Nursing - Bachelor of
Program Office: 403.320.3348 • NESA-RN@lethbridgecollege.ca
Centre for Health and Wellness Placement Office: 403.320.3202 Ext. 5380
Due to the nature of the program, it is recommended that prospective students contact an Academic Advisor with initial inquiries. Call 403.320.3366 or 1.800.572.0103 ext 3366.
Be ready to receive a top-quality education in an environment known for producing highly qualified nurses. Delivered in collaboration with the University of Lethbridge, the Bachelor of Nursing program blends theory and practice to help you develop skills in clinical reasoning, innovative clinical practice, leadership and the use of innovative technologies.
In this student-centered program, you’ll be encouraged to be responsible for your learning with guidance from experienced instructors. Course-related practice-based experiences in hospitals, community health care and home care agencies will let you apply your newfound knowledge in the real world.
Academic Standards
During orientation to the program, students receive a handbook outlining all the program policies. It is very important for students to review and understand these requirements.
A student who falls within the ranges below will be in good standing, on academic probation, or required to withdraw, respectively:
| Number of Completed Courses (includes transfer courses)1 | Good Standing | Academic Probation | Required Withdrawal | Minimum Course Grade Requirements2 | GPA Requirements for Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | 1.70 or higher | 0.00 - 1.69 | - | *Minimum | |
| 6-10 | 1.70 or higher | 1.50 - 1.69 | Below 1.50 | cummulative GPA | |
| 11-20 | 1.85 or higher | 1.70 - 1.84 | Below 1.70 | of 2.00 AND | |
| 21-30 | 2.00 or higher | 1.85 - 1.99 | Below 1.85 | *Minimum | |
| 31-40 | 2.00 or higher | - | Below 2.00 | NURS/HLSC GPA of 2.50 |
- 1
The number of completed courses is based on a standard 3.0 credit-hour course.
- 2
All Nursing courses and BIO/KNES 1160 and BIO/KNES 1161 must attain a minimum grade of C-
Academic Disqualification
A student is required to withdraw from the Bachelor of Nursing program if any of the following occurs:
- the cumulative GPA falls below the required levels for two or more consecutive terms at the end of the spring term;
- the student fails any internship or nursing practice course; or
- the student fails to meet the Standards of Professional Conduct (see below).
A student dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission by the appropriate deadline after a lapse of one full year. Readmission is not guaranteed. Students dismissed for a second time will not be re-admitted to the program. Students are advised to contact an academic advisor as early as possible to discuss the possibility of readmission.
Standards of Professional Conduct
The standards of professional conduct for students in the Bachelor of Nursing program are published in the NESA Student Handbook. Students are subject to the general rules and regulations of the agencies with which they are affiliated during practice experiences. Students may be required to withdraw for violations of professional conduct. Faculty members who are supervising practice-based experiences may require a student to leave a practice setting at any time if, in the opinion of the faculty member, the student’s practice threatens patient/client safety or is disruptive to patient/client care. The Dean, or designate, will review the case in a timely fashion to determine whether, and under what conditions, the student may return to the practice setting.
Your Investment
Program fees will vary. To view fee information for your program, go to www.lethbridgecollege.ca/programs and select your program.
Students are expected to travel for practice-based experiences, as required, and are responsible for associated costs.
- Year III and Year IV BN fees are determined by the University of Lethbridge. Please contact the U of L at 403.329.2649 for more information.
All applicants applying to the four-year BN degree program must apply directly to the University of Lethbridge. Please refer to the U of L admissions information.
All newly-admitted students will register in and attend courses at Lethbridge College for the first two years of the program. Students will register in and attend courses at the University of Lethbridge for the final two years of the program.
Admission Routes
Admission to the Bachelor of Nursing program may be gained by one of the following admission routes:
- Alberta or other Canadian high school credentials.
- Transfer from recognized colleges or universities.
- Special Case Admission.
- Credentials from other countries.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge will consider qualified, non-competitive applicants with previous experience related to nursing on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with previous experience related to nursing, who are seeking Special Case Admission, will be required to submit documents as per admission requirements at the University of Lethbridge, as well as:
- A letter of intent, describing the nature of previous experience as it relates to nursing and the reason for pursuing nursing;
- A letter of reference from an employer;
- A resume detailing relevant work, volunteer, and life experience.
Note: All applicants may be invited to an interview.
Transfer Students
A student may transfer up to 20 semester course equivalents (60.0 credit hours). Students may receive transfer credit for both nursing and non-nursing courses. Nursing and human anatomy/physiology courses must have been completed at an accredited post-secondary institution not more than three (3) years prior to admission. Non-nursing courses are subject to the time limits of the relevant faculty courses for which transfer credit is being sought and must be discussed at the time of acceptance into the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge.
International Students
Applicants whose first language is other than English must provide acceptable evidence of English Language Proficiency according to the U of L admissions information.
Academic Requirements
High school and transfer student applicants must have satisfactory completion of the following Alberta high school courses or equivalents:
- English Language Arts 30-1 (minimum grade of 60%)
- Biology 30
- Chemistry 30
- Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2, or Pure Mathematics 30
- A fifth course (not including Special Projects) at the Grade 12 level
Note: Admission is competitive, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge reserves the right of selection of all students for admission and readmission to the faculty on the basis of academic qualifications. Competitive marks will be based on the average of grades in the five (5) courses listed above. Transfer students may have a minimum 3.0 credit hour university-level course mark in the same discipline used in place of the high school mark, if it is more advantageous. The fifth course may be substituted for any minimum 3.0 credit hour university-level course.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Term I | ||
| BIO-1160 | Anatomy and Physiology I (U of L KNES-1160) | 3 |
| ENG-1150 | Composition (U of L WRIT-1000) | 3 |
| INS-1155 | Introduction to Indigenous Studies (U of L INDG-1000) | 3 |
| NSG-1400 | Becoming a Nurse (U of L NURS-1400) | 3 |
| NSG-1410 | Personal Health and Wholeness (U of L NURS-1410) | 3 |
| NSG-1420 | Intersectionality and Health (U of L NURS-1420) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Term II | ||
| BIO-1155 | Human Nutrition (U of L BCHM-2300) | 3 |
| BIO-1161 | Anatomy and Physiology II (U of L KNES-1161) | 3 |
| NSG-1500 | Caring Communication (U of L NURS-1500) | 3 |
| NSG-1521 | Assessing Health (U of L NURS-1521) | 3 |
| NSG-1522 | Introduction to Praxis (U of L NURS-1522) | 3 |
| PSY-1160 | Introduction to Psychology (U of L PSYC-1000) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Term I | ||
| HUM-1155 | Ethics (U of L PHIL 1000) | 3 |
| NSG-2300 | Evidence and Praxis (U of L NURS-2300) | 3 |
| NSG-2321 | Health of Persons (U of L NURS-2321) | 6 |
| NSG-2322 | Praxis With Persons (U of L NURS-2322) | 6 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Term II | ||
| LIB ED | Social Science Elective | 3 |
| NSG-2421 | Health of Families (U of L NURS-2421) | 6 |
| NSG-2422 | Praxis With Families (U of L NURS-2422) | 6 |
| SOC-1160 | Introduction to Sociology (U of L SOCI-1000) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Term I | ||
| University of Lethbridge | ||
| NURS-3021 | Community and Population Health | 3 |
| NURS-3022 | Praxis in Health Promotion | 6 |
| NURS-3100 | Leadership and Change | 3 |
| HLSC-3450 | Applied Statistics for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Term II | ||
| University of Lethbridge | ||
| NURS-3121 | Mental Health and Addictions | 3 |
| NURS-3122 | Praxis in Mental Health | 6 |
| NURS-3200 | Praxis and the Digital Age | 3 |
| HLSC-3560 | History of Nursing | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Term I | ||
| University of Lethbridge | ||
| NURS-3321 | Acute Health Disruptions | 3 |
| NURS-3322 | Praxis in Acuity | 6 |
| NURS-3300 | Nursing and Global Health | 3 |
| Elective (one from HLSC cross list) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Term II | ||
| University of Lethbridge | ||
| NURS-4922 | Professional Preceptorship | 15 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 132 | |
Special Note: Whenever possible, nursing theory courses are aligned with concurrent practice-based experiences.
General Requirements
- Successful completion of at least 40 course equivalents (121.0 credit hours) with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all courses taken for credit toward the degree.
- Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 on all required Nursing and Health Sciences courses taken for credit toward the program in Years 3 and 4.
- Completion of the Liberal Education Requirement (LIB ED).
- A minimum grade of C- is required in all Nursing courses, and in BIO-1160 Anatomy and Physiology I (3 credits) and BIO-1161 Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits), in order to meet degree requirements. Any student who receives a grade of D+ or lower in these courses is required to repeat the course and achieve a higher grade before being allowed to proceed in the program.
- University of Lethbridge Residence Requirement: A minimum of 20 courses, including a minimum of 12 courses in Nursing and Health Sciences, must be completed at the University of Lethbridge.
- The time limit for program completion is seven years after completion of the first Nursing course used for credit toward the degree.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements
This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.
Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g. immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g. police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g. CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student. Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage. In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside of Alberta). These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.
Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.
In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g. health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.
WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals. WIL’s may include day, evening, and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.
Upon successful completion of the program, you'll be eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed as a registered nurse. This will open career opportunities for you in a range of health care facilities, including:
- Acute Care (Medical, Surgical, Mental Health, Pediatric, Maternity, etc.)
- Continuing Care (Long Term Care, Supportive Living, etc.)
- Critical Care (ICU, ER, OR)
- Community Health Nursing (Public Health, Primary Health Care, Home Care, etc.)
- Medical Offices
- Rural and Remote Nursing
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Research
- Government Agencies