Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Contribute to excellence in patient care.

  • Small classes, industry-experienced faculty, and a state-of-the-art hospital lab prepare you to become a degree-educated Registered Nurse.
  • Offered in collaboration with the University of Ottawa, experience classroom, laboratory and clinical learning in a wide variety of settings.
  • Degree-educated Registered Nurses are in high demand and may work in hospitals, community health agencies, long-term care facilities, private practice and a variety of other settings across Canada and internationally.

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2024

No

Fall 2025

No

Schedule

Fall 2024
Level 01
Winter 2025
Level 02
Spring 2025
Break
Fall 2025
Level 03
Winter 2026
Level 04
Spring 2026
Break
Fall 2026
Level 05
Winter 2027
Level 06
Spring 2027
Break
Fall 2027
Level 07
Winter 2028
Level 08

Program Summary

Credential

Honours Degree (4 Years)

Program Delivery

Program Code

Area of Interest

Health Sciences

School

School of Health Studies

Campus

Ottawa

Other Campuses

Work Integrated Learning

The Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BScN) seeks to prepare the next generation of nurses to offer high quality nursing care and assume leadership roles within the health care system. It provides a solid theoretical foundation to enable you to engage with clients in activities that promote health, prevent illness and injury, and foster optimal recovery from or adaptation to illness or injury.

In this program, learning moves from simple to complex in order to prepare graduates to meet entry-to-practice competencies set by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Students learn in the academic classroom and simulation lab, and also engage with patients/clients in a range of settings from hospital and long-term care to home and community. Patients/clients may be individuals in isolation or with their families; clients may also be a community or a population....(read more)

Overview

Contribute to excellence in patient care.

The Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BScN) seeks to prepare the next generation of nurses to offer high quality nursing care and assume leadership roles within the health care system. It provides a solid theoretical foundation to enable you to engage with clients in activities that promote health, prevent illness and injury, and foster optimal recovery from or adaptation to illness or injury.

In this program, learning moves from simple to complex in order to prepare graduates to meet entry-to-practice competencies set by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Students learn in the academic classroom and simulation lab, and also engage with patients/clients in a range of settings from hospital and long-term care to home and community. Patients/clients may be individuals in isolation or with their families; clients may also be a community or a population.

This four-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is offered in collaboration with the University of Ottawa. You may choose to study at either:

  • University of Ottawa
  • Algonquin College (Ottawa campus)
  • Algonquin College (Pembroke campus)

Those studying at Algonquin College (Ottawa campus) take some of their courses in the first year at the University of Ottawa. Those studying at Algonquin College (Pembroke campus) take all of their classes in Pembroke.

Regardless of the location chosen, all successful students graduate with a BScN from the University of Ottawa. Graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurses (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse in Canada. As a graduate, you contribute to the development of nursing as an art and a science which can open doors not only to career opportunities in hospitals, community health agencies, and long term care facilities, but also to care settings across Canada and around the world. This program promotes personal growth, intellectual development, and the chance to make a positive impact on the world.

BScN graduates are in high demand and may work in hospitals, community health agencies, long-term care facilities, private practice and a variety of other settings across Canada and around the world.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Enjoy the challenges of working with people of all ages, developmental stages and diverse backgrounds.
  • Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Like working with others as a member of a team or in a leadership role.
  • Have strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Are dedicated advocates for patients, families and health care providers.
  • Are able to engage with physically, biologically, psychologically, and socially demanding situations.
  • Are mature, flexible and accepting.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Careers & Pathways

Careers

Employment settings: hospitals, rehabilitation centres, long-term care, public health departments, community agencies, home care, schools, private industry, government, developing countries and disaster-relief areas.

The legislated Scope of Practice for nurses from the College of Nurses of Ontario is: The practice of nursing is the promotion of health, and the assessment of, the provision of care for, and the treatment of health conditions by supportive, preventive, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitative means in order to attain or maintain optimal function (Nursing Act 1991, as cited in CNO 2020).

Graduates must be registered by the College of Nurses of Ontario in order to practice in Ontario.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2024/2025 Academic Year

For information about fees, please see the University of Ottawa website at https://www.uottawa.ca/study/fees-financial-support/university-fees.

Students should budget for additional costs to cover nursing uniforms, shoes, stethoscope and travel including parking at clinical agencies during their practicum experiences. Students are required to take Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) as a part of NSG2113, and the cost of the materials for this course is approximately $40. Students are required to register and pay for a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention course for NSG3137P, and the cost of this course is approximately $250. Much of the program of study requires the use of online resources and a computer at home. Books and supplies can be purchased at the Campus store.

Refer to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) web site at www.cno.org/en/become-a-nurse/ for registration and examination fees for the NCLEX-RN and jurisprudence examinations.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

Program Eligibility

Application Information

HONOURS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Program Code 0616X01FWO

Application for admission to an Ontario University for Ontario Secondary School students - For applicants presently registered full-time in an Ontario high school, this application is available only at Ontario high schools.

Application for admission to an Ontario University - For applicants who wish to apply to an undergraduate program for full-time studies and who have never taken courses at University of Ottawa, this application is available online at http://www.ouac.on.ca form 105D and is used by all Canadian, permanent residents and all others who live in Canada.

Application for admission to an Ontario University - International applicants - For non-Canadian applicants outside Canada who are applying to an undergraduate program for full-time studies, this application is available online at https://www.uottawa.ca/study/undergraduate-studies/international-applicants. Canadians outside the country use http://www.ouac.on.ca form 105D.

For further information regarding admissions, contact the InfoAdmission department at the University of Ottawa at 613-562-5800 ext. 6555 or https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/information-technology/contact.

Additional Information

Program Resources

This Full-time program is offered on the Woodroffe and Pembroke Campuses, as well as the University of Ottawa Campus.

Note 1:
The program highly recommends all prospective students review the Fact Sheet Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario available at the College of Nurses of Ontario website at http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/reg/41078SkillAbilities4pager-Final.pdf. The document describes reasonable skill and ability requirements for entry level practice in Ontario and includes examples of activities expected of a student once they become an RN and enter into typical entry-level nursing practice.

Note 2:
Upon admission to the program, students are required to submit documentation of an entry immunization record, police records check including vulnerable sector and Level C CPR. In subsequent years, clinical requirements including N95 mask fit testing, TB test, seasonal influenza vaccine and repeat police records check and CPR re-certification must be submitted to the Office of Risk Management. Please refer to the University of Ottawa website at www.uottawa.ca/services/ehss/CPRM.html. During the program, completion of additional requirements (mandated by the university, clinical agencies, external government regulations) will be required (e.g. WHMIS, OWHSA, NVCI). Please note that some of these may require a cost to the student.

Note 3:
Clinical placements receive large numbers of health science students and there are times during your program of study that require you to attend evening and weekend clinical experiences. In some cases clinical placement occurs during the University study break. Clinical placements may be within the city or the region and students may be required to travel accordingly.

Note 4:
In order to meet the suitability to practice requirements of the College of Nurses of Ontario, an applicant has to provide a clear original Canadian Police Information Centre Criminal Records Check that has been completed in the last six months. If you don`t meet this requirement then your application may be referred to the Registration Committee for further consideration, with no guarantee that it will be approved.

For more information on the requirements to become a practicing RN/RPN, go to the College of Nurses of Ontario website at http://www.cno.org/en/become-a-nurse.

Contact

Michelle Morley

Program Coordinator

morleym@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5339

Room B215d

View Bio

Michelle Morley

Program Coordinator

morleym@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5339

Michelle completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University and Masters of Nursing at the University of Ottawa. She has been a nursing professor at Algonquin College since 2001, and works in both the Registered Practical Nursing Program, and Collaborative University of Ottawa Baccalaureate Nursing Program. Clinically, Michelle has worked primarily with adults in medical/surgical and critical care settings, and has international clinical nursing experience from working in the United States, England and Canada. Michelle is currently working as a simulation lab coordinator for the nursing programs, and is involved in teaching and research related to interprofessional education.

Joanna Binch

Professor

Shelley Clarke

Professor

Krisstina Davis

Professor

Anna Don

Professor

Susan Eldred

Professor

Nancy Lada

Professor

Mary Ann Murray

Professor

Nga Nguyen

Professor

Eleanor Riesen

Professor

Emily Widynowski

Professor

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