Program Overview

Overview of the Nursing Program

The Nursing program at McMaster University prepares graduates to be professional nurses who will practice in a variety of health-care settings. The program's mission is to enhance the quality of health of individuals, families, communities, and society. The curriculum uses a problem-based, small group, self-directed educational model.

Program Details

• The program is delivered in partnership with Mohawk College.
• Students may complete their McMaster (BScN) degree at one of two sites: McMaster University or Mohawk College.
• Applicants will be considered for admission to each institution to which they apply.
• Applications to both sites must be done through the Ontario University Applications Centre (OUAC).
• A supplementary application is required for this program.
• Students attend the institution to which they are admitted for the entire four years of the program.
• Transfer from the college to the university site is not an option, and similarly, transfer from McMaster University to the college is not an option.
• Students from both institutions will graduate with a McMaster University Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree upon successful completion of the program.

Educational Methods

• The program promotes nursing as a caring, client-centred, scientifically-based profession.
• The goal is to prepare students for practice in a wide variety of health care settings through curricula that are responsive to real-world needs.
• The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.) Program is delivered in partnership with Mohawk College.
• The School of Nursing pioneered problem-based learning (PBL) in nursing education and continues to believe that this approach best prepares students for the roles that they will hold after graduation.
• PBL involves small and large group, self-directed learning that emphasizes interpersonal skills, independent learning, and leadership qualities.
• Learning is a process of inquiry, a skill to develop as a life-long activity in an environment conducive to openness and sharing between Faculty and students.
• Self-directed learning promotes the development of critical thinking abilities and self-evaluation skills.
• Students apply concepts from nursing and related disciplines to their experiences in classroom, simulation, and clinical settings.

Clinical Placements

• In Year I, students develop nursing skills for clinical practice in the Centre for Simulation-Based Learning.
• In Years II to IV, students gain knowledge and skills through direct patient care in both hospital and community settings.
• Clinical practice helps students apply theory learned in the classroom and is an integral part of the program.
• Placements in the local area include: four acute care hospitals, City of Hamilton – Social and Public Health Services, two visiting nursing agencies, and several long-term care facilities.
• The catchment area includes sites in Halton, Peel, Niagara, and Brant regions.
• Depending on the accessibility of public transportation, students may need to rely on the use of a vehicle.
• Transportation to and from all clinical sites is the responsibility of the student.
• Other opportunities for students' practice may include:
  • Caring for children and adults in acute care medical or surgical settings
  • Maternal/child (maternity) mental health
  • Public health
  • Visiting nursing
  • Long-term care
  • Primary health care
• Year IV students may select a placement in a Canadian outpost, northern, or international setting.

Facilities

• Classroom sites:
  • McMaster University Main Campus
  • David Braley Health Sciences Centre
  • One James North
• Health Sciences Library: a recently renovated facility that meets the needs of the 21st-century learning environment.
• Centre for Simulation-Based Learning: clinically-equipped examination rooms along with low and high fidelity simulation models give students the opportunity to practice nursing.
• Standardized Patient Program: provides a learning opportunity to teach, assess, and refine communication and clinical skills.
• Anatomy Laboratory: a large number of pre-dissected specimens complemented by models, medical images, and demonstrations are used to help learn about the structure of the human body.

Indigenous Application Process

• With an understanding that Indigenous learners can face specific barriers or challenges when pursuing higher education, schools and programs within McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences have facilitated admissions streams for applicants with Indigenous North American (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) ancestry.
• This process is intended to provide equitable access to Indigenous applicants and aligns with the intent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.
• Applicants wishing to apply through McMaster's Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP) need to complete the supplementary self-identification application in addition to McMaster University and program-specific application processes.
• The FIAP self-identification application is submitted to McMaster's Indigenous Health Task Force (IHTF) through the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (ISHS) Office.
• The School of Nursing has 5% reserved seats for Indigenous students in all BScN streams, who have successfully completed the program's admission requirements.

Typical First-Year Courses

• Introduction to Health and Safety (WHMIS 1A00)
• Human Biochemistry (HTHSCI 1LL3)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology (HTHSCI 1H06 A/B)
• Introduction to Social Determinants of Health (HTHSCI 1RR2)
• Introduction to Nursing and Health I (NURSING 1F03)
• Introduction to Nursing and Health II (NURSING 1G03)
• Introduction to Nursing Practice (NURSING 1I02)
• Professional Practice I (NURSING N1J03)
• Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour (PSYCH 1X03)
• Foundations of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour (PSYCH 1XX3)

Beyond First Year

• The Bachelor of Science Nursing (BScN) is a direct entry program, and students are considered to be specializing/majoring in Nursing from the first year to the end of the program.
• For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.

Admissions

• The admission process involves selecting the appropriate option based on the applicant's background and filtering by country, curriculum, and program.
• The process includes considering advanced placement policy, American-style curriculum, British-patterned education, and other factors.
• Applicants can submit their applications through the Ontario University Applications Centre (OUAC) and must also complete a supplementary application for the Nursing program.