REGINA — University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia, today signed a new agreement that will see the two institutions continue jointly offering the SCBScN program.
“The SCBScN program provides the educational experiences, knowledge, and skills – including hands-on clinical experiences, state-of-the-art labs, and dedicated instructors – required to prepare Saskatchewan nursing students for exceptional careers in this critical field,” said Dr. Jeff Keshen. “It gives me great satisfaction to sign this agreement with Saskatchewan Polytech knowing that it will enable us to continue offering the SCBScN program together, and most importantly, develop career-ready graduates able to take on these challenging but essential health care roles.”
“Nursing professionals are in great demand and Sask Polytech is proud to offer the SCBScN program in collaboration with the U of R,” said Dr. Larry Rosia. “The strength of this collaborative program is that it is responsive to students’ needs. The SCBScN program provides quality nursing education that prepares students to transition to become leaders and valuable members of interprofessional health care teams.”
Established in 2011, the program has graduated more than 4,500 students and expanded to offer a bilingual option, where approximately half the courses are offered in English and half in French. Another option the SCBScN program has developed is the After Degree Nursing Program, which provides applicants with a degree in another field the opportunity to complete the SCBScN program in six consecutive terms (two calendar years) rather than the normal four years. Additionally, there is also an option for Licensed Practical Nurses to complete an expedited SCBScN.
The SCBScN program is administered and delivered by both the U of R and Sask Polytech. Graduates of the program who have successfully completed all academic and non-academic requirements will be granted a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University in affiliation with Sask Polytech.
The program, approved by the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS), is accredited through the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).
Graduates of the program are eligible for initial registration as a RN, as identified by the CRNS and other regulatory bodies across Canada. In order to become a registered nurse, graduates are required to write and successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Learn more about the SCBScN program at sasknursingdegree.ca.
— Submitted by U of R/Sask Polytech media relations
