Overview

• LPN’s will attend for approximately 22 months of the 32-month Nursing degree program (equivalent of four academic years) including a senior practicum of 450 hours
• Each year of study is 10 months long and includes theory and clinical practice concurrently; a senior practicum follows the final 10-month year
• August, November, and March entry dates
• Offered in three locations:
• Notre Dame Campus, Winnipeg, MB
• Due to high demand, this funded program is open to Manitoba residents only. Applications received from non-Manitoba residents for this program will be cancelled and the application fee will not be refunded.
• Three annual start dates in fall, winter, and spring, however only the fall intake will be advertised for application and all applicants will apply to the fall intake.
• The College will determine which start date will be offered to successful applicants. 
• Portage Campus, Portage la Prairie, MB and Winkler Campus, Winkler, MB
• One start date every three years.
• Next start date will be 2025.
• Application deadline is April 15, 2025
• Seats are open to residents of Manitoba’s Southern Health Region only. Applications and supporting documentation received for these locations indicating a home address outside of the Southern Health Region will be cancelled and the application fee will not be refunded.
• Students will be required to attend in Winnipeg approximately 2 to 3 days per term.
  
• If you have a criminal record you may not be able to complete the BN program. If you are listed on a Child Abuse Registry or Adult Abuse Registry you will not be able to complete the Nursing program. See Admission Requirements for more info. 

Description
This pathway is for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) wishing to apply to the Nursing program. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse. You must be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to apply to this pathway. 

If you successfully meet the Nursing - LPN to BN pathway admission requirements, you will be placed on a waitlist. Available spaces for LPNs in the Nursing program varies from term to term. Once a space becomes available, you will be admitted into the Nursing program and may receive credit for up to one year of the program.

Prior to starting the Nursing program, you will be invited to attend a program overview information session.

Nursing program courses use a variety of learning methodologies including blended learning. For program content, course descriptions, etc. please see the Nursing program.

Following successful completion of the Nursing program, you will receive a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree from Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) and will be eligible to apply to write the NCLEX-RN® (National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse).  If you successfully complete this national exam, you will be eligible to apply to become a member of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and legally use the designation Registered Nurse (RN).

Admission Requirements

Your application will be cancelled without a refund of the non-refundable/non-transferable application fee if you apply while still enrolled in the academic requirements or before completing the other admission requirements and cannot provide proof of completion within 15 days.

Regular Admission Requirements

1. LPN Post-Secondary Education
• Submit proof of successful completion of a post-secondary LPN program
• Post-secondary transcripts must have been issued within 6 months prior to your application date, and submitted in a sealed envelope directly from the post-secondary institution.
• If you are required to complete an English language assessment, do not submit your transcripts until requested to do so.  See Regular Admission Requirement 5 for more information.
• If you are a graduate of the ACC or UCN LPN program, you will enter year 2 of the Nursing program
• Graduates of other LPN programs - your credentials will be reviewed by the RRC Nursing Department to determine if you need to obtain further academic pre-requisites prior to entering the Nursing program
  and
2. Nutrition Course
• Submit proof of successful completion of one of the following Nutrition courses:
• Red River College Polytechnic: NUTR 1000 - Human Nutrition and Lifestyle
• University of Manitoba: HNSC 1210 – Nutrition for Health and Changing Lifestyles
• University of Winnipeg: KIN 2501/3 – Nutrition for Health and Wellness
• Assiniboine Community College: HLTH - 0236 Nutrition
• Brandon University: 71.153 – Nutrition and Health Promotion
• Athabasca University: NUTR 330 – Introductory Nutrition
• Athabasca University: NUTR 331 – Nutrition for Health
• If you successfully completed the two-year ACC LPN Diploma program including the HLTH-0236 - Nutrition, you do not need to complete another nutrition course
• Post-secondary transcripts must have been issued within 6 months prior to your application date, and submitted in a sealed envelope directly from the post-secondary institution.
  and
  
3. Scholarly Writing Course
• Successfully complete RRC Polytech's NRSG-1501 Scholarly Writing course with a minimum grade of 65% or C+ 
• This online course is a 20-hour (1 credit) course
• 15 days after your application is received, the College will internally verify if you have successfully completed this course. If you have not, your application will be cancelled.
• A grade of 64% or less (grade C or less) is considered a failing grade.
• As per Nursing program policies, applicants/students who fail a course are permitted to repeat that course once only. Applicants who repeat and fail this course a second time will not be eligible to apply to the LPN to BN Pathway
  and
4. Pathophysiology 1 Course
• Successfully complete RRC Polytech's ZOOL-1073 Pathophysiology 1 course with a minimum grade of 65% or C+
• This online course is a 40-hour (3 credit) course
• 15 days after your application is received, the College will internally verify if you have successfully completed this course. If you have not, your application will be cancelled.
• A grade of 64% or less (grade C or less) is considered a failing grade
• This course has pre-requisite courses. However, if you are currently working as an LPN in Manitoba or completed your LPN program at Assiniboine Community College (ACC) you will not be required to complete the pre-requisite courses.  All other LPNs will need to either complete the pre-requisite courses or contact RRC’s Nursing department to confirm if courses similar to the pre-requisites were completed in their LPN program.
• As per Nursing program policies, applicants/students who fail a course are permitted to repeat that course once only. Applicants who repeat and fail this course a second time will not be eligible to apply to the LPN to BN Pathwa
  and
5. English Language Assessment 
• Answer this question to determine if you meet this program’s ELRs:
  Have I successfully completed 3 years of full-time high school (secondary) education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country where English was the language of instruction?
• If YES, you meet English language requirements.  Apply and then submit your transcripts* for review
  or
• If NO, submit proof of meeting an ELRs option.  If you choose the English language assessment option, review this program's approved assessments and required levels.
  or 
• If you completed all of your education in Canada, the United States, or an ELR exempt country in English but you did not graduate high school, submit your transcripts* for review. 
• * If your transcripts are from the USA or an ELR exempt country, we will assess an International Credentials Assessment Fee to be paid before your transcripts will be reviewe
• and
6. Related Clinical Experience
• Submit a completed Verification of Employment Clinical Practice Hours form and/or a Verification of Student Clinical Practice Hours form confirming:
• Completion of a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical practice either as a practicing LPN or as a student in a recognized LPN program
• The 1,000 hours must have been completed in the last 3 years
  and
  
7. Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• Submit a completed Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
  and
8. First Aid Course
• Submit proof of current certification in the appropriate First Aid course.  To confirm which course you need to complete for this program click here
  and
9. LPN License
• You must have a current, active practicing license from the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba
• You do not need to submit documentation to meet this admission requirement. We will verify your license through the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba.
  and
10. Rural LPN to BN Pathway - Memorandum Of Understanding Form
• If applying for a rural site, meet geographical catchment area residency requirements by submitting a completed Memorandum of Understanding Form

Program Progression Requirements
Program progression requirements are not due within 15 days of applying and should be submitted after you start classes.

• Criminal Record and Adult and Child Abuse Checks
• This program requires students to submit current original/official versions of one or more of the following checks:
• Adult Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector Search (ACRVS) 
• Provincial Child Abuse Registry Check (CAR)
• Adult Abuse Registry Check (AAR)
  
• If you have a criminal record you may not be able to complete the program
• If you are listed on an Abuse Registry you will not be able to complete the program
• For details on this program's requirements, when to obtain and submit the documents, review the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents Form
• These documents have expiration dates and should not be obtained prior to timeline indicated on the Applicant Declaration for Check Documents form
• For general information on why RRC requires these checks and for links to check providers such as the Winnipeg Police, visit our Criminal Record Checks webpage
• Submit your check documents to the RRC program contact listed on the Contact Information section of your program
  and
• Immunizations and Testing
• Review the Healthcare Program Immunizations information
• Submit your completed RRC Healthcare Program Questionnaire to RRC's Health Services

Who Should Enrol?

Nursing is an art and science that focuses on providing health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities. Professional nurses must be able to act independently, responsibly, and with integrity. They must be skillful decision makers, communicators, and coordinators of care. As well, they must be able to speak and act assertively on behalf of their clients and their profession. Professional nurses view health holistically, and are a pivotal component of the modern health care system.

If you would describe yourself as a person who…

• has both an analytical mind and a caring disposition
• has mathematical and scientific ability
• has physical stamina and dexterity
• can communicate effectively with a variety of people
• is comfortable working in multicultural settings
• is organized and efficient
• acts responsibly and with integrity
• can think critically and independently
• can make decisions based on evidence
• can be assertive and advocate for others
• is calm in stressful situations
  ... then professional nursing may be the career for you.

There are a number of fundamental skills and abilities that a nursing student must possess in order to engage in the types of activities in which nursing students will engage. This information can be used by prospective students in order to determine whether they are able to meet the demands of this career. The following list is an elaboration of the above characteristics, organized in five categories, with examples of entry-level registered nursing activities to illustrate the requisite. The examples are not exhaustive and offered only for the purpose of illustration.

1. Cognitive
   Ability to perform skills which demonstrate thinking capacity:
   - recall information over time
   - demonstrate complex computation skills
   - demonstrate critical inquiry skills
   - prioritize tasks
   - demonstrate concentration skills
   - demonstrate problem-solving skills
   Example: In administering pain medication, critically analyzes assessment data, chooses from possible interventions, calculates correct dosage, safely administers medication, recognizes untoward effects and intervenes. 
2. Communication
   Ability to express and receive written, verbal or non-verbal information and the ability to interact with others in a clear, respectful and professional manner:
   - English language proficiency (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
   - recognizing own non-verbal communication and the ability to interpret non-verbal communication of others
   - ability to document and understand information, in writing as well as electronically, in the patient's chart/health record
   Example: Able to elicit and attend to information from a client during an assessment and communicate findings verbally and in writing to other health-care providers.
3. Behavioral
   Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner:
   - accept individual differences
   - take direction
   - behave in a professional manner
   - practice in a manner consistent with established patient safety policies and procedures
   - provide care in an unpredictable environment
   - manage time and establish timelines
   Example: Sets priorities in the face of multiple demands.  Maintains a calm presence regardless of a client's behavior.
4. Sensory
   Ability to perceive with each of the following senses well enough to provide care and participate in educational activities:
   - sight
   - touch
   - hearing
   - smell
   - hand-eye coordination (manual dexterity)
   Example: Possess the sensory capacity to see well enough to read numbers on a syringe, feel a pulse, hear alarms, recognize odours and prepare a medication.
5. Physical
   Ability to perform each of the following requisites well enough to provide client care and participate in educational activities:
   - lift
   - carry
   - stand and maintain balance
   - perform repetitive actions
   - pull and push
   - climb
   - bend
   - reach
   - walk
   - move within confined spaces
   Example: Able to provide CPR, carry a baby and reposition an adult client in bed.

Computer/Laptop Requirements

Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College Polytechnic programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College Polytechnic students require, at minimum:

1.  Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam

2.  A high speed internet connection

• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/ for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.

Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.

Transfer Credit Opportunities

Prospective students interested in taking courses while waiting to get into Nursing - LPN to BN Pathway may take one of the following Nursing Microbiology courses and/or Statistics courses and request transfer credit.

A minimum grade of C+ must be attained to transfer one of the following Nursing Microbiology courses into the program.

• RRC Polytech - MBIO-2000
• U of M - MBIO 1220
• U of W - no equivalency
• Brandon University - 15.264
• CMU - BIOL 1350
• ACC - SCIE 0073

A minimum grade of C must be attained to transfer one of the following Statistics courses into the program.

• RRC Polytech - MATH 1059 or MATH 1020 Business Statistics
• U of M - STAT 1000
• U of W - STAT 1501/3
• Brandon University – 62.171
• CMU – MATH 1000
• ACC - MATH 0002

To register for RRC Polytech courses visit our list of Continuing Education courses.

For all other courses, please contact the institution for information on course schedules, delivery methods, fees, etc.

Graduates of the two-year Assiniboine Community College (ACC) LPN Diploma program may receive credit for MBIO-2000 Nursing Microbiology

Graduates of the University College of the North (UCN) LPN program may receive credit for ZOOL-2073 Pathophysiology 2

Complete a Course Credit/Grade Transfer Form

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which documents and compares an individual's prior learning gained from prior education, work and life experiences and personal study to the learning outcomes in College courses/programs. For more information, please visit www.rrc.ca/rpl.

Employment Potential