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Level up your nursing career by earning your Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree!

If you are a fully licensed, practicing Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Ontario, you have the opportunity to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree in just two years. Our series of courses provide you with the credits you need to be eligible to apply to Cambrian’s competitive BScN program that can open up new career options and position you as a health care leader in hospitals, long-term care settings, community agencies, and more.

The Nursing Program Transformation Initiative (NPTI) Registered Practical Nursing (RPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Pathway is a series of six online courses, run through OntarioLearn, designed to help RPNs complete a BScN program at a participating Ontario college.

    Online bridging courses (NURB)

    If you are a graduate of an approved Practical Nursing diploma program, this online bridge, approved by the College of Nurses (CNO) will allow you to earn credits towards the BScN degree at your own pace, over a period of up to 2 years.

    Pathway courses

    The pathway comprises of six online courses and one in-person skills boot camp. The boot camp, scheduled for two days (16 hours) on-site will involve assessments based on two pass/fail grading checklists. Further details regarding the boot camp will be provided soon.

    Course CodeCourse Title
    Biochemistry and Pathophysiology
    Scholarly Writing
    Nursing Informatics
    Health Assessment
    Microbiology
    Transition to the Role of RN
    Skills Bootcamp

    How to apply

    Admission to the online bridging courses is available to practicing RPNs through OCAS using the code NURB.

    Admission requirements

    • Have Canadian citizenship, Canadian permanent resident status, or appropriate authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) that allows you to practice nursing in Ontario.
    • Graduate of a two-year Practical Nursing diploma program approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario with a cumulative program GPA of 65 percent or higher.
    • Are a fully licensed Registered Practical Nurse in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
    • Have worked as an RPN in Ontario within the past five years on at least a part-time or casual basis.

    Additional admission requirements

    • Current Basic Cardiac Life Support Certificate Level (HCP) Health Care Provider (must be renewed annually)
    • Current Standard First Aid Certificate (must be current for the entire program)
    • Mask testing (for N-95 mask)
    • Criminal record check
    • WHMIS certification Proof of immunization status at registration for the following:
    • Two-step TB test
    • Immunizations: Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, polio
    • Current tetanus–diphtheria vaccination
    • Current influenza immunization (when available for the season)
    • Hepatitis B vaccination
    • If born after 1970, must have 2 measles vaccinations
    • Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended but not required

    Important Notice

    Please note: Criminal record check, influenza immunization, TB skin test, WHMIS and Basic Cardiac Life Support certificates MUST be renewed on an annual basis – there is a fee required for these renewals. Proof of previous varicella infection (chickenpox) must be supplied if not immunized for this disease

    Minimum technology requirements

    Success in this program requires that you come equipped with some program-specific technology requirements.

    Year 3 of Cambrian’s Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (NURT)

    Successful completion of the pathway courses (NURB) will make you eligible to apply to enter semester 5 (Year 3) of Cambrian’s 8-semester (4-year) degree program. Graduates of an approved BScN program will be eligible to apply to the CNO to take the registration exam to qualify as a Registered Nurse (RN).

    Important Notice

    Please note: Admission into Cambrian’s BScN program is limited and highly competitive, and completing the pathway courses does not guarantee admission.

    Program highlights

    • Limited enrolment
    • In-person bridging semester prepares you for entry in the third year of Cambrian’s Bachelor of
    • Science in Nursing degree program
    • Experience-based learning approach where you’ll apply concepts to real patients and situations through case studies, training in high-tech nursing simulation lab, and clinical placements
    • Opportunity to work with members of other health care disciplines through on- and off-site experiences
    • Focus on diversity and inclusion to provide culturally sensitive care to Indigenous communities and special populations
    • Preliminary approval from College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
    • Free tuition and funding supplies for eligible Ontario residents with Learn and Stay Grant

    Program of study (Term 5 - Fall)

    Course CodeCourse TitlePre-requisite
    Maternal, Child and Pediatrics
    Family-Centred Nursing
    Acute Illness Clinical II
    Mental Health Concepts I
    Ethics Professional Practice
    Nursing Research

    Program of study (Term 6 - Winter)

    Course CodeCourse TitlePre-requisite
    Public Health and Community
    Nursing and Informatics
    Public Health ClinicalNUR 3506, NUR 3507
    Mental Health ClinicalNUR 3506, NUR 3507
    Mental Health Concepts IINUR 3507
    Relational Practice
    One Elective course

    Program of study (Spring Inter-session)

    Course CodeCourse TitlePre-requisite
    Numeracy and Statistics
    Two Elective courses

    Program of study (Term 7 - Fall)

    Course CodeCourse TitlePre-requisite
    Nursing Leadership
    Acute Illness Clinical IIINUR 3606, NUR 3607
    Inter-Professionalism
    Health Policy Global Health
    Two Elective courses

    Program of study (Term 8 - Winter)

    Course CodeCourse TitlePre-requisite
    Integrated Nursing TheoryNUR 4701, NUR 4705, NUR 4706, NUR 4708, NUR 4709
    Integrated PracticumNUR 4701, NUR 4705, NUR 4706, NUR 4708, NUR 4709

    Minimum technology requirements

    Success in this program requires that you come equipped with some program-specific technology requirements.

    Contact

    Shannon Dowdall-Smith

    Program Coordinator / Professor,
    Schools of Nursing