RN Advanced Placement

Nursing and midwifery share many areas of theory and clinical skills. Perinatal nursing skills, particularly those deployed in labour and delivery, postpartum and newborn care are the niche of midwifery practice in many countries. Until recently, Registered Nurses (RNs) who would like to gain registration as a midwife in British Columbia could only do so by completing the entire, four-year UBC Midwifery undergraduate degree. This program requires repetition of many competencies already mastered by RN applicants, particularly at the foundational level.

In January 2022, the Midwifery Program announced an Advanced Placement Plan for Registered Nurses. The Advanced Placement Plan enables most RN applicants to transfer up to 27 previously earned credits, thus reducing the costs and time required to complete the 143-credit, Bachelor of Midwifery degree.

The process for RNs to apply the Midwifery Program follows a similar trajectory as for all applicants, with additional steps to identify their educational and professional expertise and create a tailored educational plan based on their unique needs. Please note, this opportunity is limited and only available to RNs and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are currently licensed in a Canadian jurisdiction. It does not apply to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or RNs registered outside of Canada.

Application

Step One:  Applying to UBC

  1. All applicants must submit an application to UBC Enrolment Services through ubc.ca and identify Midwifery as their first choice of programs. This application must be submitted by the Application Deadline as designated annually by UBC, and available online.

Step Two:  Midwifery Supplemental Application and Transcripts

  1. The applicant completes the UBC Midwifery supplemental application, located on the Program website at  https://midwifery.ubc.ca/program/applying-to-the-program-2/.
  2. The applicant must submit their supplemental application to UBC Enrolment Services, by the Program deadline, available on the above site. Also required by this deadline are all university or college transcripts including their RN bachelor’s degree. Candidates who have completed a Registered Nursing degree and are currently working as a nurse upon application are waived from re-taking the BIO 155 prerequisite.

Step Three:  Midwifery Interviews and Offer

  1. Following confirmation from Enrolment Services that the candidate meets the UBC entry requirements, successful applicants will be identified for UBC Midwifery selections interviews to be held in mid-late April.
  2. Following determination that the applicant is qualified for program admission, the RN applications will be reviewed by two members of the Admissions Committee: a UBC Midwifery clinical faculty member who was an RN prior to midwifery registration, and another member. A draft study plan will be developed for the applicant, which will determine the coursework required for completion of the Midwifery bachelor’s degree, based on each individual applicant’s previous education and work experience. The applicant will be asked to submit documentation of completion for any advanced perinatal courses such as the BCIT Perinatal Specialty Nursing Course.
  3. Successful applicants will be offered a spot in the program. The offer will be accompanied by a proposed plan of study for advanced placement where appropriate.

RN Plan of Study

For a sample program plan for RNs, please click here.

Challenging courses must be done prior to beginning the start of the program, in conversation with Midwifery Student Services and in conjunction with Undergraduate faculty. It is expected that a newly graduated RN without clinical experience will need different support and coursework than an RN who has years of perinatal nursing experience. RN-midwifery students will be expected to participate in every aspect of the courses for which they are registered.

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Please note, in situations where RN-midwifery students choose to work (as RNs) in practices or hospital units where they may also attend midwifery clinical placements, it is expected that the RN-midwifery student will be very clear about their various roles and demonstrate the ability to prevent role confusion.