The College of Nursing was established as a school in 1938 and became a college July 1, 1973. Graduates are prepared to provide high quality nursing care in all areas of nursing. Read more about the College of Nursing history here.

A variety of health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care, and various community agencies are used for clinical practice.

In summary, the College of Nursing offers the following programs:

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
2. Post-Degree B.S.N. (PDBSN) Option

For information on graduate-level programs, please visit the Graduate Studies section of this Catalogue.

Time Limit for Completion of Degree

B.S.N. Program

All courses to be counted for the degree must be completed within six years of enrolment in the program. Extensions may be granted under certain circumstances for those individuals who are making steady progress towards successful completion of the program. Such cases are reviewed upon receiving a written request from the student.

Post-Degree B.S.N. (PDBSN) Option

All courses must be completed within three years of commencing the first nursing course. Extensions may be granted under certain circumstances for those individuals who are making steady progress towards successful completion of the program. Such cases are reviewed upon receiving a written request from the student.

Transfer Credit

Although advanced credit toward the nursing degree can be given for course work completed at a university other than the USask, a minimum of 60% of the total course credits must be taken at the USask (excluding the pre-professional year requirements). A minimum of 63 credit units in years 2, 3 and 4 must be completed at the USask.

Students with prior university credit(s) are advised to contact the College of Nursing to ensure proper sequencing and granting of transfer credit(s). Students wishing to take a course from another post-secondary institution must obtain written permission from the College of Nursing.

1. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and the curriculum is approved by the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) and accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). As such, students enrolled in the College of Nursing undergraduate programs are expected to take the approved classes from the College of Nursing. Classes that are exceptions to this include: Anatomy and Physiology (NURS 207.3 and NURS 208.3), Microbiology (MCIM 223.3), Research Methods (NURS 205.3) and the Restricted Nursing Elective.3.
2. Classes taken prior to admission into the College of Nursing undergraduate program will be considered for transfer credit, if less than 6 years old from the time of admission.
3. A grade will be assigned for credit only if the course was taken from USask.  When two or more courses are used to meet the requirement of one course, a weighted average will be calculated.
4. An equivalent course from USask will be considered for credit into the undergraduate nursing program as a nursing course only if the grade achieved in that course was 60% or greater.
5. All courses taken from other institutions and granted transfer credit will not have a grade assigned for use in calculating averages.
6. An equivalent course from another institution will be considered for transfer credit into the undergraduate nursing program only if the student received credit for the course at the other institution and the grade achieved was 60% or greater.
7. There is no course equivalency for transfer credit in the undergraduate nursing program for NURS 450.9 "Practice Integration."
8. A standardized 5-station OSCE reflecting key skills from NURS 202.3 and/or NURS 203.3 and a Care Plan case study, with a pass of 80% or greater, will be completed as PLAR credit for all students requesting exemption from NURS 202.3 and/or 203.3.

Note: As per an existing agreement, LPN’s who graduated from Saskatchewan Polytechnic after 2008, will automatically receive credit for NURS 202.3.

1. Students are required to maintain a cumulative weighted academic average of 60%. The following information guides the determination of continuation within the program.

• A cumulative weighted average below 60% - student is required to discontinue.
• A cumulative weighted average between 60 – 65% - student will be required to repeat any courses with marks below 55% and will be recommended to repeat any course with a grade between 55 - 59%.
• A cumulative weighted average below 65% will be sent a letter encouraging contact with an academic advisor to discuss academic supports.

2. As per the Grade Assignment Policy - A minimal pass grade of 50 - 59, as per the Literal Descriptors, in clinical is only allowed once throughout the program. If a student obtains a minimal pass a second time, the student will receive an N (No credit) grade and will be required to repeat the course and receive a minimum of a satisfactory grade of 60 - 69, as per the Literal Descriptors, in that clinical course and in all subsequent clinical courses.
   
   
3. Students may be required to discontinue their studies at any point in their nursing program for reasons other than academic, if it is considered in the best interest of the profession or if continuation in the program is deemed to be unsafe to themselves or others.
   
   
4. Dean’s Honor Roll

Students with a cumulative weighted average in the top 10% in years two and three of the program will receive a congratulatory letter recognizing placement on the Dean’s honor roll.

5. Graduation

To graduate, students must have passed all required courses in the program with a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60%.

6. Convocation

At convocation, students with cumulative weighted averages in the top 20% of the graduating class will be awarded distinction or great distinction.

• Students with cumulative averages in the top 5% of the graduating class will be awarded great distinction.
• Students with the next cumulative averages in the top 15% of the graduating class will be awarded distinction.

A full explanation of the grading system and the literal descriptors associated with percentage grades will be provided to students in each course.

1. A student will be assigned the grade earned unless otherwise specified.

2. Some nursing courses have an essential component that must be passed in order to pass the course. A student that has failed an essential component of a course, as defined in a course syllabus, will not be eligible to write the final exam and will not receive credit for the course. In the event that the essential component is failed, but the computed final grade results in a passing mark, an N (No credit) grade will be added to the computed percentile grade. A course with an N Grade assigned must be successfully repeated for the student to progress in the B.S.N. program.

3. A student that has not completed an essential component of a course, as defined in a course syllabus, will not be eligible to write the final exam and will not receive credit for the course. In the event that the essential component is not completed, but the computed final grade results in a passing mark, a final grade of 49% will be submitted along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure).

4. If a student has completed a course that is required, but is given an N or an INF grade, it will count towards the weighted average until it is successfully completed.

5. Some clinical courses have essential components, as specified in the course syllabus, that must be successfully completed to continue in the clinical experience. When such an essential component is failed, the student will not be allowed to continue in the clinical experience. The student can withdraw at this time. In the event that the withdraw deadline date has passed, the student will be given the grade earned.

6. Students who withdraw from a class will not be eligible to submit an academic appeal. 
   
   

7. In courses that have multiple clinical components, a student must pass each clinical component in order to pass the course.

8. A minimal pass grade of  50-59%, as per the Literal Descriptors, in clinical is only allowed once throughout the program. If a student obtains a minimal pass a second time, the student will receive an N (No credit) grade and will be required to repeat the course and receive a minimum satisfactory grade of  60-69%, as per the Literal Descriptors, in that clinical course and in all subsequent clinical courses.

1. Students are required to complete all course components to receive credit for a course.
2. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the course instructor, 5% from the earned grade for that assignment will be deducted for each calendar day that course work is late.  A grade of zero will be applied to all assignments not submitted 5 working days after the due date, without prior written permission of the course instructor.
3. Unless other arrangements have been made with the course facilitator, the last day for acceptance of assignment will be the final day of class in that course.
4. It should be noted that even if assignments will receive a grade of 0% because of late penalties (see above), they must still be completed in order to fulfill course requirements

Section 1. Applies to all students

1. Students repeating any courses must meet with an academic advisor to complete a change of planned progression in the program
2. If a student achieves a grade of 60% or higher, a course can be repeated only with permission of the Associate/Assistant Dean at the appropriate site.
3. If a course is repeated, the repeated course must be passed, and the grade of the repeated course will be used in calculating the weighted average.
4. Undergraduate students in the College of Nursing may attempt a course twice. Withdrawals from a course after the add/drop deadline will be considered an attempt.
5. A student who fails or withdraws from a course for a second time will be required to discontinue study in the College of Nursing and will be advised of this in writing.
6. In exceptional circumstances, permission may be granted by the College for a third and final attempt in a course. Students wishing to attempt a course for the third time must submit a written request to the site specific Associate/Assistant Dean within 30 days of their failure or withdrawal from the course. 
7. Students who have had a delay in their program progression may be required to repeat courses, as determined by the associate/ assistant deans. 

Section 2. Applies to students admitted prior to September 2021

8. Undergraduate students in the College of Nursing may attempt a clinical course twice. Withdrawals from a clinical course after the add/drop deadline will be considered an attempt.
9. A student who fails or withdraws from a clinical course for a second time will be required to discontinue study in the College of Nursing and will be advised of this in writing.
10. In exceptional circumstances, permission may be granted by the college for a third and final attempt in a clinical course. Students wishing to attempt a clinical course for the third time must submit a written request to the site specific Associate/Assistant Dean within 30 days of their failure or withdrawal from the course.  Clinical courses being attempted for a third time may require mandatory remedial course work.

• Students who are granted a third attempt at a clinical nursing course may not progress into other clinical courses until they have successfully passed their third attempt.
• A student who fails or withdraws from a course for a third time will be required to discontinue study in the College of Nursing and will be advised of this in writing.

For a full list of key dates please see this website: https://students.usask.ca/academics/deadlines.php#Standardtermschedule

Before withdrawing from a course, students are encouraged to discuss this action with their advisor.

1. A minimal pass grade of 50 - 59, as per the Literal Descriptors, in a clinical course is only allowed once throughout the program (as defined in the processes related to students who demonstrate unsafe practices policy). If a student obtains a minimal pass a second time, the student will receive an N (No credit) grade and will be required to repeat the course and receive a minimum of a satisfactory grade of 60 - 69, as per the Literal Descriptors, in that clinical course and in all subsequent clinical courses (Please refer to CoN Repeating a Course Policy).
2. A failing grade or a withdrawal in a clinical course is only allowed once throughout the program. If a student obtains a failing grade or withdraws a second time in another clinical course (as defined in the processes related to students who demonstrate unsafe practices policy), the student will be required to discontinue from the College of Nursing. If a student must withdraw from any subsequent clinical course due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control they may request to continue in the program. See process in # 4 below.
3. Undergraduate students in the College of Nursing may attempt the same nursing clinical course twice. Withdrawals from a nursing clinical course for academic reasons will be considered an attempt.
4. In exceptional circumstances, permission may be granted by the college for a third and final attempt Students wishing to attempt a course for the third time must submit a written request to the site-specific Associate/Assistant Dean within 30 days of their failure or withdrawal from the course.

• Students who are granted a third attempt at a clinical nursing course may not progress into other clinical courses until they have successfully passed their third attempt.
• Clinical courses being attempted for a third time may require mandatory remedial course work. A student who fails or withdraws from any clinical course for a third time will be required to discontinue study in the College of Nursing and will be advised of this in writing.

5. Students repeating any courses must meet with an academic advisor to complete a change of planned progression in the program.

Definitions
Course Withdrawal – Withdrawal from a course before the deadline for registration changes, (which is the deadline to add/drop classes) will not be considered an attempt at the course and will not be tracked as an attempt.

Minimal Pass in Clinical Practice Component – a mark of 50-59% in accordance with the clinical evaluation tool

Failure in Clinical Practice Component – a mark of <50% in accordance with the clinical evaluation tool

1. Attendance at all orientations is mandatory and cannot be missed. Exceptions may be considered for unavoidable circumstances (e.g., illness, bereavement).  Students must contact the course lead in these situations to discuss potential for alternate arrangements.
2. Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students for all orientations, classes, seminars, labs, and clinical experiences. A student who is consistently late and/or absent from classes, seminars, and/or labs may be unable to meet the course requirements and may not be able to receive credit for the course.  If a student misses more than 10% of clinical/lab experiences in a course with faculty led clinical/lab groups, they will require a discussion with the course coordinator and may be unable to meet the course requirements. 
3. Students in preceptored clinical placements are expected to complete all clinical hours to obtain credit for the course.
4. If a student is unable to attend or will be late for a lab or clinical experience, they must notify the instructor prior to the start of the learning experience.
5. Attendance at classes, labs, and/or seminars for the particular course may be designated as mandatory. Students must attend these learning experiences in order to receive a pass in the course.
6. If an instructor deems a student unsafe or unprepared for a learning experience, the student may be excluded from the experience; thus, the student may not be able to meet the course requirements.

Please note that appeals of evaluation, grading, and academic standing are governed by university-wide council regulations.

1. A student who is absent from a midterm examination through no fault of his or her own, for medical, compassionate, or other valid reasons, may contact the faculty member for the course in which they are registered for a deferred exam. Such application must be made within three business days of the missed examination and be accompanied by supporting documentary evidence.
2. Faculty and/or the College of Nursing will not accommodate a request to reschedule a midterm exam because of personal reasons. Midterm examinations can be scheduled at any time during the academic term. Students should avoid making prior travel or other commitments that may conflict with scheduled exams.
3. Missing a midterm examination due to personal or travel related conflicts may result in a midterm exam grade of 0% being assigned.
4. In some exceptional circumstances, faculty may consider combining the weight of the missed midterm exam with the final exam. Students need to speak with the specific course faculty member prior to the missed midterm examination for this consideration
5. If the midterm and final exam are combined and the resulting weight of these components exceeds 50% of the final grade, approval must be sought from the Chair of the Undergraduate Education Committee.

University level policies related to deferred and supplemental examinations are outlined in the University Council Regulations on Examinations.

*Supplemental and deferred examinations in the Post-Degree B.S.N. Option may have a shorter time frame. Please contact the College of Nursing.

Supplemental Final Examinations

1. To be eligible to apply for a supplemental final examination, where the final exam is NOT an essential component, a student must have obtained a final mark of 40-49% in the course and have failed the final exam. In addition, the student must have a weighted overall average and weighted nursing average of at least 60% for the academic term.*
2. To be eligible to apply for a supplemental final examination, where the final exam IS an essential component, a student must have obtained a final mark of at least 40% in the course and have failed the final exam. In addition, the student must have a weighted overall average and a weighted nursing average of at least 60% for the academic term.
3. Supplemental examinations must be applied for within three (3) weeks of the end of the examination period.*
4. No supplemental examination will be granted for courses that do not have a final examination.
5. University level policies related to supplemental examinations are outlined in the University Council Regulations on Examinations
6. Supplemental examinations will not be granted for clinical experience

College of Nursing courses are listed under subject codes NURS, PHAR, and MCIM in the Course Descriptions.