one of the following pathways: academic and previous nursing studies.

Academic Pathway

Applicants may be considered for admission who have a minimum final grade of 65 percent in each of:

  • English 30-2;
  • Math 20-2;
  • Biology 30; and
  • one of Biology 20 or Chemistry 20 or Physics 20.

Applicants who have completed the Aurora College University and College Access Program (UCAP) in the Nursing Pathway may also be considered for admission if they have a minimum final grade of 65 percent in each of:

  • Aurora College English 150;
  • Aurora College Math 145;
  • Biology 30; and
  • One of Biology 20, Chemistry 20 or Physics 20.

Equivalencies and other post-secondary education may be considered.

Previous Nursing Studies

Students who have successfully completed nursing courses may be eligible to receive transfer credit. Applicants who have taken Aurora College courses in Practical Nurse may have the opportunity to use those courses, or combination of courses, as internal transfer credit in the BSN program. Additionally, registered licensed practical nurses who complete the Aurora College LPN Bridge-In Program with a passing grade of 65% will be eligible for admission into year 2 of the program.

Regardless of the pathway for admission, all applicants must:

  • Submit official transcripts from high school and post-secondary education, as applicable.
  • Submit a letter from a work or school related reference that highlights the applicant’s preparedness for an academically challenging program and for a career as a Registered Nurse.
  • Submit a personal letter of interest indicating why they are pursuing a career in nursing
  • Submit a satisfactory* Criminal Records with Vulnerable Sector Check.**
  • Submit a copy of immunization records showing proof of compliance with the NWT Immunization Schedule published by the Department of Health and Social Services, and evidence of tuberculosis screening.**

* A record of certain offences may prevent candidates from completing all elements of the program, in particular, working with clients and securing practicum placements (see Aurora College Policy C.21 Practicums/Internships).  As the program is practice based, including working with clients, a satisfactory Criminal Records and Vulnerable Sector Check is mandatory.

** Prior to working with clients, students must have submitted their Criminal Records and Vulnerable Sector Check, proof of Basic Life Support CPR, and an up to date immunization record. These records are required by the end of September for year 1 students. Proof of current certification and immunization is required on an annual basis, as per practice partner agreements.

Depending on the applicant’s pathway, they may be advised/requested to submit:

  • A resume or professional portfolio including evidence of relevant work/life experience.

International Applicants or Internationally Educated Applicants

The BSN program may occasionally allocate  a limited number of seats for international applicants. International applicants must provide Canadian equivalency assessment of their high school and/or post-secondary transcripts. These assessments can be completed by World Education Services (WES) or other provincial international qualification assessment services such as IQAS.

Applicant Assessment

Applicants must complete an Aurora College application form, submit official transcripts (high school and post-secondary), a letter of reference and a personal letter of interest to be considered for admission. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is in high demand. Applicants are encouraged to apply early and submit all required and requested documentation.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in one or more of the required academic courses for admission are encouraged to apply early and provide transcripts that demonstrate that they are currently registered in these courses. Applicants may receive a conditional acceptance that is dependent on their successful completion of the required courses (65% or higher). Applicants who are conditionally accepted will be required to provide a final transcript upon completion of the required courses to be fully accepted.

Students who have already completed post-secondary course work in nursing or related courses such as Practical Nursing may have transferability into this program. Post-secondary transcripts and course syllabi/outlines will be required for evaluation.  Students seeking transfer credit will be required to follow process defined in Aurora College Policy C.01 Transfer Credit.

Program Admission

Applicants will be admitted to the program based on meeting the program eligibility requirements and on space availability. Indigenous persons, long-term residents of the NWT*, and graduates of the UCAP/Nursing Career Pathway** at Aurora College will be given priority in the selection process if they have submitted a complete*** application. Applications will be processed based on the date that their application is complete**.

* Preference will be given to longer-term northern residents from the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut before short-term residents of one year or less.

** For complete applications received by April 1st

*** A complete application is one in which all required documentation (ex. application, transcripts, letter of reference) and all requested documentation (ex. additional documentation that supports your eligibility, as requested for your application).

Program Information

This is a four-year Baccalaureate program, offered in person at the Yellowknife/North Slave campus. In some cases, due to the limited availability of clinical placements, students may have to relocate for the consolidated clinical semesters.

The Aurora College BSN program follows the Requisite Skills and Abilities guidelines of the College and Association of Nurses of Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN). The nursing practice environment requires that nursing students have basic skills and abilities including: mental process of perception, memory, judgement and reasoning; written, verbal, and non-verbal communication; ability to conduct themselves in a professional manner; ability to work with others in a professional relationship; demonstration of the physical abilities required of a health care environment; sensory perception abilities; and ability to work in challenging environments (CANNN, 2024). Applicants who question whether they have the skills and abilities to apply and successfully progress through the nursing program should contact the nursing program to determine if nursing is an appropriate career choice, and/or identify areas potentially requiring accommodation. For further detail on the requisite skills and abilities, potential applicants should refer to the document, Becoming a Registered Nurse in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut; Requisite Skills and Abilities (CANNN, 2024) from (www.CANNN.ca).

The nursing program is a practice-based program and practice experiences are mandatory. This may require working days, evenings, nights, weekends, and statutory holidays.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program students will have the knowledge and skills needed to:

  1. Promote health and well-being by providing quality nursing care across a variety of contexts and with diverse populations.
  2. Be accountable and ethical Registered Nurses who provide care and make decisions based on relationships with others, nursing knowledge and other forms of inquiry.
  3. Demonstrate leadership that influences Registered Nursing practice and health care at professional, social, environmental, economic, and political levels by anticipating and responding to the changing needs of society.
  4. Engage in intentional critical inquiry and self-reflection to facilitate life-long learning.
  5. Contribute Registered Nursing knowledge and voice to inter-professional and team-based collaborations to optimize health outcomes and strengthen health services and systems.
  6. Be shaped by understanding the historical and current social realities that result in Indigenous-specific racism, and which negatively impact Indigenous health and well-being. This curriculum is committed to enacting the principles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Completion Requirements

Students are required to complete all courses in the nursing program.  The pass mark for all courses is 60 percent and students must maintain a grade point average of 65 percent for the duration of the program.

The Baccalaureate degree must be completed within seven years of commencing the program.

Document of Recognition

University of Victoria at Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree.

Courses in Program

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