School of Nursing

Nursing Re-entry

Applied Certificate

Program Overview

Note:
Current students will complete this program August 20, 2021.
Effective August 31, 2020, this program will be known as Registered Nursing Bridging Program for Re-entry to Practice (RNBP/RTP).

You’ve been thinking about getting back into nursing. You miss your ability to touch so many lives as a registered nurse. And whether you want to practice at the bedside or work in research, community health or education, job opportunities for RNs are more diverse than ever.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Nursing Re-entry program is your first step back to the career you love. When you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and skills you need to move confidently into today’s primary health-care settings.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Nursing Re-entry is an applied certificate program for RNs previously registered in Canada. There are three major components to the program: theoretical concepts (12 self-study courses), simulation labs and onsite clinical practice education. Your studies will focus on:

child, adult and older adult nursing
health assessment
issues and trends in professional nursing
mental health nursing
perspectives in community nursing
pharmacology

Why Saskatchewan Polytechnic?

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is one of the most respected providers of nursing education in Canada. Our Nursing Division offers innovative online programs. Each is designed with input from the health care profession, so your education is up-to-date and matches opportunities in the field.

Learn At Your Own Pace

Because Saskatchewan Polytechnic Nursing Re-entry program is an online, distance-based program, you can work from your own home, on your own time and at your own pace. You have three years to complete all courses. You’ll build your knowledge through course work, develop your practical skills through simulation labs and gain real world experience through clinical practicums. You’ll also have one-on-one interaction with faculty throughout your program.

Update Your Professional Credentials

On completion of the program, you’ll be eligible for re-licensure as a Registered Nurse with the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA) or you’ll be eligible to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE).

Refer to Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Career and Salary Information

Your Career

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to move confidently into today’s primary health-care settings—acute-care hospitals, regional hospitals, long-term care facilities, home-care settings and more. Most RNs work in direct patient care, but your background and experience could open doors to jobs in administration, education, research and more.

For more information, contact the Student Employment Services at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus nearest you or visit www.healthcareersinsask.ca.

Length and Start Date

Start Date(s): Ongoing:

For more information, contact rnre-entry@saskpolytech.ca

Length: You must complete all courses within 3 years

Locations

Online/Distance options available

Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

Part-time Delivery

To graduate and receive a credential for this program, part-time students must apply to the program and be admitted before taking any program courses.

View the program page for a complete list of courses and additional information.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

A recommendation letter from the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association (SRNA)

Note

The following is required prior to participating in clinical practice education. The cost and time required to meet these requirements are the student's responsibility.

Current CPR Health Care Provider "C" AED, or equivalent
Current immunization
Transferring, Lifting and Repositioning (TLR) certification
Evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing
Criminal Record Check (A student may be declined access to a clinical placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check)
Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility.

Admission Method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and Fees

For tuition information, contact rnre-entry@saskpolytech.ca

Courses

Expand All +

Code

Name/Description

Credits

CLIN 200

Clinical Experience 1

Note: Prior to participating in CLIN 200 (Clinical Experience 1), you must have medical fitness, current immunization and current CPR Level 'C' (BLS Level 'C'). You will attend a 32-hour orientation practicum to re-familiarize yourself with the hospital setting, new equipment and the health care environment. You will assist clients with basic care, utilizing the nursing process, and hone your assessment, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills. You will use the skills you reviewed and practiced in NRSG 206 (Nursing Re-entry Lab 1) including communication with respect and courtesy, and conduct consistent with the SRNA standards and competencies and the CNA code of ethics. You will work on a one-to-one basis under the guidance of an experienced registered nurse who has volunteered to be a clinical preceptor.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 206, NRSG 209
Potential Learning Method(s): Clinical/Practicum-Individual, Online, Prior Learning

CLIN 201

Clinical Experience 2

You will apply relevant theory, knowledge, skills and judgments from all of the courses and labs in the program. You will work on a one-to-one basis under the guidance of a registered nurse who has volunteered to be a clinical preceptor. The length of the clinical experience is 240 hours.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 207, NRSG 208, NRSG 211, NRSG 212
Equivalent Course(s): CLIN 276
Potential Learning Method(s): Clinical/Practicum-Individual, Online, Prior Learning

NRSG 200

Health Assessment 1

Health Assessment 1 is the first of two courses that focus on the theory related to physical assessment. You will study interviewing techniques, history taking and a head-to-toe physical assessment. You will learn about assessment of the integumentary system, head and neck, breasts and axillae, lungs and thorax, and cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and lymphatic systems.
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Online - Individual, Print Distance Group, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 201

Health Assessment 2

Building on the theory you learned in NRSG 200 (Health Assessment 1), you will continue to study the assessment of body systems. The course content includes assessment of the abdomen, musculoskeletal system, neurological system, male and female genitalia and rectum, adapting techniques of health assessment to other age groups and psychological and sociocultural assessment.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Online - Individual, Print Distance Group, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 202

Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing 1

You will be reintroduced to the theory related to professional nursing, including the evolution of nursing, teaching and learning, critical thinking, decision- making and the nursing process, and reporting and recording in nursing. This is the first of two courses where you will focus on issues and trends in professional nursing
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Online - Individual, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 203

Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing 2

You will examine how nursing has changed since you last worked as a nurse. You will learn about new roles nurses have acquired, the role nurses play in the research process, the use of research in clinical decision making, and the importance of continuing professional development in nursing. You will increase your knowledge of legal and ethical issues facing nurses today. You will review communications techniques and learn about conflict management and resolution. You will also increase your knowledge of leadership and inter-professional practice and the systems approach to patient safety.
Prerequisites(s): COMP 170(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Online - Individual, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 204

Perspectives in Community Nursing

You will be introduced to the role nurses have in primary health care. You will learn how nurses influence the determinants of health to improve the health of Canadians. You will acquire knowledge about establishing the culture of patient safety. You will be reintroduced to infection control and how communicable diseases such as SARS and AIDS have impacted this area. You will acquire knowledge about how you can be sensitive to the diversity of your clients and learn more about all cultures including First Nations cultures and their traditional health care practices. You will also explore basic concepts in mental health nursing.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 201(concurrent), NRSG 202(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 205

Mental Health Nursing

You will apply the nursing process to the care of clients and their families who are experiencing a variety of mental health alterations in acute and community care. You will apply ethical and legal concepts in mapping safe and effective mental health nursing care.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 203(concurrent), NRSG 204(concurrent), PHAR 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online - Individual, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 206

Nursing Re-entry Lab 1

You will review and practice basic nursing skills (including body mechanics, ambulation, transfers and lifts). You will also review and practice skills related to medical asepsis (including hand washing and isolation techniques). You will also have an opportunity to apply the theory you learned in NRSG 200 (Health Assessment 1) and NRSG 201 (Health Assessment 2) related to general physical assessment techniques and the physical assessment for designated body systems.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 204
Potential Learning Method(s): Lab/Practical, Online, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 207

Nursing the Childbearing Family

You will examine the various aspects of pregnancy and the newborn. You will examine the concept of family and review reproductive life planning.
Prerequisites(s): PHAR 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 208

Child Health Nursing

You will explore the nursing care required to support infants, children and adolescents (and their families) experiencing common health alterations. You will review the growth and development of children from birth to 19 years. You will learn principles of child health nursing with the client as a partner to enhance patient safety.
Prerequisites(s): PHAR 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 209

Adult Health Nursing 1

Your studies will focus on the concepts of growth and development of the adult from 20 to 64 years, inflammation and infection, the immune response and cell aberration. The course content includes fluid and electrolyte and acid/base balances and imbalances. You will examine the nursing care required to support adult clients (and their families) undergoing surgery and experiencing health alterations related to fluid and gas transport.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 205(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 210

Adult Health Nursing 2

You will apply the knowledge you gained in NRSG 209 (Adult Health Nursing 1) as you explore the nursing care required to support adult clients (and their families) experiencing health alterations related to metabolic functioning, digestion and elimination, cell aberration, reproduction and sexuality, defense and protection.
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 211

Nursing the Older Adult

You will explore the nursing care required to support older adults (and their families) experiencing common health alterations and loss, grief and/or death. You will review the growth and development of the older adult. You will explore issues related to older adults (including the healthy adaptive older person, the effects of ageism, elder abuse and neglect, the caregiver role and institutionalization). You will examine drug-related issues affecting older adults.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 210(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

NRSG 212

Nursing Re-entry Lab 2

You will review and practice nursing skills related to surgical asepsis, oxygenation, digestion and elimination, and medication administration.
Prerequisites(s): CLIN 200(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Lab/Practical, Online, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

PHAR 200

Pharmacology in Nursing

Your studies will focus on the basic principles of pharmacology and common medication classifications. You will explore general nursing roles and responsibilities related to drug administration. You will identify cultural factors influencing drug therapy. You will learn about adapting drug therapy for children and older adults. You will also learn about and perform correct drug dosage and I.V. rate calculations. You will explore the phenomenon of pain and the implications for nursing care in partnership with clients experiencing pain.
Prerequisites(s): NRSG 201(concurrent), NRSG 202(concurrent), NRSG 203(concurrent)
Potential Learning Method(s): Online, Prior Learning

You will need Microsoft Word (2000 or newer) and Internet access for NRSG 200, NRSG 201, NRSG 202, and NRSG 203.
You can purchase your books and manuals from the Wascana campus Bookstore.
You must complete the program within three years.
Because there is no faculty support available during July and August, these months are not counted when determining your course end date.

Get Credit for What You Know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

School of Nursing

Nursing Re-entry