Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Bridge) (BSNB)

About the Program

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

Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Bridge) (BSNB) – Designed for current practicing RPNs who wish to complete the degree via a bridging pathway.
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 (Transformation Pathway) (BSNT) – Designed for eligible graduates of the Nursing Transformation RPN to BScN Pathway

In Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Bridge) 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.

This stream is for graduates of an Ontario Practical Nursing diploma program who have registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), and otherwise meet the admission requirements. You will be eligible to enter the program at the fifth semester (year 3, level 5) after completing a two-semester bridge program (with a final grade of 65 per cent or higher for each bridge course). You will then complete the degree in four semesters (two years).

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.

Credential Awarded

Honours Bachelor Degree

Duration

6 Semesters (3 Years)

Starts

January, September

Program and Course Delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format. All coursework is online with clinical practicums and simulation experiences to be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus for scheduled simulation experiences or in-person learning requirements as identified.

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

Work Experience

Professional Practicum

If you meet all the academic requirements you will have the opportunity to take part in a professional practicum in semesters five, six, and seven. This is a once-a-week, 12-hour shift in a group clinical placement with six to eight other students and a Registered Nurse (RN) onsite clinical supervisor. In semester eight you will be placed in an integrated professional practicum. This is a one-on-one opportunity for you to work with an RN preceptor and apply skills gained throughout the program. This practicum is unpaid and takes place in a professional setting such as acute care/hospitals, health care centres, treatment centers, and long-term care/facilities.

The professional practicum must be completed in person.

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

Successful completion of the bridge and years 3 and 4 of the BSN program earns graduates a BScN degree, which meets the educational credential required to write the regulatory exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) in Ontario. Visit the regulatory body website to learn more about the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Entry to Practice Competencies for Registered Nurses.

Graduates wishing to engage in professional practice as a Registered Nurse and use the legally protected title Registered Nurse are subject to all entry to practice requirements of the CNO, Ontario’s governing body for nurses. For a full list of the current requirements, please see the CNO Registration Requirements.

Program of Study

Course List
Course Code	Course Name	Weekly Hours
Semester 1
BRN100	Pharmacotherapeutic Concepts in Acute and Chronic Illness	3
BRN101	RPN to RN Professional Role Transition	3
BRN102	Scholarly Writing in Nursing	3
PSY114	Introduction to Psychology II	3
Semester 2
BRN200	Comprehensive Health Assessment	3
BRN201	Nursing Practice in Acute and Chronic Illness	3
BRN203	Bridge to BSCN Seminar and Simulation	3
IDI300	Infectious Disease and Immunology	4
Semester 5
BSN510	Nursing Research	3
BSN520	Medical Surgical Nursing II	3
BSN525	Professional Practicum III	12
PPY500	Pathophysiology II	4
plus: Liberal Studies Course (1)		3
Semester 6
BSN610	Ethical and Legal Foundations of Nursing Practice	3
BSN615	Childbearing Families	3
BSN620	Mental Health Nursing	3
BSN625	Professional Practicum IV	12
STA683	Applied Statistics in Social Sciences	3
Semester 7
BSN710	Leadership in Nursing Practice	3
BSN715	Pediatric Nursing	4
BSN716	Community and Global Health Nursing	3
BSN720	Medical Surgical Nursing III - Acute and Complex Care	3
BSN725	Professional Practicum V	12
Semester 8
BSN810	Nursing Registration Preparation	2
BSN825	Integrated Professional Practicum	33

Seneca has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security 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

Completion of a recognized Practical Nursing Diploma from an Ontario College with a graduating GPA of 75% or higher (Seneca Polytechnic GPA 3.5).
Current RPN registration in the practising class in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

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

Admission to this program is highly competitive. Program GPAs will be taken into consideration in ranking applications for an admission decision. Only the top ranked applicants will be offered a seat in the program.