Why Study Nursing at TWU?

Faculty Spotlight

Sonya Grypma

Dr. Sonya Grypma, author of Healing Henan, Canadian Nurses at the North China Mission 1888-1947, is part of TWU's accomplished nursing faculty.
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Potential Careers

Graduates from the BScN program will be prepared to work as registered nurses in both hospital and community-based health care settings.

"Each day I'm in Haiti I'm especially grateful for my years with you.  Thank you for preparing me for this time in my life."

Taryne Lepp, BScN Class of 2009
Serving as RN with Samaritan's Purse in Haiti in response to the 2010 cholera epidemic

TWU offers Canada’s only faith-based nursing program. Recognized as a leader in innovative clinical placements for students, TWU engages students in a variety of hospital and community-based experiences over the four-year undergraduate program.

TWU is highly regarded for its knowledgeable and passionate nursing faculty and staff. Committed to excellence in education and scholarship, TWU’s nursing professors are recognized nationally and internationally for their research, particularly in the area of spiritual health.

TWU faculty are accessible and committed to their students. Small class sizes and clinical groups support active engagement with professors and peers.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)

Nursing is a profession that attends to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. The School of Nursing provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills for a career in nursing in hospitals and community-based settings. Through classroom, lab and clinical instruction , you will be prepared in subjects ranging from pharmacology to nursing research; health assessment to leadership theories; medical and surgical nursing to mental health; and maternity and paediatrics to elder care.

The School of Nursing’s focus on diversity and social justice prepares students as global citizens, attentive to health determinants and illness needs both locally and internationally. Highlights include opportunities for specialized work in First Nations communities and travel studies to other countries such as Zambia.

Graduates from the TWU BScN program will be prepared to work as registered nurses in both hospital and community-based health care settings.

For more information, visit the School of Nursing website.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The vision of the Master of Science in Nursing program is to foster values-based nursing, educational vitality, excellence in scholarship in practice, and transformation through Christian graduate nursing education. A strong disciplinary nursing core together with electives allows students to personalize their studies for their unique career path, whether as educators, leaders, or advance nurses. 

Graduates from the TWU MSN program will be prepared to provide leadership in nursing education, administration, and advanced practice nurses.

For more information, visit the Master of Science in Nursing page.

Courses

• NURS 111 Health and Lifestyles

  This course is intended to facilitate the assessment and development of healthful personal lifestyle behaviours, acknowledging the importance of nurses to be healthy role models. Definitions and determinants of health are examined in the contexts of life cycle stages, cultural diversity, and selected environmental and social considerations. Healthy behaviour development is promoted for biological, psychosocial, and spiritual well being, emphasizing health promotion for the whole person.

• NURS 116 Health Assessment and Nursing Care

  This course presents the background and skills essential for the health assessment of individuals related to the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of health, including cultural and developmental determinants. The course focuses on techniques for gathering health related data by taking a health history and performing a physical examination with the purpose of identifying patient care needs and formulating a plan of care. The clinical portion of the course provides experience with a gerontological population.

• NURS 121 Nursing Concepts

  Concepts foundational to nursing care including biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual aspects are introduced with laboratory practice of beginning nursing skills.

• NURS 124 Communication and Health Teaching

  Concepts of communication used in developing intrapersonal skills and interpersonal relationships and individual and group teaching are presented using verbal and non-verbal behaviours that reflect Christian values.

• NURS 222 Pharmacology

  An examination of classifications, therapeutic actions, uses, interactions, and interrelationships of selected major drug groups used in nursing care. Drug education needs of patients are emphasized.

• NURS 231 History of Nursing

  This course examines the development of Canadian nursing over the past four centuries, with an emphasis on the 20th century. Based on an understanding of nursing as rooted in a Christian ethos of caring for strangers, this course critically explores the ways in which religion, politics, gender, race, economics, technology, culture, war, and epidemics have influenced the development of nursing both nationally and globally.

• NURS 245 Nursing Care of Older Adults

  Concepts of nursing care are applied to the care of older adults experiencing acute, chronic, and palliative conditions. Human physiological, psychological, and social responses to illness and health are addressed with an explicit focus on discharge planning and support for older adults. Students apply the nursing process in planning and providing care in institutional settings.

• NURS 252 Nursing Care of Childbearing Family

  Concepts of nursing care are applied to the health care of women, newborns, children, and families during the childbearing years. Wellness and illness aspects are included in selected environments.

• NURS 321 Nutrition

  Introduction to basic principles of nutrition for optimal health throughout the life-span. Dietary management of clients with selected illness conditions is emphasized. The focus is on analysis of dietary needs in light of presenting illness and/or prevention of potential illness.

• NURS 332 Nursing Research

  A study of research concepts and techniques that enables the student to analyze nursing studies and apply pertinent findings to nursing care.

• NURS 351 Nursing Care and Mental Health

  Concepts of nursing care are related to mental health of individuals, groups and communities. The knowledge of pathology, the promotion of health, and the restoration of mental illness are the emphases of this course. This course includes clinical experiences in both acute and community contexts.

• NURS 362 Nursing Care of Children and Families

  Concepts of nursing care are related to families managing acute and chronic illnesses in home and hospital settings. Nursing process, family theory, child health, family health, and family-centred care principles are related to care to emphasize health promotion and health maintenance activities within families.

• NURS 400, 401 Directed Studies in Nursing

  Admission to a directed studies course is at the sole discretion of the Department chair. These courses may be used for remediation or to develop a specific area of student interest.

• NURS 402 Transcultural Health Care

  Concepts of culture, cultural context, social justice, varying health care systems, health promotion and illness prevention are explored theoretically and practically in an international clinical setting.

• NURS 437 Nursing Theories and Issues

  Key elements of professional nursing practice are explored through readings and discussions and applied in the development of a personal professional practice model. These key elements include theoretical and philosophical foundations of nursing, application of relevant theory to practice, critical analysis of pertinent nursing issues, ethical thinking and decision making, therapeutic relational aspects of client care, and responsible communication with clients, colleagues, and the public.

• NURS 463 Nursing Care of Adults with Complex Illness

  Concepts of nursing care are applied to complex illness, needs of patients and families. Previous nursing knowledge and experience is integrated into this course to provide a comprehensive basis for complex care. Clinical experience applies theory and practice in surgical units in tertiary level hospitals.

• NURS 465 Nursing Care of Adults in Community

  Concepts of community as partner, sociocultural diversity, and social justice are applied to nursing care in communities. Health promotion and restoration of health are the focus of nursing care for communities and vulnerable populations. Ethical decisions and global health issues are discussed.

• NURS 482 Consolidation in Nursing Practice

  Concepts of nursing care are applied to the provision of acute, rehabilitative, or palliative nursing care and health promotion in acute or community placements.

• NURS 484 Leadership in Nursing Care

  Key concepts and processes of leadership are explored as they apply to nursing and health care. Students have opportunity to examine and develop leadership skills required in contemporary nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding, recognizing and developing servant leadership skills from a Christian perspective.

Highlights

Based on our student surveys, the following highlights are:

Christian worldview integration

- Servant leadership, covenantal caring, transformational learning

- Caring for patients viewed as a sacred trust

Knowledgeable, supportive and passionate faculty

- Role-model compassion and excellence in clinical practice

- Engaged with cutting-edge research and scholarship

Small class sizes & clinical groups

- Professors get to know their students

- Students are encouraged towards personal excellence

- Students start clinical experience in first year

Emphasis on social justice

- Innovative clinical placements

- Opportunity for specialized work with First Nations communities

- Opportunity for international travel studies (e.g., Zambia)

Highly employable graduates

- Prepared for complexity of health care settings

- Eligible to write both Canadian and American Registered Nurse licensing exams