The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) Education Program Review Committee recently conducted a full review of the baccalaureate nursing program (Registered Nursing program) offered by North Island College and the results were impeccable.
This review was conducted to ensure NIC’s baccalaureate nursing program is meeting its duties and obligations as set out in the Health Professions Act. Requirements for registration, standards of academic or technical achievement, indicators of curriculum standards, student standards and graduate standards are all evaluated.
Seven years is the longest possible period of recognition offered through CRNBC Board policy and NIC’s baccalaureate nursing program achieved just that. “I am pleased to advise you that, on behalf of the CRNBC Board, I have recognized this program until December 31, 2019 without terms or conditions,” writes Cynthia Johansen, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer for the CRNBC. “I extend congratulations on this significant achievement.”
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at NIC is part of the Collaboration for Academic Education in Nursing (CAEN), a partnership of five post-secondary institutions offering the same nursing curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. CAEN includes Vancouver Island University (VIU), with whom NIC has a degree granting partnership.
The program centers on nursing for individuals, families, communities and society, and promotes critical thinking in students to help them identify patterns in nursing care. Core concepts such as leadership, advocacy, political action, nursing knowledge development, and nursing scholarship are explored throughout the entire curriculum.
Co-Chair of the BSN program RaeAnn Hartman said, “Seven years’ accreditation without terms and conditions is exceptional. Our BSN faculty, students, graduates and community partners all played an important role in our excellent review.”
“This achievement proves what we have known all along – excellent nursing education can be delivered by smaller institutions, in a primarily rural setting,” adds Jan Meiers, Co-Chair of the BSN program.
For more information on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at NIC, contact Jan Meiers at 250-334-5068 or visit www.nic.bc.ca.