What can I do with a major in Nursing
The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge offers the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing After Degree programs in collaboration with Lethbridge College. Students spend the first half of the program at Lethbridge College and the second half at the U of L.
Students engage in theory, lab, and clinical practice experiences in the areas of continuing care, acute medicine and surgery, rural and sub-acute care, pediatrics, maternal/child and family health, mental health and addictions, and community health. The final semester is a 350-hour senior professional preceptorship. Graduates are prepared to be caring holistic professionals who base their nursing practice on theoretical knowledge, evidence, and standards for nursing practice. Emphasis on cultural, social, and health issues — from the perspective of relational practice — are key components of the programs. In completing the Nursing Program, students will receive a Bachelor of Nursing degree. The programs provide the essential background to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
Skills
- Ability to Deal with Emotionally Charged Situations
- Accuracy
- Collaboration
- Commitment to Patients & the Public
- Critical Thinking, Inquiry & Research
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Health Awareness
- Interdisciplinary
- Laboratory
- Leadership
- Medication Administration
- Nursing Care
- Oral & Written Communication
- Organizational
- Patient Evaluation & Education
- Problem Solving
- Record Keeping
- Sensitivity to Social & Cultural Diversity
- Social Justice & Equity
- Social Science Methodologies
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Understanding of Health Systems
Work Environment
Nurses provide care to individuals, families, groups, and communities across their life span. When providing care, nurses collaborate with other health care professionals, community and self-help groups, and with clients themselves. Graduates may find employment with community or public health agencies, health clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, private health practices, psychiatric offices, rehabilitation service providers, academic/research institutions, seniors’ homes/facilities and schools.
Career Possibilities
These jobs are normally intended for new graduates and require 0 to 2 years of experience. It is important to note that many entry level positions require some related experience or demonstrated ability to perform job-related tasks. Even those positions that do not require experience will still prefer an experienced candidate, if one is available.
- Clinical Nurse
- Communicable Disease Nurse
- Community Health Nurse
- Diabetes Educator Registered Nurse
- Immunization Clinic Registered Nurse
- Long Term Care Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Public Health Nurse
- Public Programs & Services Coordinator
- Registered Nurse
- Wellness Coordinator/ Manager
These jobs generally require extensive, relevant work experience and/or further education.
- Advance Practice Nurse
- Ambulatory Care Nurse
- Cardiac Nurse • Clinical Nurse
- Critical Care Nurse
- Dialysis Nurse
- Elder Care Worker
- Emergency Room Nurse
- Geriatric Nurse
- High Acuity Nurse
- Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse
- Managed Care Nurse
- Neonatal Nurse
- Nephology Nurse
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- Operating Room Nurse
- Palliative Care
- Perinatal Nurse
- Perioperative Nurse
- Recovery Room Nurse
- School Nurse
On average, people change their careers three to five times in their lifetime. So, no matter what major you choose, you may still be interested in opportunities totally unrelated to your program of study. We encourage you to be open to all possibilities! Your undergraduate degree can be a springboard for other educational pursuits, and your transferable skills and experience can prepare you to work in a multitude of settings.
- Anesthesiologist
- Athletic Therapist
- Cardiologist
- Child Life Specialist
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Community Care Coordinator
- Community Health & Public Policy Specialist
- Counsellor • Developmental Care Worker
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Geriatric Care Manager
- Gerontologist
- Health Care Administrator
- Health Care Aide
- Health Educator/Promoter
- Health Services Manager Genetic Counsellor
- Hospice Coordinator
- Massage Therapist
- Medical Writer
- Mental Health Care Worker
- Midwife
- Nephrologist
- NGO Area Coordinator
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Health and Safety Officer
- Oncologist
- Orthopedic Technician
- Patient Advocate
- Pediatrician
- Pharmacologist
- Physician
- Physiologist
- Psychiatrist
- Recreation Therapist
- Rehabilitation Therapist/Scientist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Rheumatologist
- Surgeon
- Toxicologist
- University Professor
Useful Resources
- College of Registered Nurses of Alberta http://www.nurses.ab.ca
- United Nurses of Alberta https://www.una.ab.ca
- Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta http://www.albertanps.com
- PeriAnesthesia Nurses of Alberta – Southern Alberta Chapter http://www.panasac.ca
- Alberta Association of Registered Nurses in Private Practice http://www.privatepracticenurses.ca
- Operating Room Nurses of Alberta Association http://ornaa.org
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta http://www.crpna.ab.ca/
- Alberta Association of Nurses https://albertanursing.ca/
- Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust http://arnet.ca
- Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association http://www.agna.ca
- Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association http://aohna.org
- Canadian Nurses Association http://www.cna-aiic.ca/
- National Emergency Nurses Association http://nena.ca
- Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association Inc. http://www.cohna-aciist.ca
- Canadian Orthopaedic Nurses Association http://www.cona-nurse.org
- Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada http://www.ornac.ca
- Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses http://www.caccn.ca
- Canadian Association for Rural & Remote Nursing http://www.carrn.com
- Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada http://anac.on.ca
- Canadian National Institute of Health http://www.cnih.ca
- American Nurses Association http://www.nursingworld.org
- Global Health Council http://www.globalhealth.org
- World Health Organization http://www.who.int/
Add Value to Your Degree
The more you do to differentiate yourself, the more likely you are to succeed in building a fulfilling career path for yourself. It takes more than just attending classes to stand out amongst other students and new graduates. Become an explorer! Try new things, challenge yourself, build unique skills, and connect with diverse people.
Use the ideas listed below to help you brainstorm experiences to add value to your degree. For more ideas on experiential opportunities at the University of Lethbridge, view the Student Experience Transcript.
Making connections with others is one of the best ways to learn about the world of work and gain access to career-building opportunities. Making meaningful connections with people is often called building a network. Building these connections can give you access to jobs before they are posted, or to jobs that are not publicly posted. Employers like to hire people they have already built relationships with, and are more likely to hire people who have been recommended by trusted colleagues and friends.
Start building your network by attending Career Fairs and other on-campus recruitment events found on the Career Services Events page within the Career Bridge portal. Get introduced to career professionals in a welcoming and approachable way through uLethbridge Connect at Ten Thousand Coffees. Consider joining a professional association to help you find opportunities to meet experienced professionals in your field, find training opportunities, be paired with a mentor, or get involved in committees or other volunteer positions.
d professionals in your field, find training opportunities, be paired with a mentor, or get involved in committees or other volunteer positions.
Co-operative Education allows you to earn income through real-world work experience that is related to your academic studies. Completing a co-op work term provides you with an opportunity to build your skills in a practical work setting, network with employers, and increase your marketability after graduation.
Co-operative education is available to undergraduate and graduate-level students within a variety of programs in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Dhillon School of Business, Faculty of Fine Arts, and Faculty of Health Sciences. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how co-op works here.
The Applied Studies program offers you the opportunity to earn academic credit for learning gained through employment or volunteer experiences. Placements provide skill development and experiential learning related to your studies by integrating principles learned in the classroom with practical situations encountered on the job.
Participating in clubs and running for student government are great ways to build employability skills, learn how to work with others, and demonstrate your leadership abilities.
The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union is committed to building a rewarding and enriching experience for undergraduate students. They have positions for Executive Council members and General Assembly members, as well as an extensive list of ratified clubs, offering opportunities to get involved in areas of interest and in leadership positions.
The Graduate Students’ Association’s mandate is to identify and advocate for graduate student needs. They have GSA Executive positions, GSA Council positions, and a mentorship program for incoming students.
The University of Lethbridge provides many different opportunities to gain research experience in addition to the required courses in your degree program.
An independent study is a chance for you to design your own research project for course credit under the supervision of a professor of your choice. Course work usually requires independent library research and/or field work and/or a major term paper. For more information, meet with an Academic Advisor and the Department or Faculty member under whom you wish to pursue an Independent Study.
You can also opt to complete an Undergraduate Thesis Course. This will allow you to earn an “Honours Thesis” designation on your degree and is a great springboard into graduate studies and professional programs. Fourth-year standing and a cumulative GPA of 3.30 is required to complete an Honours Thesis; it is also helpful to have previous research experience like Independent Studies. For more information, contact the Department or Faculty member under whom you with to pursue your Honours Thesis.
The Office of Research and Innovation Services has a wealth of information on additional research opportunities for students, including Student Funding, Student Research Positions, AGILITY, and events. The School of Graduate Studies has information on Research Opportunities/Graduate Student Positions and GA/Co-op/Internship Opportunities. If you are interested in building your research portfolio, do not miss out on these opportunities!
International experience builds valuable employability skills like adaptability, multi-cultural awareness, and the initiative to take on new challenges. Gain an international perspective by participating in Education Abroad opportunities like semester exchanges, study tours, field studies, work-study tours, internships, and more. Learn about international careers and resources through MyWorldAbroad (available within the Career Bridge portal).
Volunteerism is an excellent way to demonstrate your current skills, build new skills, and grow your network. If you are not sure where to get started, connect with UVolunteer, the University of Lethbridge’s partnership with Volunteer Lethbridge. If you already volunteer, UVolunteer can provide you with a framework to organize and document your volunteer work. If you are not sure how or where to get involved, UVolunteer can help you find volunteer opportunities that meet your needs and the needs of your community. Also consider volunteering with a local Board, Commission, or Committee.