Nursing

General Inquiries/Questions on how to Apply: admiss@nipissingu.ca or (705) 474-3450 ext. 4761

Associate Director, BScN Collaborative Program: Letitia Penno

Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program offers students a distinctive, collaborative education through its educational partnership with Canadore College. Classes take place in a student-centred learning environment with faculty from both agencies. The main stream on-campus 4-year degree program annually accepts 96 baccalaureate nursing students, and 24 practical nursing students, which makes for a unique challenging, yet invigorating environment. Courses are taken located in Nipissing University and Canadore College, conveniently located on the same campus. Clinical experiences are provided at the new North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC), as well as agencies throughout the city, depending on the focus of the practicum. The NBRHC is located within comfortable walking distance of Nipissing’s main campus and residence complexes, and offers a convenient, accessible, and state-of-the-art facility in which you will gain valuable practical experience - starting in your first year. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to enter a profession this is highly desired and needed in Ontario, and throughout the world. Students study health, disease, clinical technology and procedures, therapeutic communication, and build valuable skills in observation and assessment, interviewing techniques, thinking critically and problem solving.

Examples of courses of study include: Professional Self-Awareness, Aging and Health, Anatomy and Physiology, Developmental Psychology, and Social Gerontology. Nurses are at the centre of key transition points in life. Nurses are there when women become mothers, when adult children become caregivers to their parents, and in the last stages of life. Nurses also work in leadership and administrative roles such as research, management and education. Nursing at Nipissing provides students with critical thinking, communication and practical skills needed to successfully take on the various responsibilities and opportunities of the profession. Nursing is a challenging degree program that prepares you for a wide variety of career options. If you are interested in learning in a collaborative and community-oriented environment, then Nipissing University is the right place for you.

Starting in your first nursing course, you will engage in clinical practicum and shadow nurses currently at work in the profession. In each successive nursing course you will build on your skills and take on more responsibility in the clinical environment. In later semesters you will interact with nurses in specialized settings, dealing with a wide range of patients and health concerns. In your final practice nursing experience you may have the opportunity to choose where you learn, as the program offers the opportunity to apply your newfound knowledge and skills either in specialized practice settings or places around the world. Practicums occur in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, community, patient homes, long-term care, mental health settings and clinics. Sample courses taken include: Nursing Healthy Individuals, Nursing Older Adults, Nursing in the Acute Care Setting, Family Nursing in Diverse Settings, and Preceptorship.

Please note:

• Students must complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in seven (7) years from the original date of admission.
• All NURS courses are restricted to students enrolled in the BScN program. Special permission may be granted from the Director of Nursing or the course instructor. Students must complete all nursing theory courses with a minimum grade of 60% in order to progress through the program and 50% in non-nursing required courses. Students will be required to withdraw from the nursing program should they receive more than one grade of “unsatisfactory” in clinical courses.

General Inquiries/Questions on how to Apply: admiss@nipissingu.ca or (705) 474-3450 ext. 4761

Program Manager, RPN to BScN Program: Wenda Caswell

Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Bridging Program If you already have a RPN diploma and are registered, or currently undergoing the registration process through the College of Nurses of Ontario, Nipissing offers a 3-year RPN to BScN Bridging program. The program is offered on the North Bay campus on a full-time basis, where students complete a semester of bridging courses and integrate fully in 3rd year with the 4 year on campus program.

General Inquiries/Questions on how to Apply: admiss@nipissingu.ca or (705) 474-3450 ext. 4761

Program Manager, RPN to BScN Program: Wenda Caswell

The Blended Learning Program functions in a partnership model with health care institutions across Ontario. It offers all that the on-campus Bridging Program delivers with the additional flexibility of allowing you to maintain employment while you study part-time in an online learning environment, with clinical experiences in settings geographically close to your home. This BScN program is ideal for those who already have a RPN diploma and are registered through the College of Nurses of Ontario, are computer literate, work part-time and prefer an alternative to a full-time on-campus program. Please review our program pamphlet and visit our Center for Flexible Teaching and Learning for additional information on the program and online course offerings.

General Inquiries/Questions on how to Apply: admiss@nipissingu.ca or (705) 474-3450 ext. 4761

Program Manager, Scholar Practitioner Program: Baiba Zarins - baibaz@nipissingu.ca

Nipissing offers a unique accelerated six semester BScN Scholar Practitioner Program to students who already have an undergraduate degree, have an avid interest in health care, and want to live in Southern Ontario. This program is based on a partnership model with leading health agencies in Toronto. Partners include: Baycrest, Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Rehab, and University Health Network. This full-time program is completely delivered in Toronto and is based on a discovery model of practice within the health care agencies themselves. Classes are currently delivered in collaboration with the Centre for the Education of Health Care Professionals Educated Abroad, located at Bay and Bloor. This is a self-directed program that connects you with leading nurse clinicians who work with you to facilitate your learning to meet the College of Nurses competencies of an entry level degree educated nurse.

Students must complete 72 credits in Nursing as follows:

To graduate from the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) Scholar Practitioner Program, students must meet the Second Degree-BScN requirements as outlined in the academic calendar.

General Inquiries/Questions on how to Apply: admiss@nipissingu.ca or (705) 474-3450 ext. 4761

Associate Director, BScN Collaborative Program: Letitia Penno

Students interested in an International experience will be pleased to note that Nipissing University has partnered with the International University of Nursing (IUON) in St. Kitts. Students begin a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the IUON campus located in St. Kitts West Indies and then transition to an IUON partner school, such as Nipissing University, to complete their final year of theory and clinical training. Students enrolled at Nipissing enjoy all the rights and privileges of all nursing students as defined by Nipissing University’s program. In addition to obtaining their IUON degree, graduating students will receive a BScN degree from Nipissing. As a graduate of Nipissing, students are eligible to apply to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE). Passing the CRNE provides a license for the nurse to practice in the province of Ontario. Following graduation, students may apply to write the American NCLEX credentialing examination to pursue a career in nursing in the United States.

BScN-IUON Stream
Students admitted to the BScN-IUON Stream must complete the BScN degree requirements as follows:

For complete Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree requirements, please refer to that section of the Calendar.