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 front-runner 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 through the Learn and Stay Grant 

Program of study for 2025-26 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 2302 Chronic Illness Lab 3
NUR 2303 Pharmacology & Therapeutics I 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
NUR 2403 Pharmacology & Therapeutics II 3
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits21
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 3510 Nursing Research 3
 Credits18
Semester 6
NUR 3604 Public Health and Community 3
NUR 3605 Nursing and Informatics 3
NUR 3608 Mental Health Concepts II 3
NUR 3610 Community-MH Intregrated Exp 5
One Degree Breadth Elective Course. 1 3
 Credits17
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 Credits146
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) must complete at least six grade 12 U/M courses (or equivalent) with a minimum overall average of 75%. Alternatively, applicants must meet mature student status. The following are the program-specific prerequisite requirements:

  • Any grade 12 English (U)
  • Any grade 12 mathematics (U)
  • Any grade 12 biology (U)
  • Any grade 12 chemistry (U)
     

Additional admission requirements

  • Standard First Aid
  • CPR Level HCP (Health Care Providers) – Canadian Heart and Stroke Guidelines
  • WHMIS certificate
  • Ministry of Labour Worker Health and Safety Awareness in Four Steps 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 Pertussis
    • Hepatitis B
    • Influenza
    • COVID-19

Program delivery

2025-2026

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2025
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2026
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 6:  Winter 2028
SEMESTER 7:  Fall 2028
SEMESTER 8:   Winter 2029

Program faculty and administration

Administration

June Raymond, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD (Nursing)Dean – School of Health Sciences, Nursing, and 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 Coordinator (years one, two, and PN-RN Bridge)shannon.dowdallsmith@cambriancollege.ca
Frances Carvalho Cavanagh, RN, BScN, MScNAcademic Program Coordinator (years three and four)frances.cavanagh@cambriancollege.ca
Natalie Chevalier, RN, BScN, MNNursing Professornatalie.chevalier@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
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 who have graduated from a Practical Nursing (PN) diploma may 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 semester (PNRN) by applying to PNUR at OCAS.

Applicants who successfully complete the Bridge semester may then apply and compete for advanced standing in year three.

Employment opportunities

An Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing allows graduates to work with individuals of all ages, families, and communities in a variety of settings: 

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

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