5.12 Program: Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing Program at Fanshawe College is a 4 year collaborative program with 2 years at Fanshawe College and 2 years at University of Western Ontario. In additional to foundational nursing skills and science the program has an emphasize on overall health care in society, health promotion and ethics. Given that “RNs contribute to the health-care system through their leadership across a wide range of settings in practice, education, administration, research and policy” (Canadian Nurses Association, 2015, p. 5) . CASN finds that baccalaureate programs are needed to “provide the foundation for sound clinical reasoning and clinical judgment, critical thinking, and a strong ethical comportment in nursing” (Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, 2011, p.1)
Places You May Find Yourself Employed
Public health unit, clinics (ambulatory, medical, dental and community), nursing homes, hospitals, in clients homes, or government services (for example, penitentiaries, outpost nursing, the foreign service, the Canadian Armed Forces).
Program Fit
What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?
The College of Nurses has published a detailed list of the skills abilities needed for nurses. See their list Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario.
- Able to empathize with others
- Prepared to work with vulnerable people
- Willing to handle situations involving blood, bodily matter and personal situations
- Able to cope in busy/changing environments
- Able to work in stressful situations
- Able to make decisions in life and death(crisis) situations
- Flexibility – able to deal with uncertainty and changing situations
- Personal integrity
- Able to respect private and confidential information
- Enjoy working with and caring for people of all ages
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Strong organizational skills
- Able to set priorities
Typical working conditions for this kind of work:
- Shift work
- Night and weekend work required
- Long periods of standing
- Lifting required
Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace
- Assessing the needs of individuals, families, groups or communities throughout the lifespan
- Planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting nursing care
- Coordinating patient care
- Managing and implementing patient care plans, leading and supervising nursing teams and advocating for clients.
- Coordinating and supervising the activities of multi-disciplinary teams responsible for planning and implementing patient care
- Facilitating case management by coordinating health care
- Observing, assessing and monitoring patient symptoms, and evaluating reactions and progress
- Independently implementing nursing interventions as needed
- Collaborating with other members of health care teams regarding patient treatments and examinations
- Administering medications, injections and intravenous therapy
- Preparing patients and assisting surgeons during operations
- Assisting in childbirth, managing labour and caring for newborns and their families
- Preventing or treating injuries or illness, and managing chronic diseases
- Educating patients about health care
- Managing nursing services
- Leading and participating in research activities
- Nurses may specialize in other areas such as Community Health Nurse, Occupational Health Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse
Becoming a Registered Nurse
The Collaborative Bachelor of Nursing program at Fanshawe College is a 120 week, 4 year, Degree program with 2 years at Fanshawe College and 2 years at University of Western Ontario starting in September each year with theory and practical components. Students will do a placement in this program. The program workload is considered to be heavy with:
- Five courses in your first semester
- Three hours of study on average for each hour in class
- 18 hours of class & labs each week (72 hour/week min commitment)
Graduates must take a National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) – the entry-to-practice to become registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario
This document Become a Nurse can provide more information about the scope of practice for the RN.
Courses can be found: Collaborative Nursing | Fanshawe College
Further Information
National Council of State Boards of Nursing exam (NCLEX-RN)
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)
Different types of nursing – Careers in Nursing
Fanshawe Pathfinder: Nursing (BSCN Degree) © Fanshawe College used with permission, All Rights Reserved
Admission requirements:
Collaborative Nursing Admission Requirements
PHS Graduates
May be given additional consideration when applying
Kaylen O’Rourke
RN, BScN
| Current Employer |
Alexandra Marine & General Hospital
Stratford General Hospital |
| Skills you use Professionally | – Critical thinking, time management, organizational skills, prioritization, working with other members of the collaborative team.
– Nursing skills: medication administration, IV start and management/venipuncture, drip titrations, catheter insertions, vitals, wound care, EKG and cardiac monitoring etc |
| Favourite Memory |
Successfully resuscitating a very challenging case as a new grad RN |
| Credentials/Past Professional Experiences |
Pre health science diploma
BScN Cardiac resuscitation courses (neonatal, paediatric, adult) Trauma courses Stroke courses IV start and venipuncture 12 lead ECG interpretation General Paediatric program Emergency triage courses Ongoing education (skills days, textbooks, ongoing Elearning and online webinars) |
| One thing you would tell your student self |
Enjoy the experience of being a student and learning. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. It’s going to all work out. |
