Regulations effective September 1, 2017.
The Faculty of Health Studies offers the Post-LPN BN program.
This program is designed to provide the Regulated (Practicing) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with the opportunity to continue their education in nursing in a baccalaureate program that offers flexible modes of course delivery and opportunities to develop a clinical focus. Graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for registration with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. If you plan to practice in a jurisdiction other than Alberta following completion of this program, please contact the regulatory body in that jurisdiction, before applying to this program, to determine acceptance of the program when seeking a temporary practice permit and active registration as a registered nurse. 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).
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. 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.
Students presenting non-Canadian/non-United States diplomas must present one of the following for admission and/or possible transfer credit:
Official transcripts for any completed Canadian or United States courses or programs in Nursing, taken to obtain licensure in Canada, must be submitted.
* Students who leave the post-LPN BN program for another program at AU will be required to provide a specialized or course-by-course assessment.
For more information, see the Evaluations and Transfer Credit section of the Calendar that explains the foreign transcript evaluation process for international students.
LPN Students who hold a recognized first degree in a discipline outside of nursing who wish to obtain an AU Bachelor of Nursing degree must apply under the Second Undergraduate degree regulations. These students may transfer applicable coursework from the previously completed degree to satisfy up to 50 per cent of the total credits required to complete the post LPN BN program. Preparatory (100 level) credits cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a second undergraduate degree. Those students who hold an international credential in the same discipline who wish to obtain a Canadian credential may be permitted, in consultation with the Program Director and reviewed by the Office of the Registrar.
Program Structure | |
---|---|
Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree credit requirements | 120 |
Credits awarded for successful completion of practical nurse certificate or diploma program | 30* |
Total credits required to complete the Post-LPN BN degree |
90 |
Residency requirement. A minimum of 51 nursing credits (NURS) must be obtained through Athabasca University. BIOL 235 (6 credits) must be completed through AU. | 51 |
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits (excluding courses using a pass/fail grading scheme) must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) (for non-nursing) credits | 9 |
The 90 credits required to complete a post-LPN BN degree shall be distributed as follows: | |
• required and option nursing credits | 60 |
• required Cluster A credits | 30 |
* Additional credit may be awarded for university-level courses completed before enrolment to the Post-LPN BN program. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition may be awarded for non-nursing University-level courses. University-level nursing courses taken prior to enrolment in the post-LPN BN program will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credit will not be granted for nursing clinical courses that are more than 5 years old and nursing theory courses that are more than 7 years old and non-nursing required, support and option courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request. |
Courses listed in Cluster A are prerequisite to those listed in Cluster B, and courses listed in Cluster B are prerequisite to those listed in Cluster C. Pre/co-requisite course requirements are also present within both Cluster A and B. Students are responsible for ensuring that prerequisites (including the specified Program GPA) and co-requisite course requirements are met throughout the program in accordance with the Prerequisite Declaration Form.
NOTE: Clinical courses will only be offered within Alberta. Please see Post-LPN BN Professional Practice (Clinical) Preparation Guide (PDF - 228KB) and NURS 441 Placement Suggestion Process (PDF - 298KB) for more information.
ENGL 255 | Introductory Composition (recommended)* or junior/senior level university or equivalent ENGL course | (3) |
HLST 320 | Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals | (3) |
MATH 215 | Introduction
to Statistics or |
(3) |
MATH 216 | Computer-oriented Approach to Statistics | |
PHIL 152 | Basics in
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing or any 200-level or higher philosophy course |
(3) |
PSYC 290 | General Psychology | (3) |
Humanities (300/400 level) or Social Science (300/400 level) or Science (300/400 level) | (3) | |
BIOL 235 | Human Anatomy and Physiology** | (6) |
NURS 316 | Review of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for BN Practice I** | (3) |
NURS 317 | Review of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for BN Practice II** | (3) |
** BIOL 235, NURS 316, and NURS 317 must be taken with Athabasca University. Transfer Credit will not be awarded. |
* Students are strongly encouraged to register in their English course early in their program.
Cluster B Nursing Required and Elective Courses (51 credits) | ||
---|---|---|
NURS 250 | Exploration of Professional Nursing Practice | (3) |
NURS 322 | Nursing Informatics | (3) |
NURS 324 | Concepts and Theories in Nursing Practice | (3) |
NURS 328 | Understanding Research | (3) |
NURS 400 | Adult Health and Health Alterations | (3) |
NURS 401 | Professional Practice with Adults Experiencing Health Alterations | (6) |
NURS 432 | Management and Leadership in Nursing Practice | (4) |
NURS 434 | Community Health Promotion | (4) |
NURS 435 | Professional Practice in Mental Health Promotion | (6) |
NURS 436 | Family Health Promotion | (4) |
NURS 437 | Professional Practice in Family and Community Health Promotion | (6) |
NURS 438 | Trends and Issues in Nursing and Health Systems | (3) |
And 3 credits from the following nursing elective list: | ||
NURS 326 | Health Assessment | (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 Organization** | (3) |
** 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 requirements, 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. |
Cluster C Courses (9 credits) | ||
---|---|---|
NURS 441 | Consolidated Professional Practice | (9) |
Access to a computer with basic word processing and Internet access is required. Refer to the online glossary.
Given the unique and professional nature of the Post-LPN BN program, some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University are superseded by the following regulations.
Information effective Sept. 1, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2018.
Updated March 24 2020 by laurab
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