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

The Faculty of Health Disciplines 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. 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.

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 Nursing diplomas who have completed a Canadian RN bridging program are eligible for admission.

Those students presenting non-Canadian/non-United States degrees for admission and/or possible transfer credit, must obtain:

• A basic assessment* that compares the credential completed to education in Canada from an international assessment agency, for example, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS); or
• If seeking additional transfer credits, 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).

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-RN 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.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete the degree regulations that are effect at the time they enrolled in their program. Students are responsible for ensuring that prerequisites (including specified program GPA requirements) and co-requisite course requirements are met throughout their program. Please review the Syllabus for each course for details. 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.

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.

Plus 6 credits selected from the following list:

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.