Nursing (BScN)
Become a registered nurse in three years, or two, if you've studied at university before. Learn in Halifax or Yarmouth with clinical placements every year and graduate into a province where every new nurse receives a job offer.
Why choose this program?
Nurses change lives; at the bedside, in communities, in research, and in policy. We'll prepare you to read the evidence, act with professionalism, and respond to people’s health needs wherever they arise: hospitals, homes, schools, workplaces, clinics, and communities.
Our BScN is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, and graduates are eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination- Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and, once successful, to apply for registration in provinces and territories across Canada.
Your clinical learning starts early and continues every semester, in placements across hospitals, community agencies, long term care, schools and clinics, always under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
Since 2021, every graduating nurse in Nova Scotia has received a job offer from Nova Scotia Health, the IWK or the continuing care sector, which is a provincial initiative that lets you focus on becoming a great nurse rather than landing your first job.
You study in Halifax or Yarmouth and specialize by adding a nursing certificate. Our Affirmative Action Policy supports Nova Scotia applicants from African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities.
Careers
Nursing gives you more career paths than almost any health profession. You begin at the bedside in acute care, then move into community health, mental health, long term care or public health, and as your career grows, into advanced practice, education, research and leadership. Where you take it is up to you.
Since 2021, every graduating nurse in Nova Scotia has received a job offer from Nova Scotia Health, the IWK, or continuing care.
What you will learn
At Dal, you'll find flexible program options and hands-on learning opportunities alongside world-class faculty.
The program curriculum will be completed over three calendar years (eight semesters) for direct entry students and over two calendar years (six semesters) for advanced standing students (qualifying students who have previous university experience), offering graduates the opportunity to enter practice one year earlier.
Beyond studying human anatomy and physiology, you'll explore the broad spectrum of nursing, from proper hygiene practices and mobility protocols to legal issues and medical ethics.
Sample courses
Human Physiology
Basic Human Anatomy
Human Growth and Development
Health Science Microbiology
Nursing and Community Health
Foundation of Nursing Practice
Nursing Research and Evidence Informed Practice
Health and Healing: Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
Nursing and Episodic Illness: Preventative Care and Intervention
Professional Formation of Nursing Practice: Leadership Perspectives
Exploratory Nursing Practice
Experiential learning
Practice education is the core of your degree. Each year you'll take clinical courses with placements in hospitals, community agencies, long-term care, schools, and clinics, caring for patients under a qualified practitioner's supervision. You'll also learn alongside students from other health professions, preparing you for the collaborative teams you'll join. Students have taken part in international opportunities across Canada's North and in Gambia and Tanzania.
Customize your degree
Choose Halifax or Yarmouth, both offer the three-year Semester 1 entry and the two-year Semester 3 entry. Note that seats are campus-specific: once you accept an offer, you complete your whole degree at that campus. You can also specialize by earning a nursing certificate alongside your BScN, in an area matched to current practice needs.
You can also customize your degree and specialize in an area of nursing practice by earning a certificate alongside your degree in:
- Oncology Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- Mental Health and Addictions Nursing
- Perinatal and Paediatric Nursing
- Acute/Critical Care Nursing
You'll graduate meeting national entry-level competencies, eligible to apply to write the NCLEX-RN and begin practice, with the foundation for specialty certificates or graduate study when you're ready.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Owing to the limited enrollment and the large number of applicants, this program primarily serves permanent residents of Nova Scotia. However, each year a limited number of Semester 1 (directly from high school) and Semester 3 entry (for those with previous university experience) seats are also available for qualified residents of other Canadian provinces. Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity international students are not eligible for admission to the program.
Minimum overall average: 70%
Academic English 12: 70%
Academic Math 12: 70%
Academic Biology 12 : 70%
Academic Chemistry 12: 70%
One additional academic subject
This program may employ a competitive average for admission purposes; meeting minimum posted requirements does not guarantee admission.
This two-calendar-year (six-semester) continuous period of study is designed for students who have previously studied at university and have completed the following pre-requisite courses:
1. A minimum grade of C in each of:
- Anatomy
- Physiology (6 CR or 3 CR + Biological Science 3 CR)
- Statistics
- Microbiology
- English writing or equivalent is required.
- A minimum grade of C in each of the open electives and science elective is required.
2. Subject requirements:
- Anatomy (ANAT) 1010 or equivalent—3 credit hours.
- Physiology (PHYL) 1001 and 1002 or 1011 and 1012 (or PHYL 1001 + Biological Science)—6 credit hours.
- Statistics (STAT) 1060 or equivalent—3 credit hours.
- Microbiology (MICI) 1100 or equivalent—3 credit hours.
- English (ENGL) 1100 or equivalent writing course—3 credit hours.
- Science elective—3 credit hours.
- Open electives—9 credit hours.
In order to be eligible for Semester 3 entry admission, the 5 core pre-requisite courses (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, English, and Statistics) cannot be more than 10 years old from the forecasted date of graduation from Dalhousie's Nursing program. Elective pre-requisite courses cannot be more than 15 years old.
3. A student with a .03 credit hour combined Anatomy and Physiology course will also be required to have .06 additional credit hours of Biological Sciences.
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on overall post-secondary career or most recent year of studies (30 credit hours)
5. Meeting the minimum entrance GPA does not guarantee admission. As a result of the competitive admission process, applicants typically require a higher entrance GPA than the minimums listed in the admission requirements.
Additional information for Semester 3 applicants:
- Students must seriously consider whether financial, work and family responsibilities will allow them to study full time, year-round. Enrolment is limited—not all applicants with the minimum GPA will receive a place in this option.
- Applicants must carefully compare courses completed with the published information to determine, to the best of their ability, whether the subjects align. Academic admissions requirements can be met by attending any recognized university or college. Visit Dalhousie’s Transfer Credit Equivalency Table (login required) for more information.
- Our Nursing Admissions Committee reserves the right to make the final decision on if a course satisfies admissions requirements. We encourage you to apply early to ensure you satisfy the course requirements for admissions consideration.
All newly admitted BScN students must be certified in CPR-Health Care Provider (CPR-HCP) level. Certification must be obtained in the year of entrance to the program. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that certification is renewed prior to expiration.
Need Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, or another admission requirement? Our online, self-paced UPrep courses can help you earn the prerequisite you need, upgrade your marks, and build confidence before starting your degree at Dal. Explore UPrep courses.
