General Information
The Bachelor of Nursing Program is a four-year degree program. This degree program prepares students for professional careers as Registered Nurses in a variety of settings. Students will benefit from the program’s learner-centred approach and a strong emphasis on nursing practice preparation and specialization opportunities.
The program is offered over four Fall and Winter academic years with required Spring Semesters. Most courses will be offered in both the Fall and the Winter Semesters. Students completing all degree requirements will be awarded a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree from Mount Royal University.
Reading Break
Students registered in courses in the third year of the program (NURS 3102 , NURS 3104 , NURS 3112 , NURS 3114 , NURS 3122 , NURS 3124 , NURS 3132 , NURS 3134 , NURS 3142 , and NURS 3144 ) should be aware that fall and winter reading weeks will not likely be the same as the scheduled Mount Royal reading weeks. These students will be informed of when fall and winter reading weeks will occur before the beginning of fall and winter semesters. Students in the first, second and fourth year of the program will have reading weeks congruent with the Mount Royal scheduled reading weeks.
Requirements for Nursing Practice Experience
Participation in scheduled clinical practice experiences (clinical), laboratory experiences, and simulated learning experiences is mandatory. Clinical experiences are hosted predominantly in acute or extended care settings, but may also take place in various community agencies.
Students are responsible for arranging transportation to and from clinical practice sites and, in some cases, for travel that is part of completing clinical responsibilities during a clinical shift anywhere within the Calgary city limits. Attending clinical experiences outside of the Calgary city limits is optional, but students are encouraged to consider rural and remote options when such opportunities are available. All travel and accommodation costs associated with practice experiences are the responsibility of the student.
Students are responsible for planning work and other non-academic events to accommodate a clinical schedule that varies semester to semester or block to block and clinical shifts that may vary between 8 to 12 hours in length.
Students are responsible for the purchase of uniforms and other clinical accessories (e.g. stethoscopes) as outlined in the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) Student Handbook.
Students are required to maintain, throughout the term of any clinical/practicum placement ‘fitness to practice’ which is defined by the Canadian Nurses Association as “all the qualities and capabilities of an individual relevant to their capacity to practise as a registered nurse [or nursing student], including but not limited to, freedom from any cognitive, physical, psychological or emotional condition and dependence on alcohol or drugs that impairs his or her ability to practise nursing” (Canadian Nurses Association, 2017, p. 22). Should a student, for whatever reason, be unfit for practice, it is the student’s responsibility to remove themselves from the placement and report this to their clinical instructor. Students may return to the placement once they again meet the fitness to practice criteria. A note from a healthcare practitioner affirming fitness to practice may be required in some circumstances. Please refer to the BN Student Handbook for more details.
Students may be required to leave a placement (temporarily or permanently) should either the placement host organization or Mount Royal University determine the student poses a risk to the health and safety of patients/clients or others or to the property of the placement host.
Academic Performance Requirements
In matters of progression and continuance, there are instances when institutional processes do not fully address concerns related to the performance requirements of a degree preparing students for professional practice.
This applies in the following circumstances:
a) Violations of professional codes and/or standards of safe and ethical practice as determined by the applicable national and/or provincial regulatory bodies, colleges or associations.
b) Violations of the terms of a student practicum agreement between Mount Royal University and a third-party provider.
c) Failure to report and or take other appropriate action when unable to meet expected levels of fitness to practice and/or perform all the requisite skills and abilities as defined by provincial regulatory and approval bodies.
In any situation where a student is deemed not fit for practice, the student may not engage in clinical practice experiences until a regulated healthcare professional has “cleared” the student for practice by providing a letter affirming that the fitness issue has been addressed and that the student is fit and safe to return to practice.
Violations of any or all of the above (a, b, c) may result in the requirement to complete an extracurricular learning activity directed at addressing the knowledge deficit and/or performance issue, that resulted in removal from the practicum site and the assignment of an Experiential Fail (EF) in the relevant course.
d) Failure to complete the clinical pre-practice requirements (PPRs) specified by the program and to provide acceptable evidence of completion by published deadlines may result in the student being deregistered from clinical course(s). No student without the necessary PPR will be allowed to participate in any clinical practicum where a PPR is required.
e) Suspension and/or termination of a practicum placement by an external stakeholder when it is deemed necessary by either the program or the external stakeholder to preserve the health and safety of patients/clients and others or for the protection of the stakeholder’s property. Students who are denied a practicum placement by an external stakeholder because of an assessed detrimental impact on the client, client group, or community being served and who are unable to meet clinical or field course requirements on this basis will be Required to Withdraw from Program (RTWP).
g) Failure to achieve the required progression grade as determined by the program prerequisite structure after a maximum of two attempts - exclusive of any instances of Withdrawal with Cause (WC) - in any program course used to meet graduation requirements that are prefixed by either NURS or HLTH will result in the student being assigned the academic standing of Required to Withdraw from Program (RTWP)
- Students who are RTWP may appeal the RTWP. Please refer to the Student Handbook for details about the appeal process.
A student who has been RTWP may apply for readmission to the University no sooner than twelve months after receiving notification of the RTWP. The application for readmission must be submitted in accordance with the application deadline for new students as specified by the Academic Schedule published in the Academic Calendar. The applicant must meet the program admission criteria in place at the time of readmission, but the applicant will not be required to meet the competitive average. The application for readmission will include a reintegration plan. Detailed information about the reintegration plan can be found in the student handbook or may be obtained from Admissions and Recruitment. Readmission is not automatic. Applications for readmission will be considered on an individual basis. Readmission to the program will be granted one time only.
Regulations
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the policies and procedures of Mount Royal University as outlined in the Calendar, Code of Student Conduct and the Student Handbook: Undergraduate Nursing Program. Refer to the Student Handbook for details.
Program Duration
Program requirements for degree completion can be completed in four (4) academic years. Students have seven calendar years from the date of initial registration for the Bachelor of Nursing Degree to complete all requirements. Students seeking an extension beyond seven years may be required to complete additional coursework. Extension requests will be considered See the Chair for details.
Program Interruption
Students who interrupt their program are advised that they will be required to comply with any regulations that may have come into effect in regard to their program and requirements. Students will be required to re-apply for admission and notify the Chair of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery in writing by March 15 of their intention to return for the following Fall Semester or by October 1 for the following Winter Semester.
Program of Study
To fulfill Mount Royal University’s residency requirements for degree completion, students must complete the 3000 and 4000-level nursing courses, with the exception of the 4000-level senior nursing option, through Mount Royal University. Students are responsible for ensuring they have met the residency requirements.
Students With Disabilities
When warranted, and without compromising academic and professional nursing practice standards, Mount Royal University will provide reasonable accommodation for students with documented disabilities. Students need to fulfill program requirements to be eligible for graduation.
National Registered Nurse (RN) Examination
Students will be eligible to write the national Registered Nurse Examination upon satisfactory completion of all degree program requirements. Students are responsible for all costs related to the examination.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R.) Certification
Students must provide annual proof of current C.P.R. Certification for Healthcare Providers. Evidence of certification is to be provided to the School of Nursing and Midwifery office, by August 1 each year. All associated costs are the responsibility of the student.
Failure to maintain current CPR certification will result in immediate withdrawal from the clinical practice area.
Police Information Check
Provincial legislation requires that new employees and volunteers in publicly-funded agencies, including hospitals, seniors’ lodges, group homes, and nursing homes are subject to a Police Information Check (PIC) that includes a Vulnerable Sector Check. In some cases, agencies may require students to provide proof of a police information check prior to commencing a clinical course. Thus, students may be required to obtain more than one police information check during their program of study. All costs related to the police information check are the responsibility of the student. If a student is denied a clinical placement, due to concerns resulting from the check, then the student will be unable to meet course requirements and will be required to withdraw from the program. Refer to the statement regarding Police Information and other background checks in this calendar.
Immunization
Proof of up-to-date immunization (including rubella) status is required for all professional practice courses and is the responsibility of the student. All associated costs are the responsibility of the student. Failure to maintain a current immunization status will result in immediate withdrawal from the clinical practice area.
Mask Fit Testing
As a prerequisite for acute care clinical practice, all students must be fitted for N95 masks in accordance with Alberta Health Services policy. Mask fit-testing is valid for two years or less if you have weight gain or loss greater than 4.5 kilograms, or following nasal fracture or facial scarring. Evidence of mask fit testing is to be provided to the School of Nursing and Midwifery office and students must have their mask size with them for practical experiences. All costs associated with this service are the responsibility of the student.
General Admission Requirements
All students must meet the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants must also satisfy the following criteria:
Academic Course Requirements
The following specific courses (or equivalencies) with the specified minimum grades are required for admission into the Bachelor of Nursing program:
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
- Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 - 60%
- Biology 30 - 60%
- Chemistry 30 - 60%
Although Conditional Admission may be granted in advance of receipt of final/official transcripts, confirmation of the achievement of specified minimum grades will take place after all final/official transcripts have been received by the University.
Applicants who do not meet these minimum grade requirements will be denied admission.
Minimum Overall Average Required for Admission
To be eligible for admission on the basis of High School or Mature Standing, applicants must present a minimum admission average of 70% on their five appropriate Grade 12 subjects for high school standing and 4 required subjects for mature standing. To be eligible for admission on the basis of Post-secondary Standing, applicants must present a minimum GPA of 2.5 on the eight most recently completed post-secondary courses (minimum 24 credits).
Although conditional admission may be granted before final/official transcripts are available, confirmation of the achievement of specified minimum grades will take place after all final/official transcripts have been received.
Additional Admission Criteria
Mount Royal University’s Bachelor of Nursing program has limited enrolment and admission to the program is highly competitive. As a result, all applicants are required to complete a component of the Acuity Insights (formerly known as Altus Assessments) assessment tool known as Casper. Applicants can create an account and register to complete this assessment here. The results of this assessment will be used to differentiate between applicants when there are more highly academically qualified applicants than seats available in the program.
The dates available to complete Casper for the current admission cycle are listed here. These are the only testing dates available and you must select Mount Royal University for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Visit the Casper website for further information on this process.
No exceptions will be provided for applicants who are unable to take Casper before the listed deadlines.
Application Deadline: February 1
The application for admission and all supporting documents (required for admission assessment) must be received by this date.
Transfer Credit Assessment
Transfer credit towards Mount Royal University nursing (NURS) courses will be limited to courses that have been successfully completed within seven years from the date of initial registration in the student’s original nursing program.
Indigenous Student Admission
Each year up to 7% of the seats in the Bachelor of Nursing program will be reserved for Indigenous applicants through an Indigenous admission target.
- self-identify as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission
- meet the definition of an Indigenous Applicant
- meet the minimum admission requirements as indicated in the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University as well as any program-level admission requirements
Designated seats for this special consideration target will be filled by Indigenous applicants on a competitive basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply during the Early Admission period. Any unfilled designated seats will be released on June 15 to students applying under the general admission requirements.
See general admission requirements in the Admission section of this calendar for further information.
