Bridge to Canadian Nursing
Overview
The Bridge to Canadian Nursing transitions students into the realities of Canadian Registered Nurse (RN) Practice. Students explore Canadian Registered Nursing workforce trends and issues and the pertinent knowledge and skills required for successful, competent, safe, ethical nursing care in Canada. Students apply critical thinking, clinical judgment, and relational practice to a variety of classroom, lab, and clinical learning experiences. Communication, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership are further developed to solidify nursing knowledge and understanding to advance confident decision-making in practice.
The Bridge to Canadian Nursing program offers flexible learning options for those who wish to update their currency of practice (re-enter or refresh) and those who require more extensive learning to support their transition to Canadian nursing practice. The program prepares nurses to meet entry-level competencies for Registered Nurse (RN) practice.
Learners who complete the entire 27-credit program will be awarded a certificate. Individual course completion is possible to address more specific areas of desired learning.
Program Requirements
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 380 | Foundations in Canadian Nursing 1 | 2 |
| NURS 381 | Nursing to Support Wellness and Health 1 | 5 |
| NURS 382 | Applied Professional Nursing Practice 1 | 5 |
| NURS 383 | Nursing Knowledge Consolidation 1 | 2 |
| NURS 384 | Clinical Nursing Practice Integration 1 | 8 |
| University-level English 2 | 3 | |
| Two of the following: | 2 | |
| Specific Study - Home Care Nursing | ||
| Specific Study - Mental Health Disorders | ||
| Specific Study - Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family | ||
| Specific Study - Gerontology | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
The pass mark for these courses is a C- or CR (credit received for clinical courses). The minimum passing grade for a course at MacEwan University is a D unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study.
- 2
Excluding ENGL 111
Program Regulations
Program Time Limit - Exemption
A student in the Bridge to Canadian Nursing Certificate has four years from the first day of the term of acceptance to complete all requirements to be eligible for a credential (Program Time Limits policy).
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from a faculty or university advisor about program planning for completing certificate requirements at MacEwan University.
English Requirement
A three-credit university-level English course at the 100, 200, 300, or 400 level is required as a prerequisite for completing the certificate; completion of ENGL 102 is recommended. ENGL 111, Communications, cannot be used to meet the English course requirement for the Bridge to Canadian Nursing Certificate.
Progression of Studies
Students are responsible for ensuring they meet the prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements noted in program courses. In accordance with the Academic Standing policy, a student who fails to complete a prerequisite course designated as being required for progression in the program (or for program completion) may be required to withdraw from the program.
Professional Conduct
Students must adhere to the current Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics, Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses (RNs) in Alberta and confidentiality agreements signed with MacEwan University and clinical placement/other agencies.
Regulations Governing Clinical Courses
Students must achieve satisfactory performance in the clinical course in accordance with the course/clinical criteria and outcomes. Clinical course hours may include days, evenings, nights, and weekends. Students are to arrange their own transportation for required program activities, and any costs incurred for meals, travel and accommodation are the student’s responsibility. Students are not allowed to arrange their own placements, and placement processes follow program procedures.
Required nursing practice placements will normally be within a 200-kilometre radius of the program site. Rural placements may be available for student placements.
Students cannot attend clinical agencies as MacEwan University nursing students except at times and locations authorized by the clinical course instructor for the course in which the student is currently enrolled. Students must comply with the Work Integrated Learning policy regarding clinical and/or nursing practice placements.
Students must have completed all prerequisite courses and all program and agency pre-clinical requirements before any clinical course starts. In accordance with the Work Integrated Learning policy, the University reserves the right, at any point during the clinical placement, to remove a student from the clinical placement for serious performance issues (i.e., engaging in behaviour that places the client and/or others at risk or that is contrary to the professional or safety requirements of the placement). In such cases, the Chair, through consultation with the Dean, may assign a grade of F in the clinical course.
Police Information Check
Students are responsible for obtaining a PIC at intervals specified by clinical agencies and for making these available, upon request, to their clinical agency representative. Students may also be required to obtain child welfare checks for some clinical placements. Students must be able to satisfy agency requirements prior to the start of clinical placements. Students whose PIC status changes following program admission must self-report this change in status; this may compromise their ability to complete the program requirements as they may be denied required clinical placements and, therefore, be unable to meet graduation requirements.
Program Standards
Students admitted to this program are presumed to be capable of fulfilling the academic requirements of their program with, if applicable, the provision of reasonable accommodation. The reasonable accommodation of students with disabilities shall not require the University to lower its standards, academic or otherwise, nor shall it relieve a student of the responsibility to develop and demonstrate the essential skills and competencies expected of all students pursuing this program (Students with Disabilities policy).
Students require the requisite skills and abilities necessary for entry to practice as Registered Nurses (RNs) in Alberta, as outlined by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA). All students must meet the physical and mental health attributes that will support success in a registered nursing education program. Students must participate in clinical practice courses requiring the performance of physically and mentally challenging activities that may include cognitive, behavioural, communication, interpersonal, physical, sensory perceptual, and environmental requirements.
Immunization Status
Program students may be required to care for patients/clients who have infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B or other blood-borne pathogens. Students must meet agency requirements for immunizations prior to the start of all clinical or practice placement courses. Current immunization against specified communicable diseases is required as a prerequisite for practice placements and, thus, for continued enrolment in the program.
N95 Mask
Program students must be fitted for an N95 mask as a prerequisite for clinical experiences and refitted in accordance with health agency requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to meet the required timelines for mask fitting.
Basic Life Support Certification
A BLS provider (CPR) card from the Heart and Stroke Foundation is required prior to the start of the clinical placement in the first year of the program. The BLS provider portion (CPR component) must be updated every 12 months throughout the program prior to starting any clinical placement. No grace period is provided.
Agency-Specific Certifications
Program students may be required to complete additional agency-specific certifications as a prerequisite for clinical experiences.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program, graduates will:
- Demonstrate professional conduct, practice in accordance with legislation and practice standards as determined by the provincial regulatory body and practice setting, and provide safe, competent, compassionate, ethical nursing care.
- Utilize current evidence-informed knowledge from nursing and other scientific sources to provide competent nursing care to clients across the lifespan and levels of acuity.
- Demonstrate competence in professional judgement, thinking and practice-based decision-making by using critical thinking and an ethical/moral framework for registered nurses.
- Incorporate relational practice within the nursing process: ongoing comprehensive assessment, health care planning, implementation of nursing care and evaluation of client care and care outcomes.
- Plan, provide, and evaluate appropriate and competent healthcare collaboratively with the client, other healthcare team members and intersectoral partners.
- Establish therapeutic, caring, and culturally safe relationships with clients, colleagues, students, and healthcare teams.
- Demonstrate an understanding of concepts of public protection and collaborate with clients and other healthcare team members to promote and maintain the health of individuals and families.
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional self-regulation by developing and enhancing their own competence to ensure consistent, safe practice and maintenance of fitness to practice.
Admission Requirements
Categories of Admission
Applicants may be admitted to one of the following:
Regular Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must present one of the following:
1. A recognized 3- or 4-year baccalaureate nursing credential leading to Registered Nursing (RN) practice from an eligible country.
OR
2. Active or former registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Canada.
Additional Admission Criteria
All applicants must meet the following:
1. English Language Proficiency
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicable to all admission categories
All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. We will require official documents such as high school or post-secondary transcripts or proof of successful completion of standardized language evaluation. Full details are available in MacEwan University’s academic calendar or online at MacEwan.ca/ELP
2. Other Admission Criteria
To be evaluated through the Program
Applicable to all admission categories
Applicants offered admission are required to submit the following:
A clear Police Information Check (or equivalent from another policing agency) that includes a Vulnerable Sector Search. The Police Information Check must be submitted by the published document deadline and have been issued within three months of the start of the program intake term.