The LPN-BN Nursing Pathway provides the education needed for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in New Brunswick to apply to UNB's four-year Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program in Fredericton.
It builds on current knowledge and nursing practices and prepares students for entry into the third year of the four-year BN program in Fredericton.
Related: UNB brings virtual nursing education to Miramichi and Moncton
Consisting of six online courses, the LPN-BN Nursing Pathway can be completed in a single term (6 courses in winter term) or over two terms (3 courses each term - fall and winter).
Students who choose this option will complete year 3 and year 4 of the four-year Bachelor of Nursing program in-person at UNB Fredericton. Your theory classes will be delivered on campus in the classroom.
You will complete clinical placements in a variety of community and acute care settings within the Fredericton region and other communities.
Students who choose this option will complete year 3 and year 4 of the four-year Bachelor of Nursing program remotely with other LPN-BN students in your cohort. Your theory classes will be delivered completely Virtual.
You will complete clinical placements in a variety of New Brunswick community and acute care settings including but not limited to Miramichi, Moncton, Restigouche and Upper River Valley. Clinical placements are scheduled for 2 to 3 days per week, for the duration of the semester. There are four placements total - three clinical placements and one preceptorship.
Note: The availability of clinical placements in different regions depends on enrollment.
PSYC 1013 - Introduction to Psychology I OR PSYC 1023 - Introduction to Psychology II (or equivalent)
STAT 2263 - Statistics for Non-Science Majors (or equivalent)
BIOL 2759 - Physiology and Pathophysiology for Licensed Practical Nurses This course provides a detailed review of normal human physiology and then focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying diseases in each organ system. This course is online and only open to students in the Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Nursing Pathway program.
NURS 2132 - Pharmacotherapeutics Includes theory and principles of pharmacology as they apply to Nursing. Provides requisite knowledge to administer medications, provide patient education, and assess the potential for adverse events related to drug and lifestyle issues. The theory will include basic legal and safety issues related to drug administration by the nurse.
NURS 2217 - Professional Nursing Practice Builds on the concepts of professional nursing practice gained in Practical Nurse curricula expanding knowledge and practice to the scope of the entry-level Registered Nurse. This course will focus on communication, professional identity, and social justice abilities within the BN curriculum. Particular emphasis on role transition, academic writing, and evidence-informed practice.
NURS 2218 - Enhanced Decision Making in Clinical Practice Using a case-based approach across the lifespan, this course builds on assessment, data collection, pharmacotherapeutics, and clinical decision making of LPNs. Specific attention will be paid to the abilities of knowledge and its application and critical thinking and skills of analysis within the BN curriculum. Frameworks for recognizing and responding to changes in a client’s condition will be introduced (anticipatory thinking).
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply to the LPN-BN Pathway program:
Note: Applicants who have completed their practical nursing program external to New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) or Oulton College may be required to submit program curriculum and course syllabi for assessment of equivalency.
All applicants to nursing programs at UNB will be required to write the Acuity Insights Assessments CASPer Test, an online, open-response situational judgement test.
Admission decisions will be based on the applicant’s Grade Point Average (GPA) (60% weight) and the CASPer score (40%) weight.
The application deadline for September entry in the LPN-BN Pathway is Feb. 15. For more information, contact Shannon Waite at 506-447-3449, 1-866-599-4646, or lpnpathway@unb.ca.
Once you complete the LPN-BN Nursing Pathway, you must apply for transfer into the third year of the four-year BN program.
To be eligible for transfer into the BN program, students must have a minimum grade of C in each of the LPN-BN Nursing Pathway courses with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Note: Meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission into the BN program.
Admitted students will be granted a block transfer of 50 credit hours based on their Practical Nurse program and earn an additional 18 credit hours from the LPN-BN Nursing Pathway.
Once enrolled in the BN program, students have four years to complete the degree. The transfer application deadline to UNB's Bachelor of Nursing program is Feb. 15. Early application is encouraged.
