Post Registration B.S.N. Program
This program leads to the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). It is for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses and has been designed to build upon previous knowledge and skills of the student, preparing the nurse to use greater discrimination in making nursing judgments and working with broader concepts of the personal and social aspects of health and illness.
The program does not prepare students to write licensure exams. Students who are interested in additional licensure preparation should contact the College of Nursing.
The Post Registration B.S.N. program is available by distance delivery with the exception of two mandatory courses on campus: NURS 329.1 for one week at the beginning of the program and NURS 411.3 for two weeks at the end of the program.
Admission Requirements
This program is open to nurses who have graduated from an approved school of nursing or psychiatric nursing, who have practicing nurse registration in Canada, and have 3 years of nursing practice.
Applicants will be required to submit proof of practicing nurse registration and transcripts from their basic nursing program and any other post-secondary courses.
Applications for admission will be accepted between October 1 and January 15. Depending on the application numbers, the 2008-2009 academic year may be the last intake of students.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible because students are accepted on a first come (documents complete) first accepted basis.
Enrolment in the program is limited to the number that can be accommodated in class and clinical practice. Every effort will be made to accommodate qualified applicants but applicants should not assume that admission is assured.
Some nursing classes are available to nurses not enrolled in the program. Contact the College of Nursing for further information.
Program of Study
This program consists of 55 credit units. Credits may be given for courses taken in other programs. Nursing graduates at SIAST Kelsey Campus or SIAST Wascana Campus may receive 12 credit units for social science courses. Students will be required to complete the following courses for their B.S.N.:
NURS 318.3, 329.1, 411.3, 413.3, 416.3, 448.3, 483.3, 484.3, 491.3; one of 426.3, 476.3, 478.3, 486.3; Social Science (12 credit units); Open Elective
(12 credit units)*; Statistics (3 credit units)
*HSC 120.3 is not acceptable.
Note: Recognition of prior learning is available for NURS 318.3. Contact the College of Nursing for further information.
Not all courses in the Post Registration B.S.N. program will be offered in every term. Please refer to the online
Course Offerings.
Except for NURS 484.3, students must register for all Nursing courses in the Post Registration B.S.N. program at least one month prior to the start date for courses. Students wishing to take NURS 484.3 in Term 2 must register by November 1. Students wishing to take NURS 484.3 in Spring must register by April 1.
It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they possess the appropriate prerequisites for the courses in which they register. Misrepresentation may lead to disciplinary action.
Requirements for Completion of the Degree
- All courses to be counted for the degree must be completed within five years of enrolment in the first nursing course.
- To receive the B.S.N. degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a student must successfully complete at least 31 of the required 55 credit units from the University of Saskatchewan. At least 22 credit units must be nursing courses from the University of Saskatchewan.
Degrees with Distinction
The B.S.N. degree with Distinction will be awarded to Post Registration students whose Cumulative Weighted Averages are between .70 and 1.5 standard deviations above the mean of the Cumulative Weighted Average of the last five years of graduating Post Registration B.S.N. students and who have averages greater than 75%.
The B.S.N. degree with Great Distinction will be awarded to Post Registration students whose Cumulative Weighted Averages are more than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean of the last five year averages of graduating Post Registration B.S.N. students and who have Cumulative Weighted Averages greater than 80%.
Progress and Graduation Policies
(a) Progress towards completion of the program will be monitored on an annual basis. Students are required to maintain a minimum weighted average of 60% overall and a minimum weighted average of 60% in nursing courses in order to continue in the program.
(b) To graduate, students must have passed all required courses with a minimum weighted average of 60% overall and a minimum weighted average of 60% in nursing courses.
(c) Students must have current licensure to practice in the jurisdiction in which they are completing clinical practice.
(d) Students are required to maintain active practicing registration while in the Post Registration B.S.N. program. Students will be required to provide proof of registration each year they are in the program by December 31.
(e) Normally, a student will be allowed no more than two opportunities to attempt a course.
Failure to Meet the Requirements for Progress or GraduationIf a student has not met these requirements, a course of action deemed appropriate to the degree of failure to meet the standards for progress or graduation, will be determined by the Post Registration Subcommittee on Academic Affairs. The course of action required of the student may include one or more of the following:
(a) If a supplemental examination is granted, pass that examination.
(b) Repeat the failed course(s).
(c) Take those courses deemed advisable by the Post Registration Subcommittee on Academic Affairs to constitute a make-up year. The committee may also determine the maximum credit units to be taken during the year.
(d) Repeat all courses taken during the year.
(e) Be placed on
Probation under the conditions determined by the Post Registration Subcommittee on Academic Affairs for students.
(f) Discontinue studies in the program for one academic year.
(g) Discontinue studies in the program.
Failure to Meet Minimum Requirements for Graduation
Students who fall short of the required average for a degree, upon approval of the Post Registration Subcommittee on Academic Affairs, may be permitted to repeat up to a maximum of 18 credit units or take up to a maximum of 18 credit units in an effort to make up the deficiency.
Student Appeals
Students who are
Required to Discontinue their studies have the right to appeal this decision. Appeals must be made in writing, to the Dean of the College of Nursing no later than 30 days after the mailing date of notification from the Dean.
Courses from Other Universities
Registered nurses or registered psychiatric nurses with previous university background should contact the College to plan their program.
To ensure proper course sequencing and granting of transfer credit, students wishing to take a course from another university toward their degree must obtain written permission from the College of Nursing prior to registering in the course.
Tuition and Fees
See the
Tuition & Fee Information section of the
Calendar.
Attendance and Discipline
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of students in all courses, laboratories, and practice periods for which they are registered. During periods of clinical experience students are subject to the general rules and regulations of the agencies in which they are placed. Students are expected to give first priority to scheduled periods for clinical nursing practice and may not plan to take other courses, part-time work, or attend student meetings which would interfere with the clinical practice. Students must comply with standards relating to dress, appearance, and behaviour appropriate for professional nurses. Immunization must be up to date for all students before clinical practice. Students may be
Required to Discontinue their studies at any point in their nursing program for reasons other than academic, if it is considered in the best interests of the individual, the Program, and/or the profession.
Guidelines for Student Responsibility
The College of Nursing adheres to the procedures and policies as set out by the University of Saskatchewan. If a student feels aggrieved by a decision of the College/Program Committee, recourse is available.
Student Appeals in Academic Matters, Student Appeals in Non-Academic Matters and
Student Academic Dishonesty are available from the Office of the University Secretary and at the
website. In addition, it is expected that nursing students will practice nursing within the bounds of the philosophy of the program and the C.N.A. Code of Ethics for Nursing, 2002, for RN's; or RPNAS Code of Ethics, 2001, for RPN's.
Nursing students will provide safe care by refraining from putting clients in jeopardy through knowingly committing acts of commission or omission. Failure to meet the expected standard of care will be dealt with by the college.
Withdrawals
Students may withdraw from a course at any time, but should note carefully that a first-term course dropped after November 15 (or February 15 for a course extending over both terms, or after March 15 for a second-term course) is regarded as a failed course (withdraw/fail). In the calculation of the student's average, the earned grade (maximum of 49%) will be used for withdraw/fail.
A student wishing to withdraw from the program should discuss the withdrawal with the Assistant Dean. A student wishing to re-enter the College after withdrawing must reapply and pay the application fee.