Arctic Nursing (BScN)
Nunavut residents can earn a 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß Bachelor of Science in Nursing without leaving the North. This four year program is delivered with Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, with clinical placements across Nunavut and a term in Halifax.
Why choose this program?
Nursing in Canada’s North is rewarding work that is about more than patient care.Ìý As an Arctic nurse, you’ll provide holistic care focused on the patient, the family, and the community. In some communities, you may be the only health professional, called on in many different ways every day.
We partner with to deliver a 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß BScN in Iqaluit. The curriculum meets the standards of 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß's Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a particular emphasis on primary health care and on awareness of and respect for Inuit culture.
Much of your coursework is delivered remotely, but the clinical experiences that shape you as a nurse happen in person, in Iqaluit, in Halifax during your third year, and in a smaller Nunavut community in your fourth.
You'll graduate prepared to apply to write theÌý (NCLEX-RN), ready to help lead in the northern health system, with a degree recognized across Canada.
Careers
As a nurse in the North, no two of your days will be alike. You'll advocate for your patients and for whole communities, drawing on a wide range of skills across many areas of practice.
Nurses are in demand worldwide, and acutely so across Canada's North, where communities depend on nurses as their first and sometimes only point of care. Your degree prepares you for practice in Nunavut and is recognized across Canada, and it lays the groundwork for graduate study in nursing, health administration, or interdisciplinary fields.
What you will learn
The curriculum for the Arctic Nursing program follows the curriculum standards for 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with a special emphasis on Inuit culture and community.
Beyond studying human anatomy and physiology, you'll explore the broad spectrum of nursing—from proper hygiene practices and mobility protocols to legal issues and medical ethics.
Sample courses
Anatomy and Physiology
Understanding Human Behaviour
Foundations of Nursing Practice
Introduction to SociologyÌý
Community and Mental Health
Contemporary Issues in Health Care
Health Science Microbiology
Health and Healing: Pathophysiology and TherapeuticsÌý
Mothers, Child and Family Care
Counselling Relationships
Chronic Alterations in Health
Mental HealthÌý
Leadership in Nursing Practice
Families and Community
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
Pharmacology in Primary CareÌý
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Arctic Nursing) program will have the necessary knowledge, judgement and skills to write the National Council Licensure Examination- Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN graduates are eligible for registration in any province or territory.
Where you'll practice
Your clinical experiences take place across a range of locations and health care settings. In third year, you'll travel to Halifax and complete paired placements at a hospital and a mental health facility. Your fourth-year placement is in a smaller Nunavut community, an opportunity to work more independently and exercise critical thinking where resources may be limited.
Customize your degree
This is a single, focused pathway: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Arctic Nursing), delivered in Iqaluit through Nunavut Arctic College, combining remote coursework with in-person clinical practice.
You'll graduate with the knowledge, judgement and skills to apply to write the NCLEX-RN, the entry-to-practice exam for registered nurses and, once successful, to apply for registration in any province or territory.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
The Bachelor of Nursing (Arctic Nursing) degree is granted by 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß, but applications to this program are submitted to the .ÌýÌý
Applicants to the BScN (Arctic Nursing) program must meet the following criteria:
Be 18 years of age or older.
Have an academic grade 12 diploma with a 70% overall average and with credits in Math, Science and English (minimum 70% in subject areas).
Be a resident of Nunavut for at least 1 year.
Applicants must submit the following:
Letter of interest indicating why you are interested in the BScN program.
Three letters of reference (from employers, teachers, health professionals or health committee members).
High school/college transcript.
Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check (CRC/VSS).
Admission to the nursing program is based upon eligibility requirements and the applicant's application information. Personal suitability may be determined through an interview with the program faculty.
Admission is subject to space availability and admissions are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
Priority will be given to eligible beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and graduates from Nunavut Secondary Schools.
Pre-Health Program
If you need to complete some prerequisites before applying to Arctic Nursing, you may want to consider the . The Pre-Health Program is an eight-month program that provides Inuit and northern residents the opportunity to prepare academically for study in health-care fields such as Nursing.
