Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Overview

NIC's four-year BSN degree is delivered in partnership with Vancouver Island University. In this program, you'll gain hands-on experience in classrooms, simulation labs, clinical environments, and community settings. Whether you choose to work in urban, rural, or global health care, you'll graduate ready to begin a rewarding career as a registered nurse (RN).

Program Highlights

• Community-Focused Learning: the BSN program combines academics, hands-on skills, and clinical practice with a focus on community health and Indigenous perspectives
• Year one: explore health promotion and holistic assessments in community settings
• Year two: study healing and health issues in hospitals, public health, and other care settings
• Years three and four: build skills in societal health, leadership, and complex care with placements in First Nations communities, rural areas, and diverse healthcare settings

Admission Requirements

• Option A: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
  • Prospective students must submit transcripts as proof of meeting the following academic requirements:
    • Grade 12 or equivalent (completing all the prerequisites below is considered by NIC BSN program as Grade 12 equivalent)
    • C+ in Biology 12 or Anatomy and Physiology 12 or NIC BIO 060/BIO 110, or equivalent within the last 10 years
    • C+ in Chemistry 11 or NIC CHE 051, or equivalent within the last 10 years
    • C+ in English 12 or equivalent for Nursing
    • C+ in Principles of Math 11 or Applications of Math 12 or PreCalculus 11 or Foundations of Math 12 or NIC MAT 053
    • Applicants who are current high school students must submit interim transcripts and complete the Self-Reporting Grade form
• Option C: LPN Access to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
  • Option C (when available) provides qualified Licensed Practical Nurses an admission option into second year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
  • Enrolment is limited
  • Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program as it is a selective process
  • Option C Admission Requirements
    • Prospective students must submit transcripts as proof of meeting the same academic requirements as Option A applicants
    • Must have graduated from a recognized Practical Nursing (PN) Program
    • Must have the equivalent of one-year full-time employment (hours) as practicing PN in BC over the past 3 years
    • Letter from employer(s) confirming number of hours worked as an LPN over the past 3 years

Course Requirements

• NIC Term 1: September - December
  • Total credits = 19.5
  • BIO - 160 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • NUR - 102 Relational Practice I: Self and Others
  • NUR - 103 Professional Practice I: Introduction to the Profession of Nursing
  • NUR - 104 Nursing Practice I: Introduction to Nursing Practice
  • NUR - 108 Health and Healing I: Living Health
  • NUR - 109 Nursing Learning Centre I
  • Elective
• NIC Term 2: January - April
  • Total credits = 18
  • BIO - 161 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  • NUR - 113 Professional Practice II: Introduction to the Discipline of Nursing
  • NUR - 114 Nursing Practice II: Coming to Know the Client
  • NUR - 118 Health and Healing II: Health Indicators
  • NUR - 119 Nursing Learning Centre II
  • Elective
• NIC Spring Term: May
  • Total credits = 6
  • NUR - 175 Consolidated Practice Experience I
• NIC Term 3: September - December
  • Total credits = 18
  • NUR - 202 Relational Practice II: Creating Health-Promoting Relationships
  • NUR - 204 Nursing Practice III: Promoting Health and Healing
  • NUR - 207 Health and Healing III: Health Challenges and Healing Initiatives
  • NUR - 208 Health Sciences: Pathophysiology I
  • NUR - 209 Nursing Learning Centre III
• NIC Term 4: January - April
  • Total credits = 18
  • NUR - 213 Professional Practice III: Nursing Ethics
  • NUR - 214 Nursing Practice IV: Promoting Health and Healing
  • NUR - 217 Health and Healing IV: Health Challenges/Healing Initiatives
  • NUR - 218 Health Sciences: Pathophysiology II
  • NUR - 219 Nursing Learning Centre IV
• NIC Spring Term: May
  • Total credits = 8
  • NUR - 276 Consolidated Practice Experience II
• NIC Term 5: September - December
  • Total credits = 18
  • NUR - 302 Relational Practice III: Connecting Across Difference
  • NUR - 304 Nursing Practice V: Promoting Health and Healing
  • NUR - 308 Health and Healing V: Complex Health Challenges/Healing Initiatives
  • NUR - 309 Nursing Learning Centre V
  • Elective
• NIC - VIU Term 6: January - April
  • Total credits = 16
  • NUR - 313 Professional Practice IV: Nursing Inquiry
  • NUR - 314 Nursing Practice VI: Promoting Health of Communities and Society
  • NUR - 316 Health and Healing VII: Promoting Community and Societal Health
  • NUR - 318 Health and Healing VI: Global Health Issues
  • Elective
• NIC - VIU Spring Term: May
  • Total credits = 8
  • NUR - 375 Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) III
• NIC - VIU Term 7: September - December
  • Total credits = 13
  • NUR - 403 Professional Practice VI: Nursing Research
  • NUR - 404 Nursing Practice VII: Engaging in Leadership
  • NUR - 405 Professional Practice V: Leadership in Nursing
  • Nursing Elective (See BSN Program Academic Advisor for options)
• NIC - VIU Term 8: January - April
  • Total credits = 12
  • NUR - 414 Nursing Practice VIII: Transitioning to BSN Graduate

Completion Requirements

• In order to apply credit for any course towards the requirements of the BSN degree, the nursing student must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in that course
• In addition, all BSN students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.33 ("C+") for each academic year and must pass each nursing practicum
• The grade point average will be calculated on nursing courses and include BIO 160, BIO 161, NUR 208, NUR 218, and upper nursing elective courses taken within that academic year
• Practice experiences within the curriculum are a vital part of learning
• Attendance is required in all practice courses
• Students that miss more than 10% of a practice course may be at risk of not successfully completing the course
• A student who fails a required biology course will usually have to withdraw from the program until the course is passed
• If a student subsequently passes the course, the student may re-enter the program, based on seat availability
• A student who fails a required BSN course is withdrawn from the program and may apply for readmission to the program at a subsequent offering in the same term as the failure occurred
• When a failure occurs in either a biology or a BSN course and a student is planning to reapply to the program, it is recommended that they do so as soon as possible
• Re-entry to the program is dependent on seat availability and any conditions as outlined upon the student's withdrawal from the program
• Failure of a required course may require the completion of a learning assessment and/or additional remediation prior to readmission to support student safe practice, currency, and success
• Students who withdraw and/or fail two nursing courses are not eligible for readmission to the program
• Students are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Nurses Association and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives Professional Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners and Practice Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
• Failure to adhere to these principles may result in the student being required to leave the program
• There are four non-nursing general electives: two English (see below) and two general electives at the 100 or 200 level
• All electives must be university-transferable
• Go to to check course transferability
• Credit for BIO 110 is not acceptable as a non-nursing general elective
• In addition, an upper-level Nursing elective is required
• Students must take two first-year university-level English courses from the following options:
  • Option A: Students must choose one of ENG 115, ENG 116, ENG 117
  • Option C: Students must choose one of ENG 115, ENG 116, or ENG 117
• The maximum time for a student to complete all program requirements is 6 years, with no period of absence exceeding 24 months
• Under exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Dean and Program Chair, a student may be granted an extension

Practicum

• Clinical placements are key to this program
• You’ll gain real-world skills in a variety of settings
• Placements are in Comox Valley, Campbell River, Bella Coola, Port Alberni, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Powell River, and Tofino
• Travel and accommodation are your responsibility
• Practicums run May/June or July/August, depending on availability
• Shifts are eight to 12 hours, scheduled day, evening, night, or weekends

Career Outlook

• With over 25,000 Registered Nurse (RN) job openings projected in BC, nursing is one of the most in-demand careers requiring post-secondary training
• It offers independent roles in clinical care, research, advocacy, and community health — more than a job, it’s a calling
• Areas of specialization:
  • Acute care (medical-surgical)
  • Critical care (emergency, intensive care units, cardiac care, operating room)
  • Gerontology
  • Maternal/child care
  • Mental health, public health, and community care
  • Nursing education
  • Nursing with Indigenous communities
  • Travel nursing, international nursing
  • Women’s health

Costs

• Domestic
  • Tuition: $17,180
  • Lab: $400
  • Student Union: $1,060
  • Learner Resource: $905
  • Health and Dental: $1,140
  • Total: $20,685
• Estimated additional book costs: $200 per course

Frequently Asked Questions

• When do I apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, and what happens after I've applied?
  • Applications open the first business day in October
  • After you've applied, the registration and BSN departments work together to process your application following the criteria in the selective entry guidelines
  • If you're selected, invitation emails will be sent out the end of April and beginning of May
• How do I know if I need to take upgrading courses? If so, can I take them at NIC?
  • You may need to upgrade if your grades don’t meet requirements, high school transcripts are unavailable, you didn’t finish high school, or if your high school chemistry/biology are over ten years old (due to the 10-year limit for BIO-160)
  • And yes, NIC offers upgrading classes!
  • Please refer to upgrading and the Adult Basic Education program description for more information
• Can I take upgrading alongside my electives, and are there courses I can complete before starting the nursing program at NIC?
  • Yes, you can take elective courses before the BSN program if you meet the prerequisites
  • You'll need to apply and register in University Studies at NIC
  • It’s recommended to complete ENG-115 or ENG-117 before starting the BSN program
  • You can also take up to six courses, including anatomy and physiology (BIO-160/161), English, and general electives to ease your first-year workload
• How can I check if my out-of-province or transfer courses meet the prerequisites?
  • If you have post-secondary credits, you can apply for transfer credit to meet BSN requirements
  • Out-of-province transcripts require a $20 assessment fee and may need course descriptions
  • Forms are available online and at Student Services — apply early as processing takes six to eight weeks
• What does selective entry mean, and how are applicants evaluated?
  • Selective entry means meeting specific academic requirements including GPA, non-nursing graduation requirements (BIO-160/161; ENG courses and two program-approved general electives), your residency, and CASPer Assessment
  • NIC uses a selective entry process with a point system
  • This system evaluates a combination of components and your portfolio as a whole
  • The top 36 applicants will receive an invitation letter
• Once I have been invited into the program, is there a chance of deferring my seat if I am unable to attend that fall?
  • No, deferral is not allowed
  • The BSN program is highly competitive, and seats cannot be held
  • If you can’t accept your seat, you’ll need to reapply the following year