Nursing

Faculty of Nursing

Are you thinking about a career in nursing? Professional nurses are knowledge brokers of the population health issues of today and leaders in the health care system. Nurses' practice involves working with communities, families and individuals across the lifespan in the areas of health promotion, illness prevention as well as curative, rehabilitative and palliative care. A baccalaureate degree in nursing prepares you for a dynamic career with myriad opportunities. Is your desire to work with children? Choose pediatric nursing in a hospital or childcare environment. If a fast-paced environment is what drives you, join the emergency unit of a hospital. Do you want to work with some of the pressing health concerns of today? Join a chronic disease management team or become a community health nurse. What about research? Today’s health-care field is multidimensional with challenges enough for a lifetime.

The Faculty of Nursing offers a superior course of study where you will learn to integrate theory with clinical practice based upon cutting-edge research and approaches to learning. Our programs provide a strong knowledge base for practice and superior preparation for graduate education. You will learn in an environment that recognizes your life experience and fosters collegial and inter-professional relationships. Active learning is facilitated in small clinical groups, simulated clinical laboratories, peer groups, as well as classroom and technology-assisted environments. You will be challenged to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills and inquiry-based approaches to apply in clinical practice.

Graduates of this program are distinguished by a broad background in the humanities and sciences. They have strong communication, assessment, and leadership skills and possess a clearly defined philosophical and conceptual basis for practice.

Nursing Programs Available

The Faculty of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Nursing program comprised of three routes for degree completion: a two-year route for degree holders, a two and one-half year route for transfer students, and a four year route for high school students.

In addition, the Bachelor of Nursing Offsite (BNOS) program at Medicine Hat is a collaborative program offered entirely on the Medicine Hat College site. It was developed jointly by the nursing faculty at the University of Calgary and Medicine Hat College in order to allow students in the Medicine Hat area increased access to a baccalaureate program without having to relocate.

For detailed information on any of the BN programs, please visit the Faculty of Nursing website at http://nursing.ucalgary.ca/.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor of Nursing - Application Route for High School Students

• Available to high school applicants and transfer applicants who do not meet the Transfer Route admission requirements
• 4 year program
• September entry only
• Traditional September to April schedule with May to August free from coursework

Fall 2012 Admission Requirements

High school Admission: English 30-1, Pure Mathematics 30^*, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and one other "30" level 5-credit subject with a minimum 65% average over the first four subjects with a competitive average over all five subjects.

* Note: Effective Fall 2013, one of Mathematics 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2 (preferred) to satisfy current requirement of Pure Mathematics 30.

Adult admission: English 30-1, Pure Mathematics 30, Biology 30, and Chemistry 30. The fifth subject is waived for adults 21 years or older.

Transfer admission: Applicants who do not qualify for the Transfer Route may apply to the Direct Entry Route for high school students; however, it is important to note that students who select this route will take a minimum of 4-years to complete the degree requirements. Transfers between routes will not be permitted.

Bachelor of Nursing - Application Route for Transfer Applicants

• Available to transfer applicants
• 28 month program
• September and January entry
• Year-round program with one spring/summer session (May to August) free from coursework

Fall 2012 Admission Requirements

• English 30-1, Pure Mathematics 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and one other "30" level 5-credit subject. The fifth subject is waived for adult students 21 years or older.

Plus the following from an accredited post-secondary institution recognized by the University of Calgary:

• A minimum of 45 transferable credits (15 half course equivalents or HCE) which must include: English and/or comparative Literature course (1 HCE), Arts course (1 HCE - click here for a list of acceptable subject areas), Statistics course (1 HCE), an approved Anatomy & Physiology course (1 full-course equivalent (FCE) or 2 HCE with grade(s) of C- or better)
• A transfer Grade Point Average (GPA) which meets the minimum admission average (set annually)

Bachelor of Nursing - Application Route for Degree Holders

• Available to degree holders
• 24 month program
• January entry
• Year-round program (four semesters per year)

Winter 2013 Admission Requirements

• An approved baccalaureate degree
• A minimum of 90 transferable credits which must include: English and/or comparative Literature (1 HCE), Arts course (1 HCE - click here for a list of acceptable subject areas), Statistics course (1 HCE), an approved Anatomy & Physiology course (1 FCE or 2 HCE with grade(s) of C- or better)
• A transfer Grade Point Average (GPA) which meets the minimum admission average (set annually)

BN Offsite at Medicine Hat College

Students will apply to Medicine Hat College to enter the nursing program in year one. (See www.mhc.ab.ca for their first year admission requirements.) Upon successful completion of the first two years of the Nursing program at Medicine Hat College, students will apply to the University of Calgary as third year Nursing students to complete the remaining two years the program on site at Medicine Hat College. A minimum 2.00 grade point average is required on the most recent five FCE university transferable courses.

Application/Document Deadlines

What can I do with a Nursing degree?

The great thing about the studying in nursing is the options available in your field for careers. You also gain skills that all employers are excited to see, such as:

• Self-directing
• Cultural sensitivity
• Counselling / Instructing / Comforting skills
• The ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate
• Teamwork and team building
• Work well under stress
• Flexible and divergent thinking
• Research and project management

Graduates from the Nursing program have a number of career options available to them. Here is what some U of C grads have done with their Nursing degree:

• Nurse Manager
• Health Care Administrator
• Flight Nurse
• Forensic Nurse
• Health Insurance Evaluator
• Research
• Nurse Consultant
• Crisis Counselors

To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, visit the Career Services Career Profiles website

Additional Information

Faculty of Nursing.