Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Admission Requirements

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1. The CASPer Test
2. Quick Reference Guide Nursing
3. Self-Reporting Grade Form

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (NIC BSN) program is through a selective admission process. Successful applicants are identified through the combined evaluation of GPA (based on program prerequisites) and a portfolio.

The number of qualified applicants normally exceeds the number of seats available therefore fulfillment of the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants are required to reapply annually for admission to the program. Applicants are not waitlisted for the following intake.

For information regarding the roles of a Registered Nurse: www.bccnm.ca  

Option A: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Prospective students must submit transcripts as proof of meeting the following academic requirements:

1. Grade 12 or equivalent (completing all the prerequisites below is considered by NIC BSN program as Grade 12 equivalent)
2. C+ in Biology 12 or Anatomy and Physiology 12 or NIC BIO 060 /BIO 110 , or equivalent within the last 10 years.
3. C+ in Chemistry 11 or NIC CHE 051 , or equivalent within the last 10 years.
4. C+ in English 12 or equivalent for Nursing
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5. C+ in Principles of Math 11 or Applications of Math 12 or PreCalculus 11 or Foundations of Math 12 or NIC MAT 053 .
6. Applicants who are current high school students must submit interim transcripts and complete the Self- Reporting Grade form.

Option C: LPN Access to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Option C (when available) provides qualified Licensed Practical Nurses an admission option into second year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Enrolment is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program as it is a selective process.

Option C Admission Requirements

1. Prospective students must submit transcripts as proof of meeting the same academic requirements as Option A applicants.
2. Must have graduated from a recognized Practical Nursing (PN) Program.
3. Must have the equivalent of one-year full-time employment (1700-1800 hours) as practicing PN in BC over the past 3 years.
4. Letter from employer(s) confirming number of hours worked as an LPN over the past 3 years

Successful Option C applicants enter a Transition-to-BSN semester consisting of three required bridge-in courses (NUR 170 , NUR 173 , and NUR 201 ).

Following completion of the requisite courses, Option C students enter the BSN program in semester 4 then complete the same program requirements as Option A students to achieve their BSN degree.

Indigenous Priority Admissions

North Island College is dedicated to improving its ability to meet the educational needs of Indigenous students. NIC’s Indigenization Plan, “Working Together” outlines our commitment to Indigenization, reconciliation and decolonization.  To further advance these goals, North Island College has reserved seating and priority admissions in many of our program for students of Indigenous ancestry. 

Applicants will be considered on a first-applied, first-qualified basis for all programs with the exception of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, where a selective admission process will be used.

To be considered for a priority admission seat, Indigenous students must:

1. Self-identify as an Indigenous person
2. Complete the Indigenous Priority Admission Request for a Reserved Seat form
3. Meet NIC’s general admission requirements, and/or specific program requirements

Before Classes Begin

Once accepted to the program, but before classes begin, you are required to:

• Students in Option A attend a mandatory group orientation session held in June. The BSN program assistant will send you an invitation with details regarding the date and time of the orientation.
• Students in Option C attend a mandatory group orientation session - the date will be determined to correspond with the start date of entry to the program. The BSN program assistant will send you an invitation (via @northislandcollege.ca email address) with details regarding the date and time of the orientation

Both Option A and Option C students must:

1. hold a current, unexpired Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prior to commencing and throughout the BSN program.  Students are required to submit proof of current certification to the BSN Program Assistant prior to commencement of the program.
2. have completed a  Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) course (WSF 019 ). A  photocopy of this certificate must be presented to the BSN Program Assistant on the first day of classes.
3. The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) is mandatory for all staff and students who work in Health Authorities. Most of this training will be completed online through the Learning Hub. However, any students working in high-risk areas* are required to complete an additional 8-hour classroom module at their own cost, and prior to their placements in high-risk areas*. High-risk areas* are: Correctional Health Services, Emergency Departments, Home and Community Care, Long Term Care, Mental Health and Substance Use, In-Patient Psychiatry, Neurology, Brain Injury, Paramedics, Protection Services.
4. students are required to submit documentation of their full vaccination history and serologic tests, if applicable, to the BSN Program Assistant upon admission to the BSN program. A signed declination form is required in instances where a student has not been vaccinated per BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) recommendations. All students are encouraged to follow the recommendations of the BCCDC regarding immunizations for Health Care Workers. Students who do not meet the immunization requirements may be prohibited from attending practice experiences, in accordance with specific provincial/ organizational/ agency policy; this could impede successful completion of a practice course. In case of a communicable disease outbreak, such as Influenza, faculty and students may be required to provide evidence of current immunization to attend practice placements.
5. submit a Criminal Record Check permission form so that NIC may obtain a Criminal Record Check. Admissions will send you this form when you are offered a seat in the program.
6. review the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives approved requisite skills and abilities (RSA) to meet entry-level RN competencies. These RSAs are included in the information sent to you once you are offered a seat in the program and will be discussed at the group orientation session. You need to review these and decide whether you believe you are able to meet them. If you have concerns about being able to meet the RSAs, you should contact the BSN program academic advisor prior to the program start date.

Course Requirements

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On completion of all required academic terms and consolidated practice experiences, students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Students will be eligible to write national registration examinations after completion of the program.

Please note that Option C students may follow a different timeline than outlined below, entering into the BSN program in Term 4 .

Completion Requirements

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• In order to apply credit for any course towards the requirements of the BSN degree, the nursing student must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in that course. In addition, all BSN students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”) for each academic year and must pass each nursing practicum.  The grade point average will be calculated on nursing courses and include BIO 160 , BIO 161 , NUR 208 , NUR 218  and upper nursing elective courses taken within that academic year.  Practice experiences within the curriculum are a vital part of learning.  Attendance is required in all practice courses.  Students that miss more than 10% of a practice course may be at risk of not successfully completing the course.
• A student who fails a required biology course will usually have to withdraw from the program until the course is passed. If a student subsequently passes the course, the student may re-enter the program, based on seat availability.
• A student who fails a required BSN course is withdrawn from the program and may apply for readmission to the program at a subsequent offering in the same term as the failure occurred. When a failure occurs in either a biology or a BSN course and a student is planning to reapply to the program, it is recommended that they do so as soon as possible. Re-entry to the program is dependent on seat availability and any conditions as outlined upon the student’s withdrawal from the program. Failure of a required course may require the completion of a learning assessment and/or additional remediation prior to readmission to support student safe practice, currency, and success.
• Students who withdraw and/or fail two nursing courses are not eligible for readmission to the program.
• Students are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Nurses Association and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives Professional Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners and Practice Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. Failure to adhere to these principles may result in the student being required to leave the program.
• There are four non-nursing general electives: two English (see below) and two general electives at the 100 or 200 level. All electives must be university-transferable. Go to www.bctransferguide.ca to check course transferability. Credit for BIO 110  is not acceptable as a non-nursing general elective. In addition, an upper-level Nursing elective is required.  
• Students must take two first-year university-level English courses from the following options:

*Please note it is recommended to take the English electives early in the program to support students with writing skills.

Option A: Students must choose one of ENG 115 , ENG 116 , ENG 117 . It is strongly recommended that students take ENG 117 . For the second English course, students must take ENG 122  or ENG 127 , or have previously taken one of the following: ENG-120, ENG-121, or ENG-126.

Option C: Students must choose one of ENG 115 , ENG 116 , or ENG 117 . It is strongly recommended that students take ENG 117 . For the second English course, students must take ENG 122  or ENG 127 , or have previously taken one of the following: ENG-120, ENG-121, ENG-125 or ENG-126. 

• Option C students must also complete two general electives at the 100 or 200 level.
• The maximum time for a student to complete all program requirements is 6 years, with no period of absence exceeding 24 months.
• Under exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Dean and Program Chair, a student may be granted an extension.
• Option C students must meet the same completion requirements as Option A students.

*ENG-120, ENG-121, ENG-125, and ENG-126 were retired before September 2018 and are no longer available to take as an option but will count for credit if previously taken.