Practical Nurse to Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing Bridge

Total Credits:	21
Credential:	None - transitions to completion of the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (awarded by the University of Victoria)
Program Code:	PN2BSN
CIP:	51.3801

Overview

The purpose of the Practical Nurse to Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (PN2BSN) Bridge is to recognize the knowledge and skills of diploma prepared Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and support their return to
post-secondary education in the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) offered in partnership with Camosun College and the University of Victoria.

This bridging program recognizes the education and knowledge of LPNs while introducing and emphasizing the disciplinary (theoretical and philosophical) underpinnings of professional nursing knowledge necessary for practice as an RN including situating and evaluating evidence; critical, scholarly reading and writing; and developing curiosity for inquiry. The program facilitates the necessary role transitioning (LPN to RN) as well as fosters the development of clinical reasoning necessary for practice in increasingly complex and acute health care contexts.

The courses are designed to provide a transformational education while recognizing the education, skills and nursing experience that LPNs bring to the program. The PN2BSN courses have been designed to support students by being flexible in design and by including specific pedagogical approaches (including evolving case studies) that prepare nurses for professional RN practice.

At the completion of the second semester in the PN2BSN Bridge, learners will be able to integrate, consolidate, and generate knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the context of acute and chronic health challenges across human systems. Learners focus on clinical reasoning, care planning, prioritization, and evaluation in the context of acute and chronic health challenges and co-morbidities. Learners demonstrate clear, caring communication, and documentation for patients, families, and other health care providers. Upon successful completion of the bridging program students will be eligible to enter the consolidated practice experience at the end of second year (Consolidated Practice Experience 2), and continue to the fifth semester of the BSN program.

Admissions

All of:

Completion of Biology 12 or Anatomy & Physiology 12 with at least 73%.
Completion of Chemistry 12 with at least 73%.
Graduate of a recognized two-year Practical Nursing diploma program with a minimum grade of ‘B’ in each course.
Currently licensed to practice with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of BC (CLPNBC).
A letter from an employer or supervisor describing satisfactory work performance and suitability for the PN2BSN bridge program.
All students must complete the English Language Proficiency as per https://www.uvic.ca/future-students/undergraduate/admissions/language/index.php.

Note:

Entry to the PN2BSN program is competitive and preference for admission will be given to those with higher academic standing.
Students who have been previously unsuccessful in another BSN program will not be eligible for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, LPNs will be able to demonstrate readiness to enter into the second-year spring practicum of the BSN program by:

Integrating, consolidating, and generating registered nursing (RN) knowledge, skills, and dispositions in interdisciplinary contexts of acute and chronic health challenges across human systems
Demonstrating care planning, prioritization, clinical reasoning, and evaluation in collaboration with patients, families, communities, and/or populations in the context of acute and chronic health challenges and co-morbidities
Applying knowledge from nursing, behavioral, biological, epidemiological, and related disciplines in promotion, preservation, and restoration of health when caring for clients & families experiencing increasingly complex, acute illness
Demonstrating professional responsibility and accountability by integrating transition theory, professional (CNA) Code of Ethics, CRNBC Professional Standards, and ethical frameworks to begin to develop a vision of professional RN practice
Utilizing academic reading and writing skills to begin to situate evidence within nursing disciplinary (theoretical & philosophical) knowledge and to support evidence-informed registered nursing practice
Applying knowledge of indigenous ways of knowing and being, to promote health of patients, and families, and society

Curriculum

Year One

Academic Term One

Students considering transfer to a collaborative BC college or university should consider an additional English elective which may be necessary in order to meet graduating requirements of that institution. (Consult that institution’s calendar for program requirements.)

All of:

NURS 112 - Registered Nursing As Scholarly Practice Credits: 3
NURS 252 - Integrated Health Sciences for RN Practice 1 Credits: 3

One of

ENGL 151 - Academic Writing Strategies Credits: 3
ENGL 161 - Literary Genres Credits: 3
ENGL 163 - Intro to Literary Traditions Credits: 3
ENGL 164 - Indigenous Literature Credits: 3

Academic Term Two

All of:

HLTH 111 - Indigenous Peoples’ Health Credits: 3
NURS 233 - Surgical, Acute and Chronic Illness Nursing Care Credits: 3
NURS 253 - Integrated Health Sciences for RN Practice 2 Credits: 3
PHIL 250 - Healthcare Ethics Credits: 3

Program Participation Requirements

Prior to commencement of Academic Term One of the PN2BSN program:

The RSA acknowledgment form, as an acknowledgment of understanding the requirements for registration with the College of Registered Nurses of BC (CRNBC) as laid out in the CRNBC document Requisite Skills and Abilities, must be signed and submitted along with the tuition deposit to accept an offer to the program.

Upon commencement of Academic Term One of the PN2BSN program:

Students must provide evidence they do not have active TB. Acceptable evidence is a negative TB skin test or a negative chest x-ray. Evidence must be dated no more than six months before the program start date. Students are responsible for the cost of testing. An additional TB test is required after each possible exposure to TB and/or travel within an area where there is a known prevalence of TB.
Students must provide evidence of their immunization status.
Students are required to submit Standard First Aid with BLS (Basic Life Support) prior to the first semester of the program. The BLS must be renewed yearly, while in the program.
Students are required to have yearly respirator mask “fit-testing” done. Fitting will be completed in the program and students will be responsible for completing this process prior to the patient contact in a clinical setting and clinical experience and for any associated costs.
The Provincial Practice Education Guidelines require students to complete the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Training prior to clinical/practicum placements. This training will occur during the program. Students will be notified in sufficient time for the training to occur and this training will be provided by a third party. Students will be responsible for any associated costs. Failure to comply with this training could result in the health care organization, community partner or the college barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until required training is completed. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement. Violence prevention training from other provinces does not transfer in and meet the requirements.

Program Completion Requirements

Students must complete the BSN program within 7 years of beginning the PN2BSN program.
Students must complete each course in the PN2BSN program with a “C” grade minimum and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (“C+”).

Additional Information

Two semesters of Practical Nurse to Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) Bridge courses and the second year Spring practicum (NURS 290 ) are completed at Camosun College; students will subsequently complete Semester 5 of the BSN partnership program offered by Camosun College and UVic.
Students must complete the BSN program within 7 years of beginning the PN2BSN program.