Specialty Nursing (Critical Care – Combined Critical Care/Emergency Option), Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Part-time

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Specialty Nursing program at BCIT prepares Registered Nurses for specialized nursing practice through part-time distance study and clinical education. The curriculum emphasizes specialized nursing technology, partnerships, and building on previous experience to equip nurses for employment in various healthcare settings, including critical care, emergency, and community nursing. Graduates benefit from Health Match BC's prioritization of hiring BC nursing graduates, enhancing their employment opportunities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Specialty Nursing is the only degree program in British Columbia designed to prepare Registered Nurses for employment in specialty nursing practice. The program combines part-time distance study with practice-based clinical education. BCIT grants credit for previous experience and education through a variety of transfer credit, course challenge, and prior learning assessment procedures.

Objectives:

The program provides a broad range of perspectives, specialized knowledge, and skills. The intent is to build on learners’ previous experience and education to prepare them to competently care for individuals, groups, and communities.

Program Description:

The curriculum focuses on the technology of specialized nursing practice. Technology is broadly conceptualized as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that specialty nurses require in order to practice. The curriculum also focuses on building partnerships. BCIT views both nursing and learning as relational endeavors in which communication and collaboration enhance the processes and outcomes of these endeavors. Partnership, therefore, is the context in which students learn and enact specialty knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Outline:

Nursing Component:

• Advanced Certificate (21.0 - 36.0 credits)
• Core Courses (18.0 - 24.0 credits)

Liberal Studies Component:

• Required Courses (6.0 credits)

Teaching:

• Faculty members are experienced clinical specialists, academically prepared as educators, who maintain their competency by regular clinical practice.
• They demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to practice-based education by active involvement in professional organizations and interest groups.

Careers:

• Graduates are prepared for employment in specialty nursing practice in various settings, including critical care, emergency, high acuity, neonatal, nephrology, pediatric, pediatric critical care, perinatal, perioperative, and community nursing.
• Health Match BC, a provincial government-funded service, prioritizes hiring of BC nursing graduates, providing additional employment opportunities for program graduates.