Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing
Degree Program
(120 credits) |
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Regulations
effective September 1, 2003
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time
of their enrolment.
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The Centre
for Nursing and Health Studies offers the post-RN BN program.
This program is designed to provide the registered nurse with the
opportunity to acquire a broad liberal university education with
particular emphasis on acquiring advanced knowledge and clinical
practice skills related to family and community health promotion
as well as leadership and management.
Counselling Services offers an assessment Web site, "Mapping
Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University."
For additional program information, please email the program
advisor.
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Note: Students
are required to complete the degree regulations that were in effect
at the time they enrolled in their program. Students who are inactive
(have not registered for a course within 12 months from their last
contract date) must re-enrol and will follow the regulations in effect
at the time of re-enrolment.
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Enrolment Requirements
To
enrol in the post-RN BN program the following is required: |
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1. |
graduation from an approved nursing
diploma program |
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2. |
current registration/licensure with
a provincial, state or national nursing
association; Proof of registration must be submitted at time of
application and maintained
while completing the post- RN BN program. |
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Degree Requirements |
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Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree credit requirements |
120 |
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Credits awarded for registered
nurse (RN) diploma *
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60 |
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Total credits required to complete
the post-RN BN degree**
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60 |
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Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
credits |
15 |
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* |
Additional credit may be awarded for university transfer
credits taken as part of an RN diploma program. Additional credit
may also be awarded for university-level courses completed before
admission to the post-RN BN program or on the basis of Prior Learning
Assessment and Recognition. |
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** |
Students enrolled in the post-RN BN program who possess
a recognized undergraduate degree may have their credit requirements
reduced by up to 30 credits if the course work completed in obtaining
that degree is applicable to the post-RN BN program requirements. |
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The 60 credits required to complete a post-RN BN degree
are distributed as follows: |
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Required nursing credits |
30 |
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Required non-nursing credits |
18 |
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Electives |
12 |
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Residency Requirement
A minimum of 15 nursing credits must
be taken through Athabasca University.
Course Requirements
Students may enrol in post-RN BN courses
as non-program students. Before registering in a course, students
should determine whether or not they may be eligible for transfer
credit for the course. Students should also ensure that they have
completed all prerequisite and co-requisite course requirements
in accordance with the prerequisite declaration form. Note: 300-level nursing courses should
be completed before 400-level nursing courses.
Post-RN program students are strongly encouraged to register in
ENGL 255 early in their program. However, the Alberta Universities
Writing Competence Test may be used to demonstrate mastery of English
writing skills. Upon successful completion of the test, students
will be exempted from completing ENGL 255. |
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Required Nursing
Courses (30 credits) |
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NURS 322 |
Introduction
to Nursing Informatics |
(3) |
NURS 324 |
Concepts
and Theories in Nursing Practice |
(3) |
NURS 326 |
Health
Assessment and Health Promotion with Individuals |
(3) |
NURS 328 |
Understanding
Research |
(3) |
NURS 432 |
Management
and Leadership in Nursing Practice |
(4) |
NURS 434 |
Community
Health Promotion
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(4) |
NURS 436 |
Family
Health Promotion |
(4) |
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Plus 6 credits from the following
group of courses: |
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HLST 320 |
Teaching
and Learning for Health Professionals |
(3) |
NURS 327 |
Home
Health Nursing |
(3) |
NURS 427 |
Issues
in Home Health Nursing: Guided Independent Study |
(3) |
NURS 438 |
Trends
and Issues in Nursing and Health Systems |
(3) |
NURS 440 |
Senior
Focus: Guided Independent Study |
(3) |
NURS 442 |
Introduction
to Nursing Care of Older Adults |
(3) |
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Transfer credit for senior university-level nursing
courses taken elsewhere (3 to 6) |
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Required Non-Nursing
Courses (18 credits) |
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ENGL 255 |
Introductory
Composition |
(3) |
MATH 215 |
Introduction
to Statistics
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MATH 216 |
Computer-Oriented
Approach to Statistics |
(3) |
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Electives (from 2 or more areas of
study; at least 6 credits must be at the 300/400 level) |
(12) |
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Open Senior (300
or 400) Elective Courses (12 credits) |
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May be nursing, non-nursing or any
combination thereof |
(12) |
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Computer Requirements
Access to a computer with basic word
processing and Internet access is required. Required System
Pentium 200 or higher / 64 MB memory / 100 MB free disk space 56
k baud modem or greater / Laser or inkjet printer Internet Service
at 56 k band or greater
Software
Netscape Navigator 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
Current operational anti-viral 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 provider, or any other communications service.
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Specific Regulations
Given the unique and professional nature
of the post-RN BN program, some of the general policies governing
academic
studies at Athabasca University are superseded by the regulations
below. |
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1. |
RN diplomas from approved institutions
will be accepted regardless of the year of graduation (10-year rule
does not apply). |
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2. |
Athabasca University will not normally
award additional transfer credit for nursing courses/certificates
that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request. If evidence
of current practice in the content area is submitted, this regulation
may be waived. |
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3. |
In order to register in a nursing course
with a practicum component, students must present proof of the following:
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Current RN registration with the provincial,
state or national nursing association ( or governing
body) in the jurisdiction where the practicum will be
undertaken |
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Current certification in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
or Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS). |
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Current certification in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
or Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS). |
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Agencies participating in practicum courses
may request that
students provide proof of up-to-date immunization status and a criminal
record check at the student's expense. |
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4. |
The pass mark for all nursing courses
is C- (60 percent). |
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5. |
To be awarded a BN degree, a minimum grade
average of 2.0 is required in all AU courses used toward the degree.
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