Brock’s concurrent BN/MN accelerated program enables graduates of a 4-year bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields to receive a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree within a unique, continuous, five-term, intensive curriculum configuration.
The only program of its kind in Canada, the BN/MN program works to educate students in five areas of competency:
- professional responsibility and accountability,
- knowledge-based practice,
- ethical practice,
- service to the public, and
- self-regulation.
Graduates of the concurrent BN/MN program are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN registration exam.
Message from the Graduate Program Director
We are thrilled to launch the concurrent Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing degree at Brock University. This program has been years in the making, and could not have come at a better time to help fight the critical shortage of nurses in Ontario.
With this program, the only of its kind in Canada, students will earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing in just 20 continuous months. Students will learn to apply theory to practice from the onset of the program through simulation laboratories and will finish with three concentrated clinical experiences.
At the conclusion of the program, students will be prepared to write the NCLEX-RN exam and will be able to provide the exceptional care that is required of new nursing graduates.
Students will also learn master’s level skills in leadership and relationship building through two mentored experiences in the final term of the program, helping to prepare you for nursing roles in education and administration, among other areas.
As you consider your options for Nursing education, I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions you may have. While this program will be intensive, you will be well supported at every step of your journey. In under two years, you will be ready to start an exciting career that puts helping people at the forefront.
I look forward to being a part of your academic experience at Brock!
Sincerely,
About the BN/MN Program
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.
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 immunization requirements include: Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis B, and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. TB screening is also required. COVID-19 primary series is currently recommended and may be a requirement in some situations
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://calendar.brocku.ca/
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) Note that English proficiency waivers are not accepted by this program.
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.
