The concurrent BN/MN program provides students who desire careers in education and other nursing roles that require graduate education with a more direct pathway to master’s preparation, and beyond.   

Students accepted to the program already come with developed undergraduate skills in research and scholarship, as well as baseline knowledge in natural, behavioural, and social sciences that provides a foundation for acquisition of nursing specific knowledge and for development of graduate level research knowledge and skills.   

Further, the program recognizes the prior learning of students by building upon basic research and other knowledge bases acquired through their earlier bachelor’s level courses. 

Through the consolidation of learning and building of confidence and organizational skills, as well as of stronger connections with clinical settings it is anticipated that our graduates will be prepared to enter practice with a solid knowledge base and clinically integrated inquiry skills and relational skills.  

Our graduates will be able to provide care that is strong in technical and clinical decision skills at the entry level competency expected of all new registered nursing graduates. 

The BN/MN is a full-time, 20-month (five-term) program that comprises: 

• A 20-month program that begins annually in May (instead of September). 
• The use of 16-week terms (instead of the traditional 12) accelerates learning and enables students to achieve program learning outcomes within a compressed time frame.
• The innovative approach to the program structure provides students with a balance of clinical and theoretical experience.
•  Students will immediately apply theory to practice and engage in a variety of learning opportunities before entering into a concentrated clinical experience. 

The graduate calendar may be viewed here.

Undergraduate Courses 

Term 1 

• Nursing Foundations: Care of Adults and Older Adults (theory, clinical practicum)
• Nursing Foundations: Assessment of Adults and Older Adults 
• Pathophysiology and Therapeutics: Common Health Disorders 
• Relational Care and Leadership: Basic Relational Skills 
• Critical Analysis of Evidence for Nursing Practice 

 Term 2 

• Nursing Foundations: Care of Families and Communities (theory, clinical practicum) 
• Pathophysiology and Therapeutics: Health Concerns of Families and Communities 
• Relational Care and Leadership: Promoting Change and Health 
• Epidemiology in Nursing and Health Care 

 Term 3 

• Nursing Foundations: Care of Persons with Chronic Health Concerns (theory, clinical practicum) 
• Pathophysiology and Therapeutics: Mental Health Disorders 
• Relational Care and Leadership: Working with and Leading Groups
• Qualitative Inquiry and Analysis 

Graduate Courses 

Term 4 

• Advancing Nursing Practice: Care of Patients Experiencing Emergent and Critical Illnesses (theory, clinical practicum)
• Relational Care and Leadership: Understanding the Context
• Applied Research
• Basis of Nursing Practice and Inquiry 

 Term 5 

• Practice of Relational Leadership and Management (theory, clinical practicum) 
• Translating Research into Practice 
• Preparation for Graduate Practice (clinical practicum) 

• The program is unique (in Canada) in that graduates will receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nursing upon successful completion of the program. 

• Research and scholarship skills and knowledge are taught and learned from the first term of the program and culminate in graduate level research courses that emphasize aspects of research such as knowledge translation.

• The program focuses on integration of research skills and knowledge from the first term into clinical practice, so that students are encouraged to see research as part of clinical practice, as opposed to a peripheral activity of nursing. 

• Two mentored/preceptored experiences in the fifth term of the program will enable students to hone and gain insights, knowledge and experience with leadership and relationships.

• The program is distinguished by its focus on the integration of evidence into the clinical setting, which begins in term one and continues to term five through specific courses that emphasize research methods, methodology, and other components of the research process in each term, as well as in clinical and other courses where evidence is a clear foundation for everyday practice and for influencing nursing practice.

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) requires the achievement of the bachelor’s degree for graduates to be considered for licensing as registered nurses in Ontario. 

Importantly, the CNO makes it clear in its registration requirements that a baccalaureate degree in an approved nursing program is required for entry-to-practice and registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario. This program satisfies these requirements. 

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Projected labour workforce trends strongly suggest a shortage of registered nurses (RNs), with one estimate suggesting there may be need for more than 11,000 additional RNs in Ontario by 2024 (Department of Institutional Analysis, Brock University Institutional Analysis and Planning, 2017).  

 The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) also suggested that there is a shortage of 19,000 nurses in Ontario even at the present time (2018) and a looming, critical shortage of RNs with advanced degrees to take on educational and advanced practice roles has been reported (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2015; Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing [CASN], 2016) in Canada and the United States. 

 Factoring in the aging of the population, new models of care and optimization of professional skills into current and projected RN workforce requirements, Brock’s concurrent BN/MN program enables a nimble response to potential and current shortages of RNs at the point of care.  

As a registered nurse you may work in :

• Acute care hospitals  
• Public health 
• Research   
• Administration  
• Policy Development  
• Education

Before you Apply

Review of the following is recommended before you apply:

1.  Review the Requisite Skills and Abilities for nursing practice document provided by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

2.  If you are unsure of your vaccination status, you may want to check it now to ensure you have enough time to complete any required vaccinations prior to beginning the program, should you receive an offer of admission.

Note that clinical placement requirements are subject to change.

Current vaccination requirements include: Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis B, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, tuberculosis, COVID-19.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of all requirements for clinical practica prior to clinical experiences to avoid start delays or possible de-registration in courses that include lab and clinical components. https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/graduate/nurs.html

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must have completed a four year (non-nursing) bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, or equivalent, with a minimum average of 75% over the final two years of study.

2. Applicants must also have completed the following university credit courses with a B grade or higher to be considered:  

• Introductory psychology (full course equivalent)  
• Developmental psychology [infant to adolescent or infant to older adult] (half course equivalent)  
• Human Anatomy (half course equivalent)
• Human Physiology (half course equivalent)  
• Microbiology (half course equivalent)  
• Statistics (half course equivalent)
• Research methods (half course equivalent)  

3. You will need to submit your transcripts as well as the following program-specific materials:  

• Two academic references
• Prerequisite Form and Statement of Intent/Interest
  • You can access a copy of the form here
• Proof of English language proficiency if required (IELTS overall score of 7 with no band below 6.5)

Entry point: May  
Duration: 5 terms (20 months)

Application Deadline: October 20 (for entry the following May)

How to Apply

Complete the online application and submit the non-refundable application fee. 

When can I apply?

The program begins once per year in May.

Applications open in mid-June each year to start the program the following May.

Application deadline is October 20.

Note: Applications are not reviewed/adjudicated until all required documents are received.

How to Apply

Complete the online application and submit the non-refundable application fee. 

Can I improve my admission average by taking additional courses?

Admission average is based on courses completed within your bachelor’s degree. Courses taken after completing your bachelor’s degree are not included in the admission average calculation.

Can I apply if I already have a Nursing degree?

If you have a diploma in nursing, you may apply if you have also completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, with a minimum average of 75% over the final two years of study.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you are not eligible for this program. You may want to look into the Master of Arts, Nursing program. More information here: https://brocku.ca/programs/graduate/ma-msc-fahs/

If I am currently in a BScN program and have already completed another four-year bachelor’s degree, can I apply to the BN/MN?

Yes, you may apply.

Note that you must complete each course in the program. You will not get credit for courses already taken.

Can I apply if still completing my four-year bachelor’s degree?

Yes.

Your four-year bachelor’s degree must be successfully completed before beginning the BN/MN program.

Can I get credit for courses I have already taken?

No.

You must complete each course in the program.

Can I apply if still completing prerequisite courses?

Yes.

Prerequisite courses must be successfully completed before starting the BN/MN program.

If I am taking prerequisite courses when I apply, how do I show this on my application?

Include in the Applicant Background/Education section of your application the school(s) where you are taking prerequisites. You will be required to upload a transcript to show your registration. Make sure you register for the course(s) before requesting a transcript. If offered admission, you will be required to provide another transcript later showing the grade for the course(s).

When do prerequisite courses need to be completed?

Prerequisites courses must be successfully completed before starting the BN/MN program.

Can I use a course from a Masters degree or Doctorate degree to meet a prerequisite?

Yes.  Course must be bachelors degree credit at a minimum.

Can I take prerequisite courses at Brock University?

Brock University offers the possibility of registering in non-degree courses. Note that some courses may fill up with degree students and not be available to non-degree students. Some courses may also have other Brock University courses as prerequisites.

If you are not a current or former Brock student, it is recommended that you correspond with the BN/MN program (bnmn@brocku.ca) before pursuing registering for Brock courses.

To request a list of Brock course numbers that meet prerequisites for course content, please email bnmn@brocku.ca

To find out when a course will be offered or if you will be allowed to register as a non-degree student, you must contact the department offering the course.  https://brocku.ca/directory/

After consulting with the BN/MN program (bnmn@brocku.ca), if you decide to pursue registering in Brock courses as a non-degree student, email futurestudent@brocku.ca to find out about the admissions process.

Can I take prerequisite courses at a college?

Note that many college courses do not qualify to meet the program prerequisites. Prerequisite courses must be part of a 4-year bachelor’s degree.  If the college offers a 4-year bachelor’s degree and the course is part of that program, it can be used to fulfill a prerequisite.

How do I know if a course I have taken fulfills a prerequisite?

If unsure if a course will meet our prerequisite for course content, you are welcome to send a syllabus to bnmn@brocku.ca for review.

To request a list of Brock course numbers that meet prerequisites for course content, please email bnmn@brocku.ca

As per admission requirements, a minimum grade of B is required for all prerequisite courses.

Where are clinical placements? 

Depending upon the course, various agencies in the Niagara Region as well as out of the Niagara Region are used.  Hospital placements are primarily through Niagara Health and Hotel Dieu Shaver Rehabilitation.  However, there may be placements outside the Region.  Brock is also partnered with a variety of community agencies dedicated to furthering nursing education. 

How do I get to my placement? 

Travel is the responsibility of the student.   

What documentation do I need to provide for my clinical placement?  

Proof of immunizations is listed in the undergraduate/graduate calendar. Other documentation required is listed in the course description note in the undergraduate/graduate calendar under the applicable course. 

Note that clinical placement requirements are subject to change.

Current vaccination requirements include: Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis B, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, tuberculosis, COVID-19.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of all requirements for clinical practica prior to clinical experiences to avoid start delays or possible de-registration in courses that include lab and clinical components.  https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/graduate/nurs.html

What are the certification and immunization requirements for this program? 

• CPR (level C or BCLS) certification is valid throughout the program. Note that re-certification is required annually. 
• N-95 mask fit testing. Note that mask fit testing is valid for two years and must be renewed as necessary.
• Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis B, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, tuberculosis, COVID-19. Annual TB skin testing is also required. If TB skin testing occurs, students will require chest x rays every two years. 
• CPR certification, N-95 mask fit testing certification records, and immunization records are to be submitted to Synergy Gateway Inc. at least two months prior to the commencement of Term 1. 

Note that clinical placement requirements are subject to change.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of all requirements for clinical practica prior to clinical experiences to avoid start delays or possible de-registration in courses that include lab and clinical components.  https://brocku.ca/webcal/current/graduate/nurs.html

What is Synergy Gateway Verified Inc.? 

Synergy Gateway Verified Inc. is a third party company that provides the university with student clearance for clinical placement.  All required documents must be uploaded by the BN/MN student to the Synergy Gateway Verified Inc. platform for review and approval/clearance prior to starting clinical placement. 

Do I require a vulnerable sector check? 

A vulnerable sector clearance may be required for certain courses and the cost is the responsibility of the student.   The University and Synergy Gateway Inc. do not keep vulnerable sector clearances on file.  Students are required to keep their vulnerable sector clearance with them and provide it to the agency upon request. 

What is the dress code and equipment required for lab and clinical? 

Navy blue Nursing Department scrubs are worn at hospital clinical placements and in labs.  Mostly all white or black shoes can be worn.  A watch with a second hand is required (lapel or wrist). You will also need to purchase your own stethoscope.  The Campus Bookstore has stethoscopes and Nursing Department scrubs available for purchase. 

Why does this program have a May start date? 

Students enter the program in May when there is more lab availability and clinical practicum opportunities. The benefit is BN/MN students will gain clinical/lab experiences when other nursing students are not usually in these areas/spaces. 

What is the benefit of an accelerated learning model? 

This approach enables students to achieve program learning outcomes within a compressed time frame. In addition, it reduces the length and cost of accommodation required.  

Can I keep working full or part-time during this program? 

This is a full-time, concentrated, and continuous program. Clinical practicums may be scheduled evenings as well as weekends. Vacations or break times are comparable to that of a full-time work environment. Additional employment beyond the program may be difficult and may compromise a student’s success in the program.