Grant MacEwan or University of Alberta

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Hello,

I am a high school student planning to get my BScN here in Alberta (I plan to begin a program within the next couple of years). I am still, however, undecided which school I want to attend but I am seriously considering two - Grant MacEwan (their new BScN program) and the University of Alberta.

For those who have attended either of the nursing programs of these schools or knows a bit about them, can you please provide me with the pros and cons of each?

Thank you.

Both nursing schools in Edmonton are extremely competitive and marks oriented. They take the smartes on paper and not necessarily the best person for the job.

I've heard all sorts of rumours about the Psych nursing programme. It was supposed to be going degree based as well. Having said all that, you have to go to Ponoka. As far as I remember they only ever ran one class at GMCC with all the students staying in Edmonton. Every other year you've had to go to Ponoka. That is one thing I'd really look into. I've known a few people who wanted to do the RPN and the need to move to Ponoka cancelled that dream because they have families and jobs in Edmonton.

From what I've seen, most people going into nursing are older, not so many fresh out of grade 12s.

It's all becoming a crapshoot to get into nursing school. Most nurses both RN and PN haven't a clue how the selections are being made when we work with some of the students. The common thread seems to be very high marks in sciences and no people skills...

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I started my nursing education at Grant MacEwan and then had to transfer to the U of A to complete my degree in 2003. If I had had a choice then, I would have stayed at MacEwan.

To me there was just a different atmosphere between the two. I found the U of A more impersonal(staff/administration) classes spread out all over campus, I sometimes got the impression that tutorial instructors were there because they HAD to be, not becauce they wanted to be.

I enjoyed and learned at a higher learning curve at MacEwan when it came to the labs (many of my "hands on" labs at UofA were lectures).

I don't know if this is the same at Grant MacEwan, but I have talked (last few months) with some clinical instructors from the U and some have declined to continue teaching due to the U now not allowing clinical students to be "failed" (quantity over quality)no matter how poor their clinical skills are (I think they have to do some kind of remedial stuff).

Overall...did not like, enjoy or have a quality education at the U of A.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I(many of my "hands on" labs at UofA were lectures).

This isn't restricted just to undergraduate study at the U. I'd say 95% of our "continuing education" at UAH is in the form of computer modules that one has to find time to squeeze in during their workday despite extremely limited computer access, and the passing mark on the tests is 80%. Our unit has an educator (she seems to be more involved with orienting new staff and attending meetings than with continuing education of existing staff), a quality improvement coordinator (she makes up the computer modules and develops new forms to add to our documentation) and an ANP (I have no idea what she does... but it isn't anything I might benefit from).

Your comment about the policy of zero clinical failures is frightening. I knew we were getting people who don't know their heads from their tails, but I didn't know there was an enshrined blind-eye policy!

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It has always been very difficult to fail people in the clinical/work setting. My PN programme had no problem failing you in the school lab settting but has real blocks with failing students out at the hospital. We've had students do their placements that we really think need to be held back to work on skills or on their attitude but the school preceptors don't want to hear it. They want them to graduate and go onto write the exam....

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Wow, that's scary...

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I have heard more negative than positive comments from the Uof A students themselves about their program....BSN and MN

Grant McKewan students seem pretty happy and there is now the transfer program

to U of A for BSN

2 yrs at college tuition and their 2 yrs at University tuition vs 4 yrs U tuition

You do the math

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Pretty soon there won't be a transfer program (Grant MacEwan to U of A) anymore. Grant MacEwan is now offering a four-year BScN program.

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