Honors program prepares nursing students for graduate school, advanced nursing practice

Photo: Laughing Dog Photography.

The bachelor of science in nursing honors program is designed to help high-achieving students develop research skills and prepare for a future in advanced nursing roles in education, research, leadership, or advanced clinical practice. 

Students learn the same clinical skills they would in the regular collaborative and after-degree programs, with an additional focus on research and gaining experience in team-based academic environments led by nurse academics who are leaders in their fields.  

Students in the U of A’s Faculty of Nursing — ranked #1 program in Canada and #9 worldwide according to the 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject — attend the new Edmonton Clinic Health Academy building, designed for teaching collaboration and patient-centred care.

This is one of only a few such programs in Canada. For some, it can be life-changing, opening doors and shifting their perceptions of what is possible within nursing.

Students gain valuable experience working on an honors project within a team, presenting their research at conferences and are given opportunities to publish their work, all of which make them very competitive for entry into graduate and professional programs. 

Nursing applicants interested in pursuing research, teaching or advanced nursing as future career paths are encouraged to consider applying.

Third-year student Jaxon Lutzer chose the honors program to strengthen his future applications for graduate school.

“Research experience and academic references really strengthen your application for any kind of graduate school, and the nursing honors program offers exactly that. I’m focused on getting my master’s of nursing, so this program is a welcome home,” says Lutzer.

Lutzer also notes that while the research skills he is learning have been amazing, the best part of the program has been the friends and connections he’s made.

“Honors classes don’t take place in big lecture halls, and there’s no crowd to get lost in. Those smaller, more intimate classes bring a sense of stability to a program that can be quite challenging.” 

Lutzer feels the honors program has helped prepare him for a future in academia.

“What better way to prepare for academia than by being a junior academic? We get a fair amount of autonomy in the program, so we learn to stand on our own two feet. We learn to analyze, reflect on and write about articles and research methods. Everyone in the program is capable and competent. We learn through trial and error and we’re given the space to learn from our mistakes,” he says.

The honors program opens doors for graduate studies or a future in advanced nursing, but it can also help graduates be more competitive for traditional nursing jobs. For those interested in graduate studies as a pathway to an academic career focused on research and teaching, having an honors degree can also support exceptional students to apply for the MN ByPass program which allows students to begin a PhD without completing a master's degree first.

“If you’re thinking of applying, I’d say go for it,” says Lutzer. “The program opens plenty of doors and opportunities for careers and connections. It’s an investment of time and energy, but in the end, it will be worth it.”

The deadline to apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Honors Program is March 1.