Earn your BScN degree from Cambrian and become a health care leader

Make a difference in your community with a rewarding, well-paid career that is always in demand. Our immersive nursing degree program prepares you to be an innovative and compassionate professional who is a frontrunner in addressing evolving health care needs. Cambrian’s high-tech nursing simulation lab equips you to excel in the rapidly changing, diverse, and complex health care environment. 
 
More than 1,000 hours of clinical experience in long-term care, hospital, and community health care agencies provide ample opportunities to practice the knowledge and skills learned in class. You’ll work with physicians, dietitians, physiotherapists, and other allied health providers to become a critical thinker who understands the value of teamwork and collaboration. As a graduate with a BScN degree, you can apply to become a Registered Nurse and further your education by pursuing Master’s and Doctoral studies. 
 

Program highlights 

  • Limited enrolment 
  • 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 for 2024-25 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Credits
NUR 1101 Nursing Foundations 3
NUR 1102 Nursing Foundations Lab 3
BIO 1108 Microbiology and Immunology 3
BIO 1109 Anatomy and Physiology I 3
ENG 1107 Introduction to Scholarly Writing 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits18
Semester 2
NUR 1200 Health Assessment 3
NUR 1201 Relational Practice 3
NUR 1202 Health Assessment Lab 3
NUR 1206 Health Assessment Clinical 3
BIO 1110 Anatomy and Physiology II 3
MTH 1207 Numeracy and Statistics 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits21
Semester 3
CHM 2311 Clinical Biochemistry 3
NUR 2300 Chronic Illness 3
NUR 2301 Pharmacology and Therapeutics 3
NUR 2302 Chronic Illness Lab 3
NUR 2306 Chronic Illness Clinical 3
PTH 2303 Pathophysiology I 3
 Credits18
Semester 4
NUR 2400 Acute Illness 3
NUR 2402 Acute Illness Lab 3
NUR 2405 Critical Thinking and Inquiry 3
NUR 2406 Acute Illness Clinical I 3
PTH 2403 Pathophysiology II 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits18
Semester 5
NUR 3501 Maternal, Child and Pediatrics 3
NUR 3505 Family-Centred Nursing 3
NUR 3506 Acute Illness Clinical II 3
NUR 3507 Mental Health Concepts I 3
NUR 3508 Ethics Professional Practice 3
NUR 3509 Nursing Research 3
 Credits18
Semester 6
NUR 3604 Public Health and Community 3
NUR 3605 Nursing and Informatics 3
NUR 3606 Public Health Clinical 3
NUR 3607 Mental Health Clinical 3
NUR 3608 Mental Health Concepts II 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits18
Semester 7
NUR 4701 Nursing Leadership 3
NUR 4706 Acute Illness Clinical III 6
NUR 4708 Inter-Professionalism 3
NUR 4709 Health Policy Global Health 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits18
Semester 8
NUR 4801 Integrated Nursing Theory 3
NUR 4806 Integrated Nursing Practicum 12
 Credits15
 Total Credits144
1

Students must take a total of five (5) degree breadth electives from at least two (2) different categories as part of the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.  Two (2) breadth electives must be an advanced/upper-level course (represented by course codes beginning in 39xx).  These upper-level are only available in Year 3 or 4 of the program.  For more information regarding degree breadth electives, click here.

Admission requirements

To be eligible to enter the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, graduates of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD; 30 credits), or equivalent or mature student status, must complete at least six grade 12 U/M courses with a minimum overall average of 75% and must qualify to obtain their OSSD. Ontario High School applicants require the following Grade 12 credits:

  • Any grade 12 English (U) or (M)
  • Any grade 12 mathematics (U) or (M)
  • Any grade 12 biology (U)
  • Any grade 12 chemistry (U)
  • Any 2 additional grade 12 courses (U) or (M)

Additional admission requirements

  • Standard First Aid

  • CPR Level HCP (Health Care Providers) - Canadian Heart and Stroke Guidelines

  • WHMIS certificate

  • Ministry of Labour 4-Step Worker Health & Safety Awareness Training (Bill 18)

  • AODA certificate

  • Respiratory Mask Fit Testing (N95-3M models)

  • Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Check (contact your program coordinator if you have a positive CPIC)

  • Immunization requirements:

    • Varicella 

    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella

    • Tuberculosis Screening

    • Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussus

    • Hepatitis B

    • Influenza

    • COVID-19

Program delivery

2024-2025

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2024
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2025
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2025
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 5:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 6:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 7:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 8:   Winter 2028

Program faculty and administration

Administration

June Raymond, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD (Nursing)Dean - School of Health Sciences, Nursing & Emergency Servicesjune.raymond@cambriancollege.ca
Erin McPhail, RN, BScN, MScN Chair - School of Nursingerin.mcphail@cambriancollege.ca

Faculty

Shannon Dowdall-Smith, RN, BScN, MSN, PhD (Nursing)Academic Program Coordinatorshannon.dowdallsmith@cambriancollege.ca
Frances Carvalho Cavanagh, RN, BScN, MScNNursing Professorfrances.cavanagh@cambriancollege.ca
Natalie Chevalier, RN, BScN, MNNursing Professornatalie.chevalier@cambriancollege.ca
Karla Ghartey, RN, BScN, MN (PhD in progress)Nursing Professorkarla.ghartey@cambriancollege.ca
Francoise Gravelle, RN, BScN, MSNNursing Professorfrancoise.gravelle@cambriancollege.ca
Laura Killam, RN, BScN, MScN (PhD in progress)Nursing Professorlaura.killam@cambriancollege.ca
Johanna Love, RN, BScN, MNNursing Professorjohanna.love@cambriancollege.ca
Remar A. Mangaoil, RN, BScN, MN, PhD (Nursing), CPMHN (C)Nursing Professorremar.mangaoil@cambriancollege.ca
Kim McNab, RN, BScN, MScNNursing Professorkim.mcnab@cambriancollege.ca
Katherine Timmermans, RN, BScN, MScNNursing Professorkatherine.timmermans@cambriancollege.ca
Ryan Carbone, BSc Hons, MScScience Professorryan.carbone@cambriancollege.ca
Jason Corcoran, BHSc Hons, BEd, MEd (PhD in progress)Science Professorjason.corcoran@cambriancollege.ca
Gerusa Senhorinho, DDS, PhD (Microbiology), PhD (Biomolecular Sciences)Science Professorgerusa.senhorinho@cambriancollege.ca

Registration to practice / additional testing

Upon successful completion of all courses as outlined in the program of study, the student is eligible to write the NCLEX-RN examination for registered nurse credentialing as set out by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

The student is also responsible for the following costs:

  • Registered nurses examination
  • Initial certificate of competence.  Students will be informed of the cost for this examination, and it is their responsibility to pay this fee by the designated date.

Specific program pathway

Students graduating from a Practical Nursing (PN) diploma could receive advanced standing in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.  To be eligible, students must meet the admission requirements and complete the Practical Nursing to Registered Nursing Bridge program (PNRN) by applying to PNUR at OCAS.

Applicants accepted for advanced standing under this pathway will receive direct entry into Year 3 and must complete the following requirements.

Employment opportunities

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing allows graduates to work with individuals (infant, children, adults, elderly. etc.), families, and communities in a variety of settings: 

  • Hospital
  • Community
  • Long-Term Care
  • Outposts Agencies
  • Occupational / Industry Settings
  • Schools
  • Homes

Nurses with a BScN degree can pursue Masters and Doctoral studies to prepare for work as educators, clinical experts, and researchers.

Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.