General Information
The Bridge to Canadian Nursing (BCN) certificate of achievement program is an individualized course of study. This “bridging” program is designed to prepare Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs), previously Registered Nurses (RNs) outside Canada, for the roles and expectations of RNs in the province of Alberta. The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) identify Internationally Educated Nurses who are required to take bridging courses and refer them to the MRU Bridge to Canadian Nursing program.
Successful completion of bridging courses helps to prepare IENs to write the national Nursing Exam and transition to registered nurse employment in Canada. The BCN program of study addresses concepts such as professional communication skills for nurses, professional nursing in Canada, health alterations and therapeutics, health assessment, professional nursing skills, clinical reasoning skills, nursing theory, and nursing clinical practice in a medical/surgical environment to prepare nurses who have been educated outside Canada for safe, competent nursing practice in Canadian health care settings. Course work is also offered to help IENs address knowledge and practice differences in three specific areas of nursing practice: professional nursing in mental health, child health and family newborn health.
Candidates may take one or more courses depending on their learning needs. IENs completing all required credits in the program will receive a certificate of achievement.
Application to Program
Prospective students apply for the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program using the standard Mount Royal Application for Admission form. The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) determines which courses are required for each student. Normally, qualified applicants are accepted to this program on a first come first served basis; however, as course availability becomes more limited, qualified applicants may be admitted based on how their specific course requirements match course availability.
Academic Performance Requirements
In matters of progression and continuance, there are instances when institutional processes do not fully address concerns related to student continuance in a program.
- Violations of a professional code of ethics and/or standards of practice (i.e. CARNA and CNA nursing professional practice documentation). A committee established by the program will assess violations of relevant codes and standards and whether the student will be required to withdraw from the program based on the seriousness of the violation.
- Students who are unsuccessful after two registrations in the same core course (as defined by the program) will be required to withdraw from the program. This includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of unsuccessful registration:
- Students who do not achieve the minimum required grade (as defined by program) in one or both registrations;
- Students who earn a grade of “F” in one or both registrations; and
- Students who withdraw from the course with a “W” in one or both registrations.
- 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. Students who are unable to meet clinical or field course requirements on this basis will be required to withdraw from the program.
In order to be considered a student of record in the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program at Mount Royal, the student must achieve a minimum “C” grade (or minimum prerequisite grade) or “EP” (Experiential Pass) in all BCN courses. Grades below a ‘C’ in a BCN theory course or an unsatisfactory (“EF”: Experiential Fail) in a BCN clinical practice course must be cleared by repeating the course before students may progress to any further nursing courses that require the failed course as a prerequisite. Students with two failures in the same BCN course will be withdrawn from the program and will not be eligible for re-admission unless approval is received from the Chair of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Students are permitted one re-registration in the same BCN course. That is, students are not allowed more than two (2) grades below the minimum pass or two (2) withdrawals in the same nursing program course, nor are they permitted one (1) withdrawal and one (1) grade below the minimum pass within the same nursing program course. Students who are unsuccessful after two registrations in the same BCN course will be required to withdraw from the program and will not be eligible for re-admission to the program. An appeal process is available, see Student Handbook.
Duration of the Program
Program requirements for the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program must be completed in two academic years.
Students With Disabilities
When warranted, and without compromising academic and professional nursing practice standards, Mount Royal will provide reasonable accommodation for students with documented disabilities.
Nursing Practice Experience Policies
Students must demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance as outlined in the course syllabus. Students’ nursing practice experience may be scheduled at varied hours, including days, evenings, nights and weekends. Students may be required to complete practice experiences at sites distant to their place of residence. An out-of-town practice experience may be scheduled. All travel and accommodation costs associated with practice experiences are the responsibility of the student.
Participation in classroom, clinical practice, tutorial and laboratory sessions is mandatory. A student who is unable to attend these experiences due to exceptional circumstances, and therefore, is unable to meet course objectives may apply for deferral of course work. Students are cautioned that even if a deferral is granted, required practice and/or tutorial experiences may not be immediately available and student progress through the program may be delayed as a result.
A student may be prohibited from attending or completing a clinical practice experience if there is evidence to suggest that the student’s physical and/or psychological health may be detrimental to patients or patient care. Approval of the Chair of the School of Nursing and Midwifery is required for entry into the clinical course.
Interruption of Program
Students who interrupt their program of studies by not taking courses for one or more semesters are advised to refer to the relevant institutional policies.
Program Completion Requirements
To be eligible for the Bridge to Canadian Nursing program Certificate of Achievement, students must complete the program and achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 with no grade less than “C” in each of their courses.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R.) Certification
Students must provide proof of current C.P.R. Certification at the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider Level C on an annual basis. Evidence of certification is to be shown to the clinical instructor prior to the beginning of all clinical experiences. All associated costs are the responsibility of the student.
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 unless there has been weight gain or loss greater than 4.5 kilograms, or following nasal fracture or facial scarring, in which case, refitting is required sooner. Evidence of mask fit testing is to be provided to the BCN Academic Advisor and students must have their mask size with them for practice experiences. All costs associated with this service are the responsibility of the student.
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 and 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 studies. 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 on the police 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 the University 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.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must show proof of eligibility requirements for licensure as a Registered Nurse in Alberta. Those applicants referred to the BCN program by the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) need only submit a letter from CARNA identifying specific required courses. Applicants must also have a sufficient level of English fluency. The language level for entry into the BCN program is the same as CARNA requirements for clinical practice placements. If the applicant is admitted to the Bridge to Canadian Nursing Program based on the CELBAN assessment tool and wishes to transfer to another academic program, they will be required to complete an English Language Proficiency assessment accepted by MRU.
Admission decisions for this program are made by the Bridge to Canadian Nursing Program, School of Nursing and Midwifery. Enrolment in this program is limited. Intakes to the program generally occur during the Fall and Winter semesters.
Transfer Credit Assessment
This program will not offer transfer credit for coursework completed at other institutions.
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