Be ready to receive a top-quality education in an environment known for producing highly qualified nurses. Delivered in collaboration with the University of Lethbridge, the Bachelor of Nursing program blends theory and practice to help you develop skills in clinical reasoning, innovative clinical practice, leadership and the use of innovative technologies.

In this student-centered program, you’ll be encouraged to be responsible for your learning with guidance from experienced instructors. Course-related practice-based experiences in hospitals, community health care and home care agencies will let you apply your newfound knowledge in the real world.

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Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the program, you'll be eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed as a registered nurse. This will open career opportunities for you in a range of health care facilities, including:

  • Acute Care (Medical, Surgical, Mental Health, Pediatric, Maternity, etc.)
  • Continuing Care (Long Term Care, Supportive Living, etc.)
  • Critical Care (ICU, ER, OR, Labor & Delivery, NICU, etc.)
  • Community Health Nursing (Public Health, Primary Health Care, Home Care, etc.)
  • Medical Offices
  • Rural and Remote Nursing
  • Nursing Education
  • Nursing Research
  • Government Agencies

Visit ALIS website for more career information.

145+

number of students, instructors and volunteers involved in the annual simulated emergency that teaches crisis response in real time

2

the first two years of the collaborative Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta are completed at Lethbridge College

$97,452

the average salary of a Registered Nurse in Alberta

At-a-Glance

Starts-in

September

Credential / Accreditation

Bachelor of Nursing

Duration

4 years

Dates and Deadlines

Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.

Admissions

This program is available for International Students.

All applicants applying to the four-year BN degree program must apply directly to the University of Lethbridge. Please refer to the U of L admissions information.

All newly-admitted students will register in and attend courses at Lethbridge College for the first two years of the program. Students will register in and attend courses at the University of Lethbridge for the final two years of the program.

Admission Routes

Admission to the Bachelor of Nursing program may be gained by one of the following admission routes:

  1. Alberta or other Canadian high school credentials.
  2. Transfer from recognized colleges or universities.
  3. Special Case Admission.
  4. Credentials from other countries.

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge will consider qualified, non-competitive applicants with previous experience related to nursing on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with previous experience related to nursing, who are seeking Special Case Admission, will be required to submit documents as per admission requirements at the University of Lethbridge, as well as:

  1. A letter of intent, describing the nature of previous experience as it relates to nursing and the reason for pursuing nursing;
  2. A letter of reference from an employer;
  3. A resume detailing relevant work, volunteer, and life experience.

Note: All applicants may be invited to an interview.

Transfer Students

A student may transfer up to 20 semester course equivalents (60.0 credit hours). Students may receive transfer credit for both nursing and non-nursing courses. Nursing and human anatomy/physiology courses must have been completed at an accredited post-secondary institution not more than three (3) years prior to admission. Non-nursing courses are subject to the time limits of the relevant faculty courses for which transfer credit is being sought and must be discussed at the time of acceptance into the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge.

International Students

Applicants whose first language is other than English must provide acceptable evidence of English Language Proficiency according to the U of L admissions information.

Academic Requirements

High school and transfer student applicants must have satisfactory completion of the following Alberta high school courses or equivalents:

  • English Language Arts 30-1 (minimum grade of 60%)
  • Biology 30
  • Chemistry 30
  • Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2, or Pure Mathematics 30
  • A fifth course (not including Special Projects) at the Grade 12 level

Note: Admission is competitive, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge reserves the right of selection of all students for admission and readmission to the faculty on the basis of academic qualifications. Competitive marks will be based on the average of grades in the five (5) courses listed above.  Transfer students may have a minimum 3.0 credit hour university-level course mark in the same discipline used in place of the high school mark, if it is more advantageous. The fifth course may be substituted for any minimum 3.0 credit hour university-level course.

Academic Disqualification

A student is required to withdraw from the Bachelor of Nursing program if any of the following occurs:

  • the cumulative GPA falls below the required levels for two or more consecutive terms at the end of the Winter (January) term;
  • the student fails any internship or nursing practice course; or
  • the student fails to meet the Standards of Professional Conduct (see below).

A student dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission by the appropriate deadline after a lapse of one full year. Readmission is not guaranteed. Students dismissed for a second time will not be re-admitted to the program. Students are advised to contact an academic advisor as early as possible to discuss the possibility of readmission.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The standards of professional conduct for students in the Bachelor of Nursing program are published in the NESA Student Handbook. Students are subject to the general rules and regulations of the agencies with which they are affiliated during practice experiences. Students may be required to withdraw for violations of professional conduct. Faculty members who are supervising practice-based experiences may require a student to leave a practice setting at any time if, in the opinion of the faculty member, the student’s practice threatens patient/client safety or is disruptive to patient/client care. The Dean, or designate, will review the case in a timely fashion to determine whether, and under what conditions, the student may return to the practice setting.

Practicums
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements

This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.

Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g. immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g. police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g. CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student.  Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage.  In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside of Alberta).  These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.

Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.

In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g. health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.

WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals.   WIL’s may include day, evening, and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.

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Delivery Formats

The Bachelor of Nursing program, also known as Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta, is a collaborative program. Students start their first two years at Lethbridge College before finishing their final two years at the University of Lethbridge. The delivery method for Lethbridge College is face-to-face on campus.

On Campus

This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.

Courses

View all courses
CourseTitleCredits
Year 1
Term I
BIO-1160Anatomy and Physiology I (U of L KNES-1160)3
ENG-1150Composition (U of L WRIT-1000)3
INS-1155Introduction to Indigenous Studies (U of L INDG-1000)3
NSG-1400Becoming a Nurse (U of L NURS-1400)3
NSG-1410Personal Health and Wholeness (U of L NURS-1410)3
NSG-1420Intersectionality and Health (U of L NURS-1420)3
 Credits18
Term II
BIO-1155Human Nutrition (U of L BCHM-2300)3
BIO-1161Anatomy and Physiology II (U of L KNES-1161)3
NSG-1500Caring Communication (U of L NURS-1500)3
NSG-1521Assessing Health (U of L NURS-1521)3
NSG-1522Introduction to Praxis (U of L NURS-1522)3
PSY-1160Introduction to Psychology (U of L PSYC-1000)3
 Credits18
Year 2
Term I
HUM-1155Ethics (U of L PHIL 1000)3
NSG-2300Evidence and Praxis (U of L NURS-2300)3
NSG-2321Health of Persons (U of L NURS-2321)6
NSG-2322Praxis With Persons (U of L NURS-2322)6
 Credits18
Term II
LIB EDSocial Science Elective3
NSG-2421Health of Families (U of L NURS-2421)6
NSG-2422Praxis With Families (U of L NURS-2422)6
SOC-1160Introduction to Sociology (U of L SOCI-1000)3
 Credits18
Year 3
Term I
University of Lethbridge 
NURS-3021Community and Population Health3
NURS-3022Praxis in Health Promotion6
NURS-3100Leadership and Change3
HLSC-3450Applied Statistics for Clinical Practice3
 Credits15
Term II
University of Lethbridge 
NURS-3121Mental Health and Addictions3
NURS-3122Praxis in Mental Health6
NURS-3200Praxis and the Digital Age3
HLSC-3560History of Nursing3
 Credits15
Year 4
Term I
University of Lethbridge 
NURS-3321Acute Health Disruptions3
NURS-3322Praxis in Acuity6
NURS-3300Nursing and Global Health3
Elective (one from HLSC cross list)3
 Credits15
Term II
University of Lethbridge 
NURS-4922Professional Preceptorship15
 Credits15
 Total Credits132

Special Note: Whenever possible, nursing theory courses are aligned with concurrent practice-based experiences.

General Requirements

  1. Successful completion of at least 40 course equivalents (121.0 credit hours) with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all courses taken for credit toward the degree.
  2. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 on all required Nursing and Health Sciences courses taken for credit toward the program in Years 3 and 4.
  3. Completion of the Liberal Education Requirement (LIB ED).
  4. A minimum grade of C- is required in all Nursing courses, and in BIO-1160 Anatomy and Physiology I (3 credits) and BIO-1161 Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits), in order to meet degree requirements. Any student who receives a grade of D+ or lower in these courses is required to repeat the course and achieve a higher grade before being allowed to proceed in the program.
  5. University of Lethbridge Residence Requirement: A minimum of 20 courses, including a minimum of 12 courses in Nursing and Health Sciences, must be completed at the University of Lethbridge.
  6. The time limit for program completion is seven years after completion of the first Nursing course used for credit toward the degree.
View course timetables

Tuition and Fees

Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$5,762.00
$1,396.00
$2,500.00
Year 2
$6,126.00
$1,396.00
$1,800.00
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$17,282.00
$1,396.00
$2,500.00
Year 2
$18,259.00
$1,396.00
$1,800.00
Notes

Year 3 and 4 fees are determined by the University of Lethbridge. Please contact the U of L at 403-329-2649 for more information.

Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.

Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.

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Scholarships

With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge College awards and scholarships for which you qualify, including these featured scholarships:

NSG.BDEG