BNSc Accelerated Standing Track

Same degree, same courses, same clinical hours.
Accelerate your nursing career with Queen's Bachelor of Nursing Science AST program, designed to build on your previous university education and get ahead of the game. The AST program is completed in two years, including both summer terms. After passing the professional certification exam, graduates of this program are designated as Registered Nurses.

About the Program

Queen's Nursing gives you the tools needed to become an experienced health professional. This baccalaureate degree program prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN exam, to secure registration to practice with the title 'Registered Nurse (RN)'. Our commitment to nursing science includes evidence-based teaching and rapid translation of research to nursing education and practice.

Get a head start on your nursing career. This is a two-year accelerated program (includes courses during the summer terms).
Clinical placements begin in the winter term of your first year. You will complete rotating placements in a variety of community and clinical settings. These include hospitals, public health, clinics and community agencies.
By 2025, 20% of Queen's health sciences courses will be interprofessional; nursing, rehab, and medical students will learn together, reflecting the realities of our health systems.
Setting students up to succeed; we have dedicated program academic advisors and wellness counsellors available to support you as you complete the program. Queen's University also offers numerous academic and wellness supports to the nursing student community, including: Student Wellness Services, Student Academic Success Center, Student Affairs and Peer Support.
Students can compliment their degree by applying for research assistant or simulation lab assistant positions, choosing to take the Certificate in Business, Certificate in Law, Arts and Science Certificates.

Queen’s nurses work all over the world in many settings, including hospitals, community organizations, and in research, education and government. The program builds a strong foundation for future graduate-level studies, including becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Year 1

Clinical placements start in winter term of your first year. Students begin preparing for the clinical practice environment in fall term of first year by interviewing people at the GSK Clinical Education Centre (CEC). There are also physical assessment and nursing skills labs throughout the program to help you prepare and progress in the practice environments. Students will take the following courses throughout the Fall, Winter and Summer terms:

Professional Relationships
Health Assessment
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Pharmacology for Health Sciences
Developmental Psychology
Nursing Practicum: Care of Chronic and/or Acutely Ill Adults I
Medical-Surgical Nursing II
Family-Centred Maternal and Newborn Nursing Care
Family-Centred Pediatric Nursing Care
Microbiology for Nursing Students
Nursing Practicum: Care of Chronic and/or Acutely Ill Adults II
Nursing Practicum: Maternal and Child, Family-Centred Care

Brief descriptions of the courses offered can be found in the current Academic Calendar. Course offerings and program requirements are subject to change each year.

Year 2

Students have a community rotation in the winter term of their second year. The majority of clinical rotations are in the spring/summer term after the first and second year. Students will take the following courses throughout the Fall, Winter and Summer terms:

Philosophy and Healthcare
Concepts of Acute and Critical Illness
Community Health Promotion Theory
Management and Leadership in Health Care
Introduction to Biochemistry
Nutrition and Health
Gerontological Nursing
Nursing Research
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Practicum in Community Health Promotion
Nursing Practicum: Medical-Surgical and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Current Issues in Nursing and Health Care
Integrated Practicum

Brief descriptions of the courses offered can be found in the current Academic Calendar. Course offerings and program requirements are subject to change each year.

Applicants must have already completed at least 10 full university courses to be eligible for the program. For more details, click the "admission requirements" button below. Both external applicants and current Queen's students must select the "transfer" option to see the AST nursing requirements.

Application Deadline: January 15

We welcome and encourage applications from all equity seeking individuals. Queen's offers a number of additional and alternative admissions pathways that nursing applicants may apply through, including the:

Indigenous students admission pathway
First-generation pathway (for students whose parents did not attend post-secondary).

Candidates must meet the general admission requirements for each program and deadlines for undergraduate admission.

Admission Requirements

FAQ

Can I take a tour of the School of Nursing?

We would be happy to meet with you, answer any questions you may have and give you a tour of the nursing facilities.  Please write to bnsc.programs@queensu.ca to arrange a visit to the School of Nursing.  We recommend you also contact Queen’s campus tours and work in a tour of the campus also while you are visiting.

Do I require First Aid and CPR certification, or a criminal records check?

Yes, you do! You require first-aid and CPR HCP (health care provider level). You must take in-person classes and they should be dated after May 1st of the year you are entering the program. You will receive an email from us, once admitted, advising you how to submit these certifications.

You are also required to provide a criminal records check. You will receive information about this from the School of Nursing once you accept your admissions offer. If you require a letter from Queen's Nursing to give to the police station, please write bnsc.programs@queensu.ca and we will provide you with this letter.

Is the program online?

Our undergraduate program is not online degree. All courses are in-person unless specifically stated in advance.

Can the program be taken part-time?

The program is full-time (two years). If you have transfer credit for certain courses, you may not need to re-take them. Courses will be assessed once admitted to the program.

Can I transfer into the program if I’m enrolled at another university (AST)?

Please see Queen's undergraduate admissions page for more information about external transfers to our program.

Is the CASPer test needed to apply to the program?

No, the CASPer test is not an application requirement for our nursing programs.

Casn Logo The Undergraduate Program (BNSc) has been granted a 7-year accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) as of June 2020.

The Queens University Baccalaureate Nursing Programs (Bachelor of Nursing Science and Bachelor of Nursing Science - Accelerated Standing Track) are approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (www.cno.org). Current graduates from these programs are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario.

Bachelor of Nursing Science - Accelerated Standing Track

BNSc Accelerated Standing Track

Questions about our programs? Contact the Undergraduate Office.

Questions about your application? Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Program Overview

About the Program

Year 1

Year 2

Learn More

Clinical Placement
Information

Immunization Requirements

Undergraduate Awards & Bursaries

Admissions

FAQ

Can I take a tour of the School of Nursing?

Do I require First Aid and CPR certification, or a criminal records check?

Is the program online?

Can the program be taken part-time?

Can I transfer into the program if I’m enrolled at another university (AST)?

Is the CASPer test needed to apply to the program?

External Resources

Nursing Science Society

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Canadian Nurses Association

College of Nurses of Ontario

Interested in becoming a Queen's nursing student?