TRU Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing has a rich history in providing nursing education over the past 35 years. The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing Program (BScN) has been in existence since the year 1992. A significant emphasis in the program is that the graduates of the programs will make a positive difference to the health and well-being of all people. Many of the faculty and the graduates of the program have received awards and other recognition for their leadership in nursing education, nursing practice or nursing research.
The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing Program is a four-year program of studies to prepare students to be competent nurses in a variety of settings, including hospitals and communities, and with people who are various ages, have a variety of health concerns, and have various cultural and social and economic backgrounds. The faculty have a commitment to providing education that demonstrates excellent scholarship in the following areas:
Nursing Practice
The faculty in the BScN program teach not only in the classroom. They also go with students to hospitals or to other agencies in the community. More than a third of the faculty keep up-to-date in their nursing practice by working as nurses in their time away from the school. The commitment that the faculty demonstrates to nursing practice has helped the School of Nursing to develop strong positive relationships with nursing staff in a variety of health care agencies. It has also contributed in a significant way to teaching nursing students in a way that acknowledges the “real” world of nursing practice
Nursing Education
Excellence in nursing education is a hallmark of the BScN program. Two of the faculty (Penny Heaslip and Joanne Jones) have won the prestigious Merit Award for their teaching at Thompson Rivers University. Another faculty member (Diane Wells) was awarded the CRNBC Award of Excellence in Teaching.
Service
The majority of the faculty are involved as volunteers in agencies that address health concerns of people in the community; they bring their experiences to their teaching of nursing students. Sherrie Bade, for example, has volunteered with various community groups to address the needs of people with addictions. Dr. Penny Powers recently won an award for her work on environmental sustainability, including her work in teaching people to use home worm composting.
Jessie Johnson has worked with a community board to provide assistance to older adults, particularly those living in poverty. Donna Petri recently won the Distinguished Service Award at TRU for her work in university committees and organizations. These are just a few of the faculty who devote their efforts to helping community organizations.
Research:
Many of the faculty are active researchers and apply their research findings in their teaching.
- Krista Lussier, for example, applied what she learned in her master’s research about the needs of new faculty to develop a mentorship program for faculty new to the school.
- Donna Daines and Dr. Marion Healey-Ogden have applied their research to their teaching of nursing students about workplace culture.
- Dr. Susan Duncan and Star Mahara have conducted research about the needs of Aboriginal nursing students that has informed the Aboriginal Pathways program offered in the School of Nursing.
Because of their research and scholarly journal articles, many of the faculty have been invited to give keynote addresses at conferences across the globe.
The BScN program is a member of the Collaboration for Academic Education in Nursing (CAEN), a partnership of nine university schools of nursing across British Columbia. The partners in CAEN share a common curriculum or plan for courses but have unique aspects. For example, the BScN program at Thompson Rivers University is known for its commitment to global health. The immersion learning that the program offers in Canada and abroad (e.g., Africa, Samoa, India, Thailand) have resulted in very positive learning experiences for both students and communities.