Rural Community Route
Residents of rural communities can earn a baccalaureate degree to become a registered nurse without leaving their home community
- Multiple program sites, currently in East-Central and Northeastern Alberta
(Program sites may be subject to change) - Program delivered using a blended model of online and in-person learning
Students must have a laptop computer for some in-person classes and activities - Students must be prepared to travel within the program catchment area for clinical placements
* Applicants must meet residency requirements for the program site they are applying to at the time of application and for the duration of the program.
The next admission at the Wainwright site will be for Fall 2025
- 3.25 -3.5 year degree program
- September admission only
- Labs in-person at Wainwright Health Centre
- Clinical placements within the Wainwright area
- Applicants must reside with 130 km of Wainwright and be Alberta residents
Excludes major urban centres
The next admission at the Drayton Valley site will be for Fall 2025
- 3.25 -3.5 year degree program
- September admission only
- Labs in-person in Drayton Valley
- Clinical placements within the Drayton Valley area
- Applicants must reside with 130 km of Drayton Valley and be Alberta residents
Excludes major urban centres
The first admission at the Bonnyville site will be for Fall 2025
The Bonnyville site will offer admission through both the Rural Community Route and Indigenous Community Route.
- 3.25 - 3.5 year degree program
- September admission only
- Labs in-person in Bonnyville
- Clinical placements within the Bonnyville area
- Applicants must reside with 150 km of Bonnyville and be Alberta residents
Excludes major urban centres
The last admission to the Bachelor of Nursing program at Portage College was Winter 2024. Students previously admitted at the Portage College site will complete their program as planned.
This region of Alberta continues to be served by the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Bonnyville site.
Rural Community Map
Locations
Currently the Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Rural Community Route is offered in Drayton Valley, Wainwright and Bonnyville, Alberta. The University of Calgary also offers a BScN program at our main campus in Calgary, and a collaborative BScN program at Medicine Hat College.
Service Regions
Each program site has a geographical service region which students must reside in. The exact details of each service region may vary between sites due to agreements with regional practice partners, however generally students must reside within a certain distance of the program site, be Alberta residents, and not reside within major urban centres.
The graphics below show the service regions for each program site.
Students must reside within the service region of their desired program site at the time of application and for the duration of the program.
Wainwright Region
Bonneyville Region
Drayton Valley Region
Learn more about the BScN Rural Community Route in this recent information session recording!
First year of rural community nursing program begins in Drayton Valley
Nine students from the Drayton Valley area are set to commence their studies and gain hands-on training on their way to obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree all without having to leave their home community.
New rural nursing program in Wainwright allows mother of 12 to pursue career while living in home community
Gaeleen Ratté among first cohort in pilot program of UCalgary Nursing's Rural Community Route in Wainwright
Dr. Zahra Shajani speaks to CBC Edmonton AM about the nursing program in Wainwright. Listen now
Registered Nursing degree launches at Wainwright Health Centre
University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services offer new rural health-care program
Have questions or want more information? Contact the Indigenous Student Liaison