Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing Degree Program (120 credits)

All new students admitted to the Post-RN BN program after March 15, 2016 will be admitted to these regulations effective September 1, 2016.

The Centre for Nursing and Health Studies offers the post-RN BN degree program. This program is designed to provide the Registered Nurse with the opportunity to acquire a broad liberal university education with particular emphasis on advanced theoretical and practical knowledge related to nursing informatics, nursing research, primary health care, leadership, management, and family and community health promotion. All AU nursing courses are mapped to the most current entry to practice competencies, as determined by the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA).

Program Plans

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University." Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

For additional program information, please email bnadvisor@athabascau.ca.

NOTE: Students are required to complete the degree regulations that are 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. Students are strongly encouraged to register in their English course early in their program.

Enrolment Requirements

To enrol in the post-RN BN program, the following is required:

1. Graduation from an approved Registered Nurse (RN) diploma program.
2. Regulated (Practicing) Registered Nurse (RN) registration/licensure with a Canadian province or territory. Proof of registration must be submitted at time of application and maintained while completing the program.

Students with Non-Canadian/Non-United States Education

Those students presenting non-Canadian/non-United States degrees for admission and/or possible transfer credit, must obtain a specialized or course-by-course evaluation of post-secondary course work from an international assessment agency, for example, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). For more information, see the Admissions section of the Calendar that explains the admission process for Non-Canadian Students.

Official transcripts for any completed Canadian courses or programs in Nursing taken to obtain licensure in Canada must be submitted.

Program Structure
Total credits required to complete the Post-RN BN degree* * Transfer credit may be awarded for non-nursing university transfer credit taken as part of an RN diploma program. Non-nursing transfer credit will not be awarded, however, for anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, microbiology, or health assessment courses included in the RN diploma program. Credit will not be awarded for non-nursing required, support and option courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request. Additional credit may also be awarded for university-level courses completed before admission to the post-RN BN program on the basis of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.	45
The 45 credits required to complete a post-RN BN degree are distributed as follows:
Required nursing credits	27
Required non-nursing credits	6
Non-nursing option credits	12
Residency requirement. A minimum of 15 nursing credits* must be obtained through Athabasca University. *Note: HLST 320 is a non-nursing course and does not qualify for the residency requirement and is subject to the 10-year stale-dating rule.	15
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered.	24
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	9

Course Requirements

Students may register in post-RN BN courses as unclassified 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 corequisite course requirements in accordance with the prerequisite declaration form.

NOTE: 300-level nursing courses should be completed before 400-level nursing courses.

Required Nursing Courses (27 credits)
NURS 322	Nursing Informatics	(3)
NURS 324	Concepts and Theories in Nursing Practice	(3)
NURS 328	Understanding Research	(3)
NURS 432	Management and Leadership in Nursing Practice	(4)
NURS 434	Community Health Promotion	(4)
NURS 436	Family Health Promotion	(4)

Plus 6 credits selected from the following list:

HLST 320	Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals* (See note above in Residency Requirement.)	(3)
NURS 326	Health Assessment	(3)
NURS 327	Home Health Nursing	(3)
NURS 438	Trends and Issues in Nursing and Health Systems	(3)
NURS 440	Independent Study	(3)
NURS 442	Gerontological Nursing	(3)
NURS 604	Leadership Roles in Health**	(3)
NURS 618	Community Development for Health Care Leaders**	(3)
NURS 621	Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change**	(3)
NURS 622	Understanding Organizations: Theory, Analysis and Application**	(3)
	Transfer credit for senior university-level nursing courses taken elsewhere	(3 to 6)
	** A paced (within a specific four-month time frame) nursing graduate course that is open for registration by June 10 (Fall start), October 10 (Winter start), and February 10 (Spring start). Credit for NURS 604, 618, 621, or 622 if taken to fulfill the Bachelor of Nursing elective requirement, cannot be applied for credit toward another undergraduate or graduate degree. Please note the fee for this graduate course differs from that of an undergraduate course. Please fill out the Graduate Programs: Course Registration Form to register for NURS 604, 618, 621, or 622.

Required Non-Nursing Courses (6 credits)
ENGL	Any junior or senior university-level or equivalent English course.	(3)
MATH 215	Introduction to Statistics or	(3)
MATH 216	Computer-oriented Approach to Statistics

Non-Nursing Option Courses (12 credits)
May be selected from Humanities, Science or Social Science, and Applied Studies other than nursing (NURS); at least six credits must be at the 300/400 level)	(12)

Computer Requirements

Access to a computer with basic word processing, and Internet access, is required. Refer to the glossary.

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.

1. RN diplomas from approved institutions will be accepted regardless of the year of graduation.
2. Athabasca University will not normally award additional transfer credit for nursing courses/certificates that are more than 7 years old at the time of the request. If evidence of current practice in the content area is submitted, this regulation may be waived. Credit will not be awarded for non-nursing required, support and option courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request.
3. Students will be permitted a maximum of five years to complete all degree requirements from date of enrolment.
4. Students who have been awarded two failing grades in one or more nursing courses will be automatically withdrawn from the post-RN BN program, with no opportunity for re-admission.
5. To be awarded a BN degree, a minimum program grade-point average of 2.3 is required, which is calculated using all Athabasca University courses used toward the degree.