Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BSN)

About the Program

There are three streams of Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree:

Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN) – Designed for those who wish to complete the full program in four years (eight semesters). If you start in September, there are summer breaks. If you start in January, there are summer breaks after the first year.
Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Fast track) (BSNF) – Designed for those who wish to complete the full program in three years (eight consecutive semesters).
Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Bridge) (BSNB) – Designed for current practicing RPNs who wish to complete the degree via a bridging pathway.

In Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree program you will earn a BScN credential. Prepare to be a healthcare leader by following a curriculum that provides a diverse and global perspective. In this stream you will complete the program in eight semesters (four years) with summer breaks.

In this program you will have the opportunity to provide nursing care within a variety of clinical settings. Clinical education is enhanced with focused simulation in state-of-the art labs, which gives you the ability to practice and refine your clinical reasoning skills.

The curriculum is designed to meet the entry to practice competencies defined by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and provides a solid base for further study at the graduate level.

All three streams of Seneca's Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing program have received preliminary approval from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Graduates from these programs are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario. Programs with preliminary approval status will be considered for full approval status after completing a comprehensive review in the academic year following the first class of graduates.

Practical Nursing Diploma to BScN Degree Bridging Pathway

Graduates of an Ontario Practical Nursing diploma program with a minimum graduating GPA of 75 per cent, who have registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), will be eligible to enter the fifth semester (Year 3, Level 5) of Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree after completing a two-semester bridge program (with a final grade of 65 per cent or higher for each bridge course). Students will then complete the degree in four semesters.

Learn more about Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Bridge)

Credential Awarded

Honours Bachelor Degree

Duration

8 semesters (4 years)

Starts

January, September

Program and Course Delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format with some courses available in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

critical thinking and problem-solving skills that support the development of clinical reasoning and clinical judgment
self-management that demonstrates initiative, personal responsibility and accountability to work in the profession of nursing
communication and interpersonal relationship skills to work effectively and collaboratively in a diverse inter-professional health-care system
ability to collaborate in groups and work independently

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:

hospitals
public health
community nursing
rehabilitation centres
long term care
primary healthcare
travel nursing
private clinics

Professional Practice Upon Graduation

After successful completion of the program, graduates will earn a BScN credential and are required to meet the Entry to Practice Competencies for nursing practice in Ontario. For a student to obtain these competencies during their educational program, certain skills and abilities are required. It is important that you are aware of these prior to applying for admission to the nursing program. Review these requirements: Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario.

Upon graduation, students wishing to engage in the professional practice of nursing and use the title Registered Nurse are subject to qualifying examinations (NCLEX) and other requirements by the regulatory body, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Program of Study

Course List
Course Code	Course Name	Weekly Hours
Semester 1
ANP100	Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BSN105	Medication Calculations	2
BSN110	Nursing Profession I	3
BSN111	Professional Relationships	3
ENG106	Writing Strategies	3
PSY113	Introduction to Psychology I	3
Semester 2
ANP200	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BSN205	Fundamental Nursing Skills	4
BSN215	Lifespan I - Health Promotion	3
PSY114	Introduction to Psychology II	3
plus: Liberal Studies Course (1)		3
Semester 3
BSN305	Complex Nursing Skills	4
BSN306	Physical Assessment	4
BSN315	Lifespan II - The Aging Population	3
BSN325	Professional Practicum I	12
IDI300	Infectious Disease and Immunology	4
Semester 4
BSN400	Pharmacology	4
BSN410	Nursing Profession II	3
BSN420	Client Centered Care I	3
BSN425	Professional Practicum II	12
PPY400	Pathophysiology I	4
BSN510	Nursing Research	3
Semester 5
BSN510	Nursing Research	3
BSN520	Client Centered Care II	3
BSN525	Professional Practicum III	12
PPY500	Pathophysiology II	4
plus: Liberal Studies Course (1)		3
Semester 6
BSN610	Ethical Foundations of Nursing Practice	3
BSN615	Lifespan III - Childbearing Families	3
BSN620	Mental Health Nursing	3
BSN625	Professional Practicum IV	12
STA683	Applied Statistics in Social Sciences	3
Semester 7
BSN710	Nursing Profession III	3
BSN715	Lifespan IV - Pediatric Nursing	4
BSN716	Community and Global Nursing	3
BSN720	Client Centered Care III	3
BSN725	Professional Practicum V	12
Semester 8
BSN810	Registration Exam Preparation	2
BSN825	Integrated Professional Practicum	33

Seneca has been granted a consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this degree for a seven-year term starting Oct. 15, 2021. In conformity with the Minister's criteria and requirements, Seneca will submit an application for the renewal of the consent for this program 12 months prior to the expiration of the consent. Seneca shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.

Program Learning Outcomes

This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:

Be accountable to the public and the profession by abiding to the profession’s legal, ethical and practice standards.
Provide competent, ethical, compassionate, and evidence informed client-centred care to individuals, families, communities and diverse populations.
Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to provide safe and coordinated care using critical thinking, problem solving and clinical reasoning in a variety of settings.
Utilize health promotion, harm reduction, disease prevention and illness management strategies with clients to support optimal health outcomes.
Establish collaborative professional relationships within nursing, the interprofessional team, and other community partners.
Communicate with individuals, families and communities using therapeutic and relational practices.
Integrate concepts of empowerment, social advocacy, and social justice in providing client care to individuals, families and communities to reduce health inequities and disparities.
Advocate for and support culturally safe environments where clients are respected for their health care practices and decisions.
Use nursing informatics to inform care and improve the health of clients.
Engage in scholarship through critical inquiry, continuous quality improvement, and through the support of research to enhance professional practice.
Demonstrate leadership and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including six Grade 12 U or M courses with a minimum overall average of 75%, or a mature applicant.

Required core courses - minimum final grade of 75% in each:

English: Grade 12 ENG 4(U)
Mathematics: any Grade 12(U)
Biology: Grade 12 SBI 4(U)
Chemistry: Grade 12 SCH 4(U)

(must have completed any required math or science courses within the last five years).

The remaining two Grade 12 U or M courses must have a minimum final grade of 60% each.

Additional Information

Clinical Practicum Requirements:

To be eligible for clinical practicum placements, students must have a completed Clinical Preparedness Permit which includes:

Medical Requirements

current immunization records as outlined in the Canadian Immunization Guide for health-care workers
bloodwork for immune status of hepatitis B/varicella/measles/mumps and rubella
TB testing/CXR as required

Non-Medical Requirements

A current Basic Life Support Certificate renewed annually
Standard First Aid valid for four years
Online courses are not acceptable
Record of mask fit test, renewed every two years
Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening (annually)

Transportation

Clinical practicum placements are in a variety of agencies in the greater Toronto area. Students are required to provide their own transportation to practicum placements. Placements may be six-, 10- or 12-hour days starting as early as 6 a.m. and may include weekends and evenings.

Students in the Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing program are required to provide a current criminal record check and vulnerable sector screening from a recognized police service before they are permitted to start their clinical/practicum or work placement. Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned, will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical/practicum or work placement. A student with an outstanding charge or who has been convicted of a criminal offence and has not obtained a full pardon will be counselled to withdraw from the program as a successful practicum placement is a requirement to progress through the program.

Notes

Ontario baccalaureate programs in Nursing are responsible to the public for providing their enrolled students with opportunities to develop the qualifications (academic knowledge, professional behaviours, attitudes and clinical skills) to enter the profession of Registered Nursing in Ontario.

The description of the essential requirements is included in the Requisite Skills and Abilities document from the College of Nurses of Ontario.

This document is not intended to exclude individuals who may require reasonable accommodation to achieve competency development. It is advisable to discuss such accommodations and/or learning supports with the Counselling & Accessible Learning Services during the pre-admission or admission phase.