Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Academic Regulations
In addition to the UBC policies and regulations set out in the Policies and Regulations section of this Calendar, the academic regulations outlined in this section apply to all students registered in the School of Nursing’s B.S.N. Programs.
Academic Performance Regulations
Submission of Assignments
All assigned coursework must be submitted on the date, time, and place determined by the course instructor. A request for an extension may be considered by the course instructor. Extensions will normally be granted where the request for an extension is submitted at least 48 hours in advance of the original due date.
Late assignments for which an extension has not been granted will have 10% of the total possible grade for the assignment deducted for each day/partial day (including weekend days) that the assignment is late, including the date that the assignment is actually submitted.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Grading Practice located on the School of Nursing website.
Academic Misconduct
Students are responsible for informing themselves in relation to university policy on academic conduct. The School of Nursing has further identified several levels of plagiaristic behaviors and the consequences of each level.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Procedure for Plagiarism located on the School of Nursing website.
Grading Practices
A student’s assigned standing in a course is determined by a course instructor in accordance with the grading scheme indicated in the course syllabus, and may take the form of a final grade (e.g., 75%), or one of the other standings allowed and defined by the University (e.g., pass/fail). The School of Nursing defines fail as below 60%, except in the case of the Medication Math Examination Achievement requirement.
Nursing Practice Grading
The overall grade for each nursing practice course must be a Pass in order for the student to progress to the next practice course. Grading for each practice course is completed using a course specific Practice Appraisal Form (PAF) and requires the student to demonstrate the required level of practice for that course.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Standard for Nursing Practice Grading located on the School of Nursing website.
Advancement Regulations
Students must receive a passing grade (60%) in all required courses to progress in the program. Students must satisfy the prerequisite and corequisite requirements for each Nursing course as listed in the course descriptions.
Attendance
Students whose attendance is affected on a prolonged basis by medical, emotional, or other problems should notify the Associate Director as early as possible and may wish to seek accommodation from the Disability Resource Centre. In exceptional circumstances, students may need to apply for special consideration according to UBC’s policy on Academic Concession.
Regular attendance in all practice experience is required (e.g. lab, simulation, clinical, and relational practice classes). Requests for missed time related to vacations and other personal events will not be accommodated. Requests for missed practice related to professional, athletic, participation in university governance, or volunteer activities will be considered and reviewed on an individual basis subject to UBC’s policy on Academic Concession. Students are encouraged to take their requests to the Associate Director of Nursing as soon as possible.
Whenever possible, students who will be late or absent for practice-based courses are required to notify their instructor and the clinical/practicum site prior to the time they are expected to begin practice. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructor as soon as possible.
If an unapproved absence in a practice course occurs the student may be charged for the cost of the teaching time required to support missed time. Where a pattern of unapproved and unexplained absences develops this may result in a student being given a failed standing in the practice course(s).
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Attendance Expectations Standard on the School of Nursing website.
Medication Math Examination Achievement Requirements
UBC Okanagan’s B.S.N. students are required to complete medication dosage calculation assessment (MDCA) and demonstrate a standing of 95% or higher.
In year-one and year-two students who fail to demonstrate a standing of 95% are permitted a re-write. Students who fail to demonstrate a standing of 95% on the re-write are placed on a learning contract with required remediation prior to being permitted a second re-write. Students who fail to demonstrate a standing of 95% on the second re-write will be assigned a Failed standing in the associated course.
In year-three and year-four students who fail to demonstrate a standing of 95% are placed on a learning contract with required remediation prior to being permitted a re-write. Students who fail to demonstrate a standing of 95% on the re-write will be assigned a Failed standing in the associated course.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Medication Dosage Calculation Assessment (MDCA) located on the School of Nursing website.
Clinical Skills Achievement Requirement
Clinical Skills Tests (CSTs) will be used to assess whether students have developed a sufficient level of proficiency with nursing psychomotor skills. Each nursing lab course will have one or two CSTs. The passing grade for all CSTs will be 80%. Students must successfully pass all CSTs in a lab course to receive a satisfactory rating in that course.
In the event that a student is unsuccessful (achieves a score less than 80%) on the first attempt of a CST the student will meet with the lab teacher and a learning plan will be developed. The goal of the learning plan will be to assist the student in learning the requisite skill and support the student to pass the CST on the second attempt. If a student is unsuccessful (achieves a score less than 80%) on the second attempt of a CST the student will receive an unsatisfactory rating in the lab course. This will result in the student receiving a failing grade in that nursing course, and the student will not be eligible to progress in the nursing program.
For further information, refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Clinical Skill Testing (CST) Requirements on the School of Nursing website.
Academic Professional Regulations
Professional Conduct
Students must at all times adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Nurses Association and act in conformity with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) professional standards and practice standards. Students who fail to meet these expectations may be subject to a Suitability Review.
Suitability for the Study or Practice of Nursing
Although satisfactory academic performance is a prerequisite to advancement, it is not the sole criterion in considering the suitability of a student for promotion or graduation.
Where persistent or egregious infractions of the Academic Professional Regulations occur, the Director of the School of Nursing may request a Suitability Review to assess a student’s suitability for the study or practice of Nursing. A student will be considered unsuitable for the study or practice of Nursing where the student’s participation in the study or practice of Nursing would have a significant negative impact on the protection of the public, the effective operation of the School of Nursing, or public confidence in the Nursing profession or the School of Nursing.
The School of Nursing reserves the right at any time to require a student to withdraw from the School, or to impose other remedial measures (e.g., repeat a course, complete a professional module), if the student is found not to be suitable for the study or practice of Nursing following a Suitability Review.
Readmission Following a Determination of Unsuitability
No student may be admitted to the School of Nursing following a determination that the student is unsuitable for the study or practice of Nursing, except where both of the following conditions have been met.
- 1. At least 24 months1 have passed since the student was determined to be unsuitable for the study or practice of Nursing.
1If student is admitted after 24 months of non-study in the UBC Okanagan BSN Degree Program, the student will be required to be admitted to year one of the program and will be required to complete all BSN Degree nursing course requirements regardless of previous credits completed.
- 2. The approval of the Dean has been obtained.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Procedure for Suitability Review located on the School of Nursing website.
Fitness to Practice
Students are expected to recognize their own limitations, act responsibly at all times, and take responsibility for ensuring continued competency and learning. A student may be removed from a practice course if medical and/or other problems render the student incapable of fulfilling the requirements of the practice course. Students who fail to meet these expectations may be subject to a Suitability Review.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Fitness to Practice located on the School of Nursing website.
Preparation for Practice
Students will be denied their practice experience if the preparatory work is deemed unsatisfactory, or if the Director of Nursing determines that their participation in practice puts the receiving agency or its clients at unreasonable risk.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Preparation for Practice located on the School of Nursing website.
Scope of Practice for B.S.N. Students
The Scope of Practice: Psychomotor Skills for B.S.N. Students is modeled after the Scope of Practice for Registered Nurses (BCCNM, 2019) and outlines a reduced scope of practice for student nurses. The scope of practice for B.S.N. students provides direction on which skills nursing students may and may not perform, and describes the specific standards, limits, and conditions under which certain skills may be performed. Students who fail to limit their practice to activities falling within the restricted scope of practice for student nurses may be subject to a Suitability Review. The only exceptions to the scope of practice for nursing students are situations of imminent risk of death or serious harm.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Scope of Practice: Psychomotor Skills for B.S.N. Students located on the School of Nursing website.
Appropriate Use of Electronic Devices
The use of personal electronic devices is restricted in all nursing courses to activities that are beneficial to learning and patient care. Students who use electronic devices in Nursing courses in a manner that negatively impacts patient care or infringes on patient privacy may be subject to a Suitability Review.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Appropriate Use of Electronic Devices located on the School of Nursing website.
Appropriate Use of Social Media
Students are expected to adhere to British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) expectations outlined in BCCNP's Position Statement on Social Media. Students who breech these expectations may be subject to a Suitability Review.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Standard for Appropriate Use of Social Media located on the School of Nursing website.
Academic Standing, Withdrawal and Readmission
Academic Standings
Academic performance is evaluated based on coursework over a session and coursework in a term.
Sessional evaluations occur in April/May and will evaluate academic performance for the entire Winter Session. See Advancement Regulations for sessional evaluation criteria.
Term evaluations occur at the end of each term in December, April and August. Term evaluations are used to assess student progress in the program and identify students who may be at risk of falling below the academic requirements for progression in the program. Term evaluation results are not recorded on the transcript.
A term standing of ‘On Probation’ will be assigned to a student who has:
- earned a term average of less than 65%
A student placed ‘On Probation’ will receive notification about their academic standing and will have their academic progress monitored by the School of Nursing.
A standing of ‘On Probation’ will be changed to ‘In Good Standing’ if a student's term average in the subsequent term is 65% or higher.
A student who is ‘On Probation’ for two consecutive terms in a Winter session will be required to seek academic advising and may also be subject to credit load restrictions in the upcoming term.
Withdrawal and Failure
A student who withdraws from or fails any Nursing course may be required to withdraw from all other Nursing courses due to concurrent registration requirements. Students who are considering withdrawal and students who fail should discuss the matter with the School of Nursing Associate Director.
Readmission Following Withdrawal1
A student who withdraws and intends to apply for readmission into the B.S.N. program must normally return no more than 12 months from the time of leaving the program, and must comply with university policy for readmission. Concurrent registration requirements will determine the courses in which the student must enrol.
Readmission Following Failure1
A student who fails and intends to apply for readmission into the B.S.N. program must normally return no more than 12 months from the time of leaving the program, and must comply with the university policy for readmission. Concurrent registration requirements influence the decision about which courses must be repeated upon re-entry.
A student who re-enters following failure in a practice course may be required to repeat and pass a lower-level Nursing practice course and satisfy concurrent registration requirements for that course.
If a student fails any Nursing course following readmission into the B.S.N. program, he or she will be required to withdraw from the program for a minimum of two calendar years. Students who return after the two-year waiting period will be required to follow university policy for readmission and will be required to re-enter the first term of the program and to successfully repeat all Nursing courses, including courses in which advance standing or transfer credit were previously granted.
Review of Assigned Standing
A student who is dissatisfied with the assigned standing that they receive in a course is encouraged to first discuss the matter with the instructor(s) of the course, when possible.
Should the matter remain unresolved and the student believes that some or all of the material contributing to the assigned standing has been incorrectly evaluated, the student may apply for a Review of Assigned Standing.
The application form for Review of Assigned Standing is available through Enrolment Services.
Review of Standing in Practice Courses
Where the student is dissatisfied with the evaluation of some or all of the assessments contributing to the standing in a practice course, the student may apply for a review. In order to do so the student submits a “Letter of Intent” to the Chair of the FHSD Curriculum Committee within 5 days of being informed of their course grade.
Note: For further information refer to the B.S.N. Program Procedure for Review of Standing in Practice Courses located on the School of Nursing website.
1Beginning in September 2015, the School of Nursing will be phasing in a revised curriculum for the B.S.N. programs. During the transitional years in which the new curriculum structure is being phased-in, the previous curriculum structure will be phased-out, year-by-year. Regardless of the year in which they entered the program, graduates of the B.S.N. programs must meet the same exit requirements. Some students who experience a disruption in their studies (e.g. extended absences, medical leaves, withdrawals, failure) may not be able to complete the degree requirements and courses as described in the Academic Calendar the year they were admitted to one of the B.S.N. Programs as many courses will no longer be offered. Each student’s circumstance will be different and will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Each student will require course advising with the Associate Director to review their credits and obtain a list of degree requirements. A combination of completed courses and new course offerings will be used to satisfy the degree requirements set out in this Academic Calendar in each of the programs degree requirements sections. Every effort will be made to accommodate the student’s completion of the degree requirements within a reasonable duration of study.
