9.1. Advanced Graduate Diploma: Advanced Nursing Practice
Introduction
Athabasca University's Advanced Graduate Diploma: Advanced Nursing Practice (AGD:ANP) program prepares nurses to assume a broader role in the provision of health services to clients of all ages in the community. The program provides theoretical and clinical preparation for nurses whose role will focus on advanced nursing practice. Graduates will be prepared for nurse practitioner functions in accordance with jurisdictional legislation. Students will write a comprehensive exam upon completion of AGD:ANP courses.
AGD: ANP courses are delivered online using asynchronous conferencing. Students should be competent in using a computer with a Windows 95 (minimum) environment, e-mail, the Internet, and computer conferencing. Students are expected to connect to an Internet service provider at their own expense.
Program Information
The AGD: ANP program is composed of six, three-credit courses for a total of 18 credits.
Program Requirements
NURS 520 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 522 Advanced Nursing Practice: Women (3)
NURS 524 Advanced Nursing Practice: Children (3)
NURS 526 Advanced Nursing Practice: Adults (3)
NURS 528 Advanced Nursing Practice: Older Adults (3)
NURS 530 Comprehensive Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
Program Delivery
All courses are delivered online using asynchronous conferencing. The courses are offered by the grouped-study method, meaning there is a specific start and end date. Students interact with the professors and complete assignments and exams according to course schedules. Courses are offered during two sessions each year. The fall session begins on the day after the Labour Day holiday in September and lasts for fifteen weeks. The winter session begins on the second non-holiday Monday in January and lasts for fifteen weeks. Refer to Course Offerings for detailed session information.
Residency Requirements
In keeping with Athabasca University's mandate of open access, residency requirements are satisfied when the student has successfully completed nine credits in AGD: ANP courses through Athabasca University. The remaining credits may be transferred from other institutions, if they are applicable to Athabasca University's AGD: ANP program.
Program Completion Timelines
Students must complete the AGD: ANP program requirements within five years of their initial enrolment in the program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the AGD: ANP program must be graduates of a Canadian baccalaureate degree program in nursing, or the equivalent, and have a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience.
Program-related Procedures
Application Procedure
Refer to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies (CNHS) site for online forms.
- Complete and submit the AGD: ANP Application Form.
- Complete and submit the Application Fee Payment Form along with the non-refundable application fee.
- Complete and submit the Application Status Sheet.
- Submit official transcripts*, to be sent directly from the issuing institution to CNHS, showing the granting of a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
* Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada or the US, documentation that attests to its equivalence to a Canadian baccalaureate degree is required. Such documentation may be obtained from
International Qualifications Assessment Services
Ministry of Learning, Government of Alberta
4th Floor, Sterling Place
9940-106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2
780.427.2655
iqas@gov.ab.ca- Submit three Letter of Reference forms*, including one from someone who is familiar with the applicant's academic skills.
- Submit an up-to-date résumé including
- proof of a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience,
- current nursing registration,
- certification in Basic Life Support (BLS),
- and immunization records.
**It is the applicant's responsibility to notify his or her referees, that, in accordance with the Province of Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the information contained in the letter of reference is not considered to be confidential and it may be viewed by the applicant upon request. Contact Centre for Nursing for more information. All courses have a practicum component. The participating health authority, institution, or agency may request a criminal record check, at the student's expense, before he or she is accepted as a practicum student.
Program Application Deadline
CNHS must receive all application materials by March 1 for consideration for admission to the program starting in September of the same year.
Program Status
To maintain program status, students must complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). In order to graduate, students must present a minimum average grade of 70 percent over all courses. A minimum grade of 60 percent is required to pass an individual course in the AGD: ANP program. Two failures in one or more courses will result in the automatic removal of the student from the program.
Program Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the CNHS office. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following regular application procedures outlined above. Students requesting re-admission to the AGD: ANP program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration. Two failures in one or more courses will result in the automatic removal of the student from the program.
Graduation Requirements
To be awarded the AGD: ANP, a graduate student must
- successfully complete the program requirements. Students must present a minimum average grade of 70 percent over all courses.
- complete and submit an Application for Graduation Form to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies, and
- meet all other regulations and requirements.
In addition, students must have paid all necessary fees owed to the University and have returned all library resources.
Computer System Requirements
Required System
- Pentium 200 or higher / 64MB memory / 100 MB free disk space
- 56 k baud modem or greater / Laser or inkjet printer / Access to Fax
- Internet Service at 56k baud (or greater)
Software
- Netscape or Internet Explorer 4.
Recommended: Internet Explorer 5.01 or Netscape Navigator 4.08- Word Processing: The required word processing system is Microsoft Word (version 6.0 or higher).
Recommended: Microsoft Office 2000 Suite is preferred because of its ability to convert documents from a variety of platforms and the addition of both Word and Powerpoint.- Current operational anti-virus software
Recommended: Norton Antivirus
PCs are the primary equipment supported by Athabasca University's Help Desk. Only limited assistance for other hardware and software platforms is offered. Students are responsible for their own communication costs such as long distance telephone charges and subscriptions to an Internet node, or any other communications service requirements.
Course-related Procedures
Course Registration
Complete and submit the Course Registration Form and the course tuition fee by the deadline date to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies. Forms may be mailed or faxed. Refer to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies for online forms and credit card information.
Course Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the semester (refer to Academic Schedule) by submitting a Course Withdrawal Request Form. The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or if the notice is hand-delivered or faxed, the University date stamp. Students may also request withdrawal from a course by e-mail provided the request is later confirmed by submitting the Course Withdrawal Request Form by fax or regular mail. Refer to Centre for Nursing and Health Studies for online forms.
If a student withdraws from a course within the first month of the course start date, the record of registration will be deleted from his or her official transcript. Students withdrawing within the first month of a course will be refunded the course tuition minus $300. Do not return the course materials as there will be no additional refund.
If a student withdraws from a course after the first month of the course start date and before the last month of the course, the official record and transcript will show that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty. If a student withdraws within the final month of a course, the official record and transcript will show withdrawal failure (WF). No fees will be refunded for students withdrawing after the first month of a course. Do not return the course materials as there will be no refund.
Course Reregistration
Students may reregister in a course only if they have received a final grade of 59 percent or less, or have withdrawn from the course in good standing. When reregistering students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee.
Advanced Standing
Some students may have completed work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the AGD: ANP program. Students seeking advanced standing are required to submit to the CNHS office a written request including supporting rationale, official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support of their application for admission), detailed course descriptions and outlines for such courses, and appropriate fees.
Course Fee Refunds
Students will receive a refund of the course fees less $300 if they withdraw from the course within the first month of the course start date. Students should not return their course materials. Students withdrawing after the first month of the course start date will not receive a refund.
Course Extensions
In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students may be assigned a grade of "Incomplete" (INC). This allows students to take one additional month to complete and submit the course work. Students must receive written permission from the Program Coordinator and submit the course extension fee. One month after the original course completion date, a mark will be assigned to the course. The mark will reflect assignments submitted, or, if no assignments have been submitted, a mark of zero will be assigned.
Courses will be graded using a percentage system: 60 percent is required to pass any course, however, students are required to have a 70 percent overall average to graduate. Late assignments may be penalized five percent per day. Late assignments will not be accepted after five days unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been discussed with the instructor before the deadline.
Course Offerings (2002 to 2003)
Schedule
Athabasca University reserves the right to modify the list of available courses at any time.Fall Session: September 3, 2002 to December 13, 2002.
Registration deadline: June 1, 2002
NURS 520 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 524 Advanced Nursing Practice: Children (3)
NURS 528 Advanced Nursing Practice: Older Adults (3)
Winter Session: January 13, 2003 to April 25, 2003.
Registration deadline: October 1, 2002
NURS 522 Advanced Nursing Practice: Women (3)
NURS 526 Advanced Nursing Practice: Adults (3)
NURS 530 Comprehensive Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
Fees (for courses starting after September 1, 2002)
All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.
- Program application fee (non-refundable) required with each application: $50
- Admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program): $100
Course Tuition Fee (includes all required materials)
- Students living in Canada: $950
- Canadians living outside of Canada: $1,050
- International students living outside of Canada: $1,150
Other Fees
- Course extension fee: $250 per course
- Transfer credit evaluation fee: $250 per course
- Letter of Permission fee: $20 per letter
- Transcript request fee: $10 per request
- Program extension fee (equal to course registration fee. See above.)
Students who choose to complete the AGD:ANP before applying to the MHS must pay the required MHS application fees when applying to the MHS program.
Academic Schedule
2002 May 20 Victoria Day. University closed. June 1 Last day for students to register in 2002 fall session courses. Registration fees are due. July 1 Canada Day. University closed. Aug. 5 Civic holiday. University closed. Sept. 2 Labour Day. University closed. Sept. 3 First day of fall session courses. Oct. 1 Last day for students to register in 2003 winter session courses. Registration fees are due. Oct. 3 Last day for early withdrawal from fall session courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Oct. 14 Thanksgiving Day. University closed. Nov. 11 Remembrance Day. University closed. Nov. 13 Last day for late withdrawal from fall session courses. Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing. Dec. 13 Last day of fall session courses. Dec. 24/02-
Jan. 2/2003The University will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 and will reopen 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003. 2003 Jan. 13 First day of winter session courses. Feb. 1 Last day for students to register in 2003 spring session courses. Registration fees are due Feb. 13 Last day for early withdrawal from winter session courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript. Feb. 17 Family Day. University closed. Mar. 1 Last day for receipt of application materials for admission to the program, starting in September 2003. Mar. 25 Last day for late withdrawal from winter session courses. Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing. Apr. 18-21 (inclusive) Easter break. University closed. Apr. 25 Last day of winter session courses. May 5 First day of spring session courses. May 19 Victoria Day. University closed. June 1 Last day for students to register in 2003 fall session courses. Registration fees are due. July 1 Canada Day. University closed.
Course Descriptions
Refer to Course Descriptions in MHS program section.
Additional Services
Library Services
Athabasca University Library also serves the needs of graduate students. Refer to Section 10 Student Support Services.
Tuition and Education Tax Credit Receipts Information
Application and tuition fees can be used to reduce income tax. Only fees paid and expended during the calendar year can be reflected in the tax receipt. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency regulations permit the University to issue an education tax credit receipt only for amounts greater than $100. In February, T2202 tax forms for the education tax credit, along with the tuition tax receipts, are mailed to the address on record. Full-time students may be eligible for the education tax credit for each month of full-time registration.
Regulations and Appeals
The same policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals bind all Athabasca University students. Refer to Section 12 Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal.
Athabasca University's policies, regulations, and procedures apply to graduate students. Refer to Section 5 Admissions, Transfer Credit, and Assessments.
Contact Information
Centre for Nursing and Health Studies
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
800.788.9041 (ext. 6381) Canada/US
780.675.6381 Other
Fax: 780.675.6468
mhs@athabascau.ca
** This page is an official publication of Athabasca University **
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