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Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Nursing

Basic Stream

BASIC (A) STREAM (4 YEARS)

McMaster’s Basic (A) Stream program is unique in that it emphasizes person-centered learning within a problem-based approach, uses tutorial classes, and facilitates self-directed learning. The curriculum is designed so that the study of nursing; the humanities; and the physiological, psychological and social sciences are interrelated and threaded throughout the program.

Upon graduation, students wishing to engage in the professional practice of nursing and use the title Registered Nurse are subject to qualifying examinations and other requirements by the licensing body, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Note: All students must demonstrate the capacity to meet the CNO’s Requisite Skills and Abilities for Nursing Practice in Ontario and Ontario Requirements for BScN Study.

Program Information

The McMaster site is open to both Domestic and International applicants.The Mohawk site is open to Domestic applicants.

The admissions selection method is by academic qualifications (GPA) and a supplementary application (CASPer). Conditional offers of admission are made in late April.

APPLICANTS FROM ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL

To be considered for this category, applicants must not have attended any post-secondary educational program prior to application.

The following criteria would apply:

  1. Six program-specific midterm/interim Grade 12 U or M course grades, or
  2. At least three final Grade 12 U or M course grades plus enrollment in three additional (see below) Grade 12 U or M courses; and
  3. CASPerTM assessment.

Offers based on interim grades will be conditional upon maintaining satisfactory performance on final grades.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

The following are the minimum Grade 12 U and M requirements under the OSS curriculum:

  1. English U
  2. Biology U
  3. Chemistry U
  4. One of Advanced Functions U, Calculus and Vectors U or Mathematics of Data Management U
  5. Two additional Grade 12 U or M courses to total six courses

Admission is by selection. Typically a minimum average of 85% is required for consideration.

APPLICANTS EQUIVALENT TO ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL

Applicants from other provinces and countries must achieve the equivalent to the qualifications listed above in their secondary school graduation year.

APPLICANTS WITH A UNIVERSITY DEGREE OR WITH UNIVERSITY DEGREE CREDITS

To be considered for this category applicants must:

  • Achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least B in all university degree credit courses taken. If the applicant has not taken university science courses then they must have obtained a B (75) in Chemistry grade 12 U and Biology grade 12 U in OSS curriculum.
  • A minimum of 12 units with final grades or equivalent are required no later than February 1. Possession of this GPA does not guarantee an offer of admission due to the limited number of available spots and the high number of applications.
  • CASPer Assessment

APPLICANTS FROM A PRE-HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAM

Applicants who have successfully completed a Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program at an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) will be considered for admission to Level I of the BScN program. Applicants who are currently registered in a Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program may be given a conditional offer of admission based upon interim grades and their CASPerTM assessment. The offer of admission will be withdrawn if the applicant does not complete the full program or does not meet the required Grade Point Average (GPA)

The following criteria would apply:

  • Complete at least two semesters, including at least one full (two semesters) or two half courses in each of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and English. Applications will not be considered from applicants who possess one credit only in the required subjects.
  • Achieve a GPA  in the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program that meets the minimum average of 85%. Possession of this GPA does not guarantee an offer of admission due to the limited number of spots and the high number of applications.

Please note:

  1. For admission consideration, completion of the full Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program must be done within one year of the anticipated start date to the undergraduate Basic Nursing 1 program.
  2. Transfer credit will not be granted for any Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees courses.

CASPER ASSESSMENT (SUPPLEMENTARY APPLICATION)

All applicants to the Nursing Program at McMaster University will be required to complete a mandatory online 90-minute computer-based assessment called CASPer, as a component of the selection process. During the selection process, the weighting of the GPA is 80% and CASPer is 20%.

CASPer, the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics is a web-based situational judgement test designed to evaluate key personal and professional characteristics essential for students to be successful in nursing school and ultimately, as practicing nurses. Some of these characteristics include professionalism, empathy, resilience, problem solving and equity. Since CASPer assesses non-cognitive and interpersonal characteristics, studying is not required.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to secure technical requirements including a reliable internet connection on their selected test date. No exceptions will be made for applicants who are unable to take CASPer online due to unreliable internet connection caused by technical or political factors. Applicants may want to explore details of the requirements and the structure of this assessment at takealtus.com

The Snapshot assessment is not required.

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Application Process for Applicants Directly from Ontario Secondary Schools

OTHER APPLICANTS: PRE-HEALTH AND UNIVERSITY

  1. Apply online at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre no later than February 1st.
  2. Complete online CASPerTM at takealtus.com 
  • Transcripts:
    • If you have not requested your transcripts through OUAC, please submit your transcripts to McMaster University, Admissions, by February 1.

    All applicants must submit their high school transcript.

    Students currently registered in a university program must provide an official transcript showing results for all courses along with current semester results. Additionally, all courses registered for the 2nd semester must be indicated on the official transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted and received prior to the February 1st deadline.

MCMASTER STUDENT, IN EITHER ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Current McMaster students in their graduating year and applying to McMaster only, click here for the Returning Student On-Line Application. You are not required to submit transcripts
  • All other current McMaster students must download, complete and submit the Internal Application by February 1. You are not required to submit transcripts.

OTHER DEGREE NURSING PROGRAMS

The Basic program is not open to students who are currently enrolled in a Nursing degree program at another university or in another college/university consortium or who are internationally educated nurses.

With an understanding that Indigenous learners can face specific barriers or challenges when pursuing higher education, schools and programs within McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences have facilitated admissions streams for applicants with Indigenous North American (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) ancestry. This process is intended to provide equitable access to Indigenous applicants and aligns with the intent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.

In alignment with the Faculty of Health Sciences Facilitated Indigenous Admissions Program (FIAP), applicants wishing to apply through McMaster’s FIAP need to complete the supplementary self-identification application in addition to McMaster University and program specific application processes.

The FIAP self-identification application is submitted to McMaster’s Indigenous Health Task Force (IHTF) through the Indigenous Students Health Sciences (ISHS) Office by February 1st, 2024

To encourage and support Indigenous applicants, the School of Nursing has 5% reserved seats for Indigenous students in all BScN streams, who have successfully completed the program’s admission requirements.

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ARE YOU AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT? View Now

View our Future International website to learn more about McMaster and how to apply as an International student.

FIND OUT WHAT COURSES YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE

  • The Academic Advisement Report (PDF) on Mosaic lists all required courses for your program and shows you which ones you have completed and which are still outstanding. Be sure to expand all headings so you can see the full report.
  • Additionally, the Undergraduate Calendar lists all course requirements.

YEAR 1 NURSING

In Year 1 of the Nursing program in the Basic Stream, students are provided with a strong foundation in the health and social sciences and are able to choose from a variety of electives. They learn about themselves and their clients as individuals, while focusing on health, health assessment and the promotion of health.

Year 1 Basic stream students are required to spend four hours per week working in a laboratory setting with a tutor. During this time, they focus on fundamental nursing skills such as communication, hand-washing, vital signs and physical assessment.

YEAR 2 NURSING

In Year 2 of the Nursing program Basic Stream, students expand their definition of the client as an individual and now begin to consider the client as a family and the community.

Year 2 of the Basic Stream requires that students spend eight hours per week at a practice placement where they work together with a group of fellow students and a single faculty member. All students complete one medical placement and one surgical placement, learning to respond to chronic, acute, and complex health care situations.

YEAR 3 NURSING

In Year 3 of the Nursing program in the Basic Stream, students are required to spend 12 hours per week working in acute and varied clinical settings, such as pediatrics, mental health and maternal/child, among many others.

YEAR 4 NURSING

In Year 4 Nursing, students are placed individually in a variety of settings where they are actively involved in enacting the nursing role for 24 hours per week first term; and 24 hours per week in the first six weeks and 36 hours per week in the last six weeks of the second term.

Students are directly supervised by a clinical preceptor and indirectly supervised by a faculty member.

ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS:

Review your Advisement Report for how many electives you are required to complete. Additional elective requirements include:

  • Minimum 6 units from Level 2 or above coursework

Elective course work must be completed prior to the start of the final term in Level 4.

WHAT COURSES CAN I TAKE FOR ELECTIVES?

McMaster offers a variety of courses across all Faculties that students can complete to satisfy their elective requirements. Students in the Nursing program can also take non-mandatory NURSING or HTHSCI courses offered by the School of Nursing toward their elective requirements (to a maximum of 6 units), including independent study/research project courses HTHSCI 4AR3 and HTHSCI 4BR3.

WHAT IS LEVEL 2 OR ABOVE COURSEWORK?

Courses are designated Level 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. You can learn what level a course is designated by the first numeric digit in the course code (ex. PSYCH 1A03 is a Level 1 course while HISTORY 3A03 is a Level 3 course). Courses designated Level 2 or higher are called Upper Level courses.

Find elective courses

Mohawk site students have the option to take COLLAB courses at their respective site.

LETTER OF PERMISSION – Click to find out how to take courses at other institutions towards credit at McMaster.

REGISTRATION TO PRACTICE NURSING

After successful completion of the program and receiving the BScN degree, graduates are required to meet the Entry Level Competencies for nursing practice in Ontario. For a student to obtain these competencies during their educational program, certain basic skills and abilities are required. It is important that you are aware of these prior to applying for admission to the nursing program at McMaster University.