Laurentian University Programs
Available in English

Nursing

Faculty of Education and Health

Become a valued member of the healthcare team as you build a career in nursing.

Program Overview

There is the opportunity to become a Registered Nurse following successful completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program at Laurentian.

The BScN program prepares students to meet the complex needs of individuals in ever-changing healthcare environments. This program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing and approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

The program combines knowledge from health sciences (biology, chemistry), social sciences (psychology, sociology), nursing science, and electives of interest to a student. Through hands-on experiences in the classroom, laboratory, and healthcare settings, students develop required nursing competencies while working independently, with their peers, and with seasoned nurses. As students learn, they positively shape the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities in Northeastern Ontario. 

After successfully completing all BScN degree requirements, students can apply for their nursing registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario or any other College of Nurses in Canada.

Eligible BScN students can continue their studies in the Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) program at Laurentian.

Take the first step towards a high-demand and fulfilling nursing career. Apply to the BScN program at Laurentian University today!

Hands-on learning through classroom case studies and laboratory simulations assists students in developing critical thinking, clinical judgement, and nursing skills for real-world practice.

Deliver safe and quality nursing care in clinical practice learning placements beginning in the first term of study. Students develop an understanding of the varied nursing roles and competencies through their practice in long-term care, acute, and non-acute settings across the program.

In addition to preparing students for direct entry into nursing practice following BScN graduation, there is an opportunity for early entry into the Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) program at Laurentian.

Career Outlook

A Registered Nurse in Ontario is required to fulfill nine roles. The roles are clinician, professional, communicator, collaborator, coordinator, advocate, leader, educator, and scholar. The 101 nursing competencies associated with these roles can lead to different career options including:

  • direct care of hospitalized patients and individuals living in long-term care or their home in the community
  • public health
  • leadership positions
  • teaching positions
  • research positions
  • advanced practice nursing with completion of graduate nursing education
A student smiling while on campus

Thinking of applying to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program? Look no further than the English BScN program at Laurentian University. I considered Laurentian as the best place to pursue my interests as I was born and raised in northern Ontario. As a 2024 BScN graduate, I can attest to the program’s commitment to enriched education through optimal learning opportunities. As a program shaped by professional standards, it required much concentrated time and energy. Yet, support is available to promote academic success. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to provide nursing care to clients in the first term of the program. With each semester, acute and non-acute learning experiences with a variety of clients across the lifespan were possible. In my final year of study, I had extensive placements in two different nursing settings of interest to further develop my nursing knowledge and skills. All the direct clinical practice and nursing laboratory learning contributed to my confidence and proficiency as a BScN graduate. Laurentian University also offers many extra-curricular activities - whether it be participating in different clubs and or sports, and enjoying nature trail walks. In addition to being a member of one of Laurentian’s teams, I also was involved in the Nursing Student Association. Such experiences have afforded me long-term friendships and a well-rounded student life.

Enjoying my undergraduate nursing education so much fueled my decision to pursue Laurentian’s graduate nursing program. As a BScN student, I fell in love with the profession and am excited by its varied career possibilities. I highly recommend future BScN students to apply to Laurentian University.

Brooklyne

Program Details

Program language:

English

Delivery method:

On Campus

Contact info

More About The Program

  • Successful completion of four years of full-time study leads to a BScN.
  • Students have clinical placements beginning in the first year.
  • Respecting the University's tri-cultural mandate, the English BScN program designates at least 10 seats each year for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit students.

 

The English BScN program is structured in accordance with the following 10 elements:

  1. Academic and Practice Excellence
  2. Knowledge Development and Application
  3. Professional Relationships with Local and Regional Partners
  4. Liberal Education
  5. Wellness and Safety
  6. Diverse Practical Learning Opportunities
  7. Student-centeredness and Support
  8. Cultural Diversity and Sensitivity
  9. Adequacy of Resources
  10. Readiness for Practice
     

Upon BScN program completion, students have achieved the following eight program goals: 

  1. Be prepared to meet the Canadian Nurses Association and College of Nurses of Ontario’s entry-to-practice competencies and standards. 
  2. Practice nursing with a professional and ethical caring perspective. 
  3. Practice in accordance with the values and principles of primary health care. The values are social justice and equity. The principles are health promotion, accessibility, appropriate technology, public participation, and inter-sectoral collaboration. 
  4. Be prepared to practice nursing at an entry-level within a variety of contexts and with diverse populations, integrating cultural competence and cultural safety. 
  5. Engage in self-directed professional practice. 
  6. Make professional decisions guided by evidence-informed nursing knowledge using multiple ways of thinking including clinical reasoning and critical thinking. 
  7. Work collaboratively with the client and others, interprofessionally and intraprofessionally, to address and respond to emerging healthcare needs. 
  8. Be prepared to contribute to and influence nursing and health care at a professional, political, and societal level by anticipating and responding to the evolving needs of society

     

Visit the School of Nursing for more information

Admission Requirements

All students must demonstrate the capacity to meet the College of Nurses Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario


Ontario High School Applicants

Program Prerequisites:

  • 1 grade 12 English U/M course; 1 grade 12 U/M Math; 1 grade 12 U Biology; 1 grade 12 U Chemistry; 2 other grade 12 U/M courses
  • A minimum overall average of 75% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses

 

Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.

Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.

Note: please read the new student program requirement below for information applicable to the offer of admission to our BSc Nursing program.

 

Applicants from outside an Ontario High School 

International Students

  • Note: A required document for entry into the clinical placement setting is a co-op work permit. This permit must be uploaded to a secure portal before the first day of the Fall semester.

Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario

Applicants from Colleges

  • Note: Student requests for a transfer from a BScN program are reviewed by an English BScN Program Committee in early May.

Applicants from other Universities

Mature Students

  • Note: Mature students without a post-secondary degree are ineligible for the English BScN program.

 

New student program requirement:
Once accepted into the English BScN Program and following registration in a Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring course, all students are required to upload a set of documents to a secure portal by a specific deadline in order to be eligible for the clinical placement component of the course. 

How To Apply

Canadian Applicants

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).

For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Canadian Undergraduate Applicants page.


Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant

International Applicants

If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.

For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.


Apply Now as an International Applicant

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Starting on or after Sept. 2015)

Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements.

Total - 124 credits

Year 1 (32 cr)
Semester I
   NURS 1004 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring I (4 cr)
   NURS 1056 Professional Growth I (3 cr)
   NURS 1206 Relational Practice I (3 cr)
   BIOL 2105 Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 cr)
   Elective (3 cr)
Semester II
   NURS 1007 Health and Healing I (3 cr)
   NURS 1094 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring II (4 cr)
   NURS 1207 Relational Practice II (3 cr)
   BIOL 2105 Human Anatomy and Physiology (cont)
   Elective (3 cr)

All first year required courses must be successfully completed before being enrolled in second year courses.
All students must successfully complete BIOL 2105 before enrolling in BIOL 2036 and CHMI 2220.

Year 2 (32 cr)
Semester I
   NURS 2084 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring III (4 cr)
   NURS 2006 Health and Healing II (3 cr)
   BIOL 2036 Microbiology for the Health Sciences (3cr)
   CHMI 2220 Clinical Chemistry (6 cr)
   Elective (3 cr)
Semester II
   NURS 2144 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring IV (7 cr)
   NURS 2057 Professional Growth II (3 cr)
   NURS 2107 Health and Healing III (3 cr)
   CHMI 2220 (cont)
All second year required courses must be successfully completed before being enrolled in third year courses.

Year 3 (32 cr)
Semester I
   NURS 3005 Health and Healing IV (6 cr)
   NURS 3084 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring V (4 cr)
   NURS 3056 Professional Growth III (3 cr)
   NURS 3406 Nursing Inquiry and Praxis I (3 cr)
   NURS 3206 Relational Practice III (3 cr)
Semester II
   NURS 3005 (cont)
   NURS 3066 Professional Growth IV (3 cr)
   NURS 3094 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring VI (4 cr)
   NURS 3416 Nursing Inquiry and Praxis II (3 cr)
   Elective (3 cr)
All third year required courses must be successfully completed before being enrolled in fourth year courses.

Year 4 (28 cr)
Semester I
   NURS 4056 Professional Growth V (3 cr)
   NURS 4084 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring VII (4 cr)
   NURS 4206 Relational Practice IV (3 cr)
   NURS 4416 Nursing Inquiry and Praxis III (3 cr)
   Elective (3 cr)
Semester II
   NURS 4057 Professional Growth VI (3 cr)
   NURS 4094 Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring VIII (9 cr)

 

 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Starting prior to Sept. 2015)

First Year
   NURS 1004E        Self and Family Health
   NURS 1007E        Family Experience of a Family Health Challenge
   NURS 1056E        Introduction to Professional Growth
   NURS 1094E        Nursing Practice I
   NURS 1206E        Self and Others I: Personal Discovery
   NURS 1207E        Self and Others II: Interpersonal Relationships and Awareness
   BIOL 2105E         Human Anatomy and Physiology
   6 elective credits

Second Year
   NURS 2006E        Healing I: Episodic Health Challenges
   NURS 2057E        Professional Growth II: The Nursing Profession
   NURS 2084E        Nursing Practice II
   NURS 2107E        Pathophysiology: A Nursing Perspective
   NURS 2144E        Nursing Practice III: Complex Health Challenges
   BIOL 2026E         Introduction to Microbiology
   CHMI 2220E        Clinical Chemistry
   3 elective credits

Third Year
   NURS 3005E        Health III: Primary Care and Health Promotion
   NURS 3056E        Professional Growth III: Teaching/Learning in Professional Nursing Practice
   NURS 3066E        Professional Growth IV: Empowerment
   NURS 3084E        Nursing Practice IV
   NURS 3094E        Nursing Practice V
   NURS 3206E        Self and Others III: Helping Relationships
   NURS 3406E        Nursing Inquiry
   NURS 3416E        Nursing Research I
   3 elective credits

Fourth Year
   NURS 4056E        Professional Growth V: Nurses Influencing Change
   NURS 4057E        Professional Growth VI
   NURS 4084E        Nursing Practice VI
   NURS 4094E        Nursing Practice VII
   NURS 4206E        Self and Others IV: Group Process
   NURS 4416E        Nursing Research II
   3 elective credits

Note:    The minimum grade is C for all required NURS courses, as well as BIOL-2105, BIOL-2026, and CHMI-2220.


Program regulations for the BScN degree
Students transferring from other university nursing programs complete a minimum of 2 year fulltime residency at Laurentian University to obtain a BScN degree at Laurentian University.

To be in good academic standing and progress in the BScN program, a student must:
1) Meet all conditions of admission (dependent on criteria for year of admission into program);
2) Achieve a minimum of C in each required nursing and science course, after no more than two attempts per course;
3) Achieve an overall average GPA of 3.5 (60%);
4) Demonstrate satisfactory clinical and laboratory performance in courses where clinical experience is required. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory performance in these areas constitutes a failure in the course regardless of numerical grade; therefore all aspects of the course must be repeated;

5) Complete all course evaluation components;
6) Demonstrates safe, ethical, and professional practice as outlined by Laurentian University School of Nursing Code of Conduct, professional nursing regulatory bodies’ code of ethics and competencies and host clinical agencies. A student may be deemed unsafe in a practice course and may be removed from a practice course for this reason.


(*For students admitted Fall 2012 and prior, the following will apply: Not fail more than 3 credits in any one year or in any sequence of 30 credits.)

Program of Study
To register in any course, a student must meet all pre-requisites. Prior to entry into the clinical component of any Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring course, prerequisite Mandatory.

Documentation must be submitted to the School of Nursing Clinical Placement Coordinator by the established date. The Required Documentation form describes each document. If a student does not meet this clinical requirement, the student is ineligible to register in the Nursing Praxis and Professional Caring course and will be withdrawn from that course by the Registrar.

A student who fails a nursing practice course and/or who has been absent from the BScN  program or from a nursing practice course for one semester or more will be required to take

NURS 2074 - Nursing Practice Re-Entry Lab, and must be successful in this course in order to continue in any subsequent nursing practice course.


Probation
A student is subject to a one year probationary period for failure to meet any of the above criteria under Academic Standing.
If a student meets the conditions of Academic Standing, and does not have any other failures, the student will be released from academic probation after successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits, as per LU’s standards.


Withdrawal from the Program
A student is required to withdraw from the School of Nursing if while on probation, he or she:
1) Does not satisfy all conditions after one probationary year and does not attain good academic standing (refer again to Academic Standing criteria).
2) Fails to obtain the minimum academic grade and satisfactory clinical and lab performance where appropriate in any required course on a second attempt.
A student who is required to withdraw may petition the Senate Committee on Academic Regulations and Awards (ARA) for readmission after one calendar year.

Such an appeal should have a recommendation from the director of the school before being considered by the committee.

Students in good academic standing who choose to discontinue their studies at the end of the first or any other year, with successful completion of that year, may apply for readmission with advanced standing. Cases are considered on an individual basis.

Additional Costs

In addition to the regular tuition and general fees, students in the School of Nursing are required to purchase learning resources (e.g. textbooks, laboratory kits, etc.) and required uniforms. All expenses (e.g. travel, parking, accommodations, clinical make-up time) related to clinical placements are the responsibility of the student.

 

Attendance
Attendance and preparation are mandatory for all program components including classes, laboratories, and clinical. Communication with the professor is mandatory for consideration of extenuating circumstances for absences and for academic counseling regarding progress in the course. These circumstances will be evaluated on an individual basis. The method for monitoring attendance is at the discretion of the course professor(s). Substantiating documentation may be required for absences.

Degree Requirements for Students Enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Degree Program
The BScN program prepares individuals for nursing practice with health promotion and professional caring perspectives in a variety of settings with diverse populations. Students develop professional independence, self-directedness and critical thinking. Graduates are self-reflective, self-evaluative, responsible, accountable, and make clinical judgments based on the best evidence. They create and influence the future of nursing practice at a political, social and professional level by responding to and anticipating the changing needs of society. Furthermore, they are prepared to meet entry level professional practice requirements as identified by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a student must meet all stated degree requirements:
1) Complete all NURS courses including clinical requirements where appropriate with a C minimum grade in each
2) Complete all required Science courses with a minimum grade of C in each
3) Achieve a minimum overall average GPA of 3.5 (60%);(only courses approved by Laurentian University are included in the calculation of averages).
4) Complete all NURS courses for the BScN degree within 7 years of the first nursing course
(**For students admitted Fall 2012 and prior, the following will apply: Complete all NURS courses for the BScN degree within 8 years of the first nursing course).

 

Palliative and End of Life Care - Statement of Professional Learning (offered online)

The program of study consists of six 1-credit modules at the undergraduate level. Students in the third year of the nursing program at Laurentian University and its collaborative partners, who have completed Year II, will be eligible to complete this Statement of Professional Learning, as they have the necessary foundation in nursing practice including knowledge of pharmacology and pathophysiology. Students need to have completed both NURS 2084 and NURS 2144, or equivalent.

NURS 3508E     Philosophy of Palliative and End of Life

NURS 3518E     Pain and Symptom Management I

NURS 3528E     Pain and Symptom Management II

NURS 3538E     Ethics and Legalities in Palliative and End of Life Care

NURS 3548E     End of Life Care

NURS 3558E     End of Life Care Practicum

 

Cardiac Care on the Web - Statement of Professional Learning (offered online)

Cardiac Care on the Web is for Registered Nurses interested in Cardiac Care. This is an opportunity for Registered Nurses and third year nursing students to achieve specialty training,

and prepare for accreditation opportunities. This experience facilitates independent learning. Cardiac Care on the Web is a series of online courses made up of 12 stand-alone one-credit courses.  

NURS-2308E     The Philosophy of Cardiac Care on the Web

NURS-2318E     Nursing Health Assessment of the Cardiac Client

NURS-2338E     Epidemiology in Cardiac Care

NURS-2348E     Diagnostic Tools

NURS-2358E     Pharmacology in Cardiac Care

NURS-2368E     Haemodynamics

NURS-2378E     Care of the Client with Heart Disease

NURS-2388E     Care of the Client with Arrhythmia

NURS-2398E     Care of the Client Requiring Interventions

NURS-2408E     Care of the Client with Chronic Cardiac Problems

NURS-2418E  Putting It All Together: Part 1 

NURS-2428E  Putting It All Together: Part 2 

  • After successfully completing six modules, students are eligible to apply for a Statement of Professional Learning.
  • After successfully completing twelve modules, students are eligible to apply again for a Statement of Professional Learning.

 

 

 

Sample Courses

Faculty Members

Julie Duff Cloutier
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Emily Donato
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Craig Duncan
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Lissa Gagnon
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Robyn Gorham
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Roberta Heale
Full Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Judith Horrigan
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Irene Koren
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Sylvie Larocque
Full Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Christina McMillan Boyles
Director, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Phyllis Montgomery
Full Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Sharolyn Mossey
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Lori Rietze
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Lisa Giguere
Master Lecturer, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Nicole Lafreniere
Lecturer, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Sylvain Leduc
Lecturer, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Jeannette Lindenbach
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Kalum Muray
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing
Yvonne St-Denis
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
School of Nursing

Note: For a full list of full-time faculty members, please refer to the School of Nursing web page.

 

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