Post-LPN, Bachelor of Nursing
NOTE: Admission to this program is paused for the remainder of 2023 due to high enrolments. Please refer to the Future Post-LPN BN Program for further information.
This program is designed to provide the Regulated (Practicing) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with the opportunity to continue their education in nursing in a baccalaureate program that offers flexible modes of course delivery and opportunities to develop a clinical focus. Graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta. If you plan to practice in a jurisdiction other than Alberta following completion of this program, please contact the regulatory body in that jurisdiction, before applying to this program, to determine acceptance of the program when seeking a temporary practice permit and active registration as a registered nurse. All Athabasca University (AU) nursing courses are mapped to the most current entry to practice competencies, as determined by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA).
The Faculty of Health Disciplines offers the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program. For additional program information, please email bnadvisor@athabascau.ca.
Planning your program
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future.
Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Enrolment requirements
- Graduation from an approved practical nurse (LPN; RPN) certificate/diploma program.
- Regulated (Practicing) LPN with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta. Proof of active registration/licensure must be submitted at time of application and maintained while completing the program.
- Equivalent of 1-year full-time work experience (1,700 hours) as a LPN (submit letter(s) from employers to substantiate).
Students with non-Canadian/non-United States education
Students presenting non-Canadian/non-United States (US) diplomas must present one of the following for admission and/or possible transfer credit:
- official transcript showing completion of a recognized Canadian Practical Nurse Diploma, or bridging program; or
- a basic assessment* that compare the credential completed to Practical Nurse education in Canada from an international assessment agency, for example, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS); or
- if seeking additional transfer credits, a specialized or course-by-course evaluation of post-secondary course work from an international assessment agency, for example, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).
Official transcripts for any completed Canadian or US courses or programs in nursing, taken to obtain licensure in Canada, must be submitted.
* Students who leave the post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program for another program at AU will be required to provide a specialized or course-by-course assessment.
For more information, see the Evaluations and Transfer Credit section of the Calendar that explains the foreign transcript evaluation process for international students.
Program requirements
Students are required to follow the degree regulations in effect at the time they enrolled in their program. Students are responsible for ensuring that prerequisites (including specified program GPA requirements) and co-requisite course requirements are met throughout their program. Students who are inactive (have not registered for a course within 12 months from their last course contract end date) must re-enrol and will complete the regulations in effect at the time of re-enrolment.
Program structure
| Bachelor of Nursing degree credit requirements | 120 |
| Credits awarded for successful completion of practical nurse certificate or diploma program | 30* |
| Total credits required to complete the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing degree | 90 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 51 nursing credits (NURS) must be obtained through Athabasca University. Transfer credit will not be awarded for BIOL 235, NURS 316, NURS 316 in Cluster A, and NURS 250 in Cluster B—these courses must be completed through AU. | 51 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits (excluding courses using a pass/fail grading scheme) must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) (for non-nursing) credits | 9 |
| The 90 credits required to complete a post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing degree shall be distributed as follows: | |
| • required and option nursing credits | 60 |
| • required Cluster A credits | 30 |
| * Additional credit may be awarded for university-level courses completed before enrolment to the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program. PLAR may be awarded for non-nursing University-level courses. University-level nursing courses taken prior to enrolment in the Post-LPN BN program will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credit will not be granted for nursing clinical courses that are more than 5 years old and nursing theory courses that are more than 7 years old and non-nursing required, support and option courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request. |
Course requirements
Courses listed in Cluster A are prerequisite to those listed in Cluster B, and courses listed in Cluster B are prerequisite to those listed in Cluster C. Pre/co-requisite course requirements are also present within both Cluster A and B. Students are responsible for ensuring that prerequisites (including the specified Program GPA) and co-requisite course requirements are met throughout the program in accordance with the Prerequisite Declaration Form. Please review the Syllabus for each course for details.
NOTE: Clinical courses will only be offered within Alberta. Please see BN Clinical Preparation Guide and NURS 441 Placement Suggestion Process for more information.
Cluster A courses
(30 credits)
| ENGL 255 | Introductory Composition (recommended)* or junior/senior level university or equivalent ENGL course | (3) |
| PHIL 335 | Biomedical Ethics | (3) |
| BIOL 235 | Human Anatomy and Physiology** | (6) |
| PSYC 290 | General Psychology | (3) |
| MATH 215 or MATH 216 | Introduction to Statistics or Computer-Oriented Approach to Statistics | (3) |
| HLST 320 | Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals | (3) |
| INST 203 or INST 205 or INST 301 | Indigenous Studies I or Indigenous Studies II or Indigenous Education | (3) |
| NURS 316 | Review of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for BN Practice I** | (3) |
| NURS 317 | Review of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for BN Practice II** | (3) |
| ** BIOL 235, NURS 316, and NURS 317 must be taken with Athabasca University. Transfer Credit will not be awarded. |
- Students are strongly encouraged to register in their English course early in their program.
Cluster B nursing required and elective courses
(51 credits)
| NURS 250 | Exploration of Professional Nursing Practice | (3) |
| NURS 322 | Nursing Informatics | (3) |
| NURS 324 | Concepts and Theories in Nursing Practice | (3) |
| NURS 328 | Understanding Research | (3) |
| NURS 400 | Adult Health and Health Alterations | (3) |
| NURS 401 | Professional Practice with Adults Experiencing Health Alterations | (6) |
| NURS 432 | Management and Leadership in Nursing Practice | (4) |
| NURS 434 | Community Health Promotion | (4) |
| NURS 435 | Professional Practice in Mental Health Promotion | (6) |
| NURS 436 | Family Health Promotion | (4) |
| NURS 437 | Professional Practice in Family and Community Health Promotion | (6) |
| NURS 438 | Trends and Issues in Nursing and Health Systems | (3) |
| And 3 credits from the following nursing elective list: | ||
| NURS 326 | Health Assessment | (3) |
| NURS 442 | Gerontological Nursing | (3) |
| NURS 604 | Leadership Roles in Health** | (3) |
| NURS 618 | Community Development for Health Care Leaders ** | (3) |
| NURS 621 | Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change** | (3) |
| NURS 622 | Understanding Organizations: Theory, Analysis and Organization** | (3) |
| ** A paced (within a specific 4-month time frame) nursing graduate course that is open for registration by June 10 (fall start), October 10 (winter start), and February 10 (spring start). Credit for NURS 604, 618, 621, or 622 if taken to fulfill the Bachelor of Nursing elective requirements, cannot be applied for credit toward another undergraduate or graduate degree. Please note the fee for this graduate course differs from that of an undergraduate course. Please fill out the Graduate Programs: Course Registration Form to register for NURS 604, 618, 621, or 622. |
Cluster C courses
(9 credits)
| NURS 441 | Consolidated Professional Practice | (9) |
Computer requirements
Access to a computer with basic word processing and Internet access is required. Refer to the online glossary.
Clinical placement
Faculty of Health Disciplines students in a clinical placement are bound by the Clinical Placement Misconduct Policy. Any actions or behaviours that fall under the scope of the university’s Academic Misconduct Policy, Non-Academic Misconduct Policy, or Academic Integrity Policy will continue to be dealt with under those policies.
Specific regulations
Given the unique and professional nature of the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program, some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University are superseded by the following regulations.
- In order to register in a nursing course with a practicum component, students must present proof of the following:
- regulated (Practicing) LPN with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta. Proof of active registration/licensure must be maintained while completing the program.
- compliance with all requirements listed in the BN Clinical Preparation Guide.
- Students in the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program are not permitted to challenge required or optional nursing theory or clinical courses.
- Students seeking re-enrolment to the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program will not receive credit for nursing clinical courses that are more than 5 years old and nursing theory courses that are more than 7 years old. Credit will not be awarded for non-nursing required, support and option courses that are more than 10 years old at the time of the request.
- Students who have been awarded 2 failing grades in one or more nursing courses will be automatically withdrawn from the post-LPN BN program, with no opportunity for re-admission.
- Students will be permitted a maximum of 7 years to complete all degree program requirements from date of enrolment.
Updated September 13, 2023 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)