New BScN Student
Congratulations on your achievements and welcome to the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.
This web page is dedicated to providing you with information on what you can expect from the time of offer of admission to registration in your courses this fall. This web page will be updated throughout the spring and summer. Please bookmark this page and visit us often. We will also send you reminder emails throughout the spring and summer.
Click on the + on each step for complete information.
View our BScN Orientation Package for 2021
- Steps for New Students
- Important Dates
- International Students
- Contacts
- Accessibility & Health
- Announcements & FAQs
Steps for New Students
Year 1 BScN Nursing Student Checklist
Important Dates
Undergraduate program sessional dates (2020-2021 – Subject to Change)
Day Month Date Activity M July 1 Canada Day holiday M&T July 20&21 Pre-orientation (for Entry year) S August 1 Due Date: Entry Year students – submission of immunization form, proof of BCLS certification, record of Police Check, etc. M August 3 Civic Holiday – University closed M August 24 Deadline to register in the program M September 7 Labour Day – University closed TBD Mask Fitting Testing Date(s) W September 9 Orientation for Entry Year BScN students (Mandatory) Th September 10 Student-led orientation for Entry Year BScN students M September 14 Fall Session (F) classes begin. TBD Fall Session Clinical Placement Start Date(s) M September 30 Payment deadline for unpaid fall term tuition in order to avoid service charges M October 12 Thanksgiving holiday – University closed M-F October 26-30 Fall Reading Week (Entry Year and Senior Year) November TBD Fall Convocation – BScN Class of 2020 Sa November 30 Payment deadline for unpaid winter term tuition in order to avoid service charges (for those not receiving OSAP) F December 11 Classes end M-F December 14-18 Examination week M December 23 Winter break begins – University closed until January 1, 2021 inclusive M January 4 University reopens M January 4 Winter Session (S) Classes Begin M January 4 Entry Year Clinical Courses Begin – Rotation 1 F January 31 Payment deadline for unpaid winter term tuition in order to avoid service charges (for those receiving OSAP) M February 15 Family Day holiday – University closed F February 19 Entry Year Clinical Courses End – Rotation 1 M-F February 22-26 Reading Week (Entry Year) M March 1 Entry Year Clinical Courses Begin – Rotation 2 Th April 1 Most Winter Classes end F April 2 Good Friday-University closed F April 16 Entry Year Clinical Courses End – Rotation 2 M-F April 19-23 Spring Break Week for Entry Year M April 26 Entry Year Clinical Courses Begin – Rotation 3 M May 24 Victoria Day – University Closed F June 11 Entry Year Clinical Courses End – Rotation 3 M-F June 14-18 Entry Year Examination Week International Students
The Faculty of Nursing welcomes international students. To help you prepare for your arrival, please visit the University of Toronto websites for new international students and the Centre for International Experience.
Contacts
Name Role Email Address Roles Nadine Janes Undergraduate Program Director Email Academic advising Shan Mohammed Year 1 Coordinator Email Academic advising Lesley Mak Assistant Dean, Registrarial and Student Services Email Registration and enrolment Shahryer Ahmed Associate Director, Recruitment and Admissions Email Admissions and Recruitment Angela Ho Awards Officer Email Financial aid Marisa Covello Undergraduate Program Assistant Email Program support Elena Luk Interim Director – Clinical Education Office Email Clinical Education Kong Ng Student Placement Coordinator Email Police Record Check, CPR, mask-fit testing, HSPnet, Synergy Sharon Lee Student Placement Coordinator Email Police Record Check, CPR, mask-fit testing, HSPnet, Synergy Kavita Kandhai Clinical Education Support Team Email Immunization Accessibility & Health
If you had academic or clinical accommodations during a previous degree or have a documented issue that requires academic or clinical accommodations currently, please register with Accessibility Services as soon as you have accepted your offer of admission and no later than July 14, 2021. These services tend to get very busy in September. Academic accommodations might include, for example, extra time for papers or exams.
If you will require ongoing appointments with a physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist, and you do not have care in Toronto, please contact the university’s Health & Wellness services to schedule an appointment. These services tend to get very busy as well once the academic year begins.
Students also have access to counselling services on-site at the Faculty of Nursing through an Embedded Wellness Counsellor. The Counsellor will offer brief counselling services to student tailored to the challenges presented by university life. The focus of counselling is on strengths, resiliency, and skills-building. Students can call Health & Wellness at 416-978-8030 if they have any questions or wish to book/reschedule an appointment
Announcements & FAQs
Check back here frequently for news & announcements!
*NEW* Nursing Undergraduate Society (NUS) Tips and Tricks Guide for the Class of 2023
Immunization
*NEW* All U of T students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination via UCheck. Please see our COVID19 Information page for more details.
I have a previously documented positive TB test was positive and I had a chest x-ray a couple of years ago. Will you accept my chest x-ray?
Chest x-ray results from the current year are required.
If I provide my health immunization information to UofT, can I assume they will share this information with all my practicum placements?
No, the Faculty of Nursing does not share personal information, such as health records or date of birth to practicum agencies. The Faculty of Nursing checks annually to ensure students are fit for practicum but individual agencies reserve the right to have students complete their own agency-specific forms. In some cases, the agency will ask the Faculty of Nursing to confirm that the student has been vetted. In most cases, students will need to submit their own information to the agency where they are placed for practicum.
Am I exempt from the TB test if I am considered low risk status?
We do not waive the TB requirement for students. It is required to ensure students meet the requirements of our teaching hospitals and other jurisdictions. Some regions may vary in their requirements but we do our best to ensure students are eligible for practicum in as many locations as possible.
Can I attach lab results to the University of Toronto’s immunization form and leave sections blank for Synergy’s evaluation?
All health information must be consolidated on our health template form. We will not accept blank sections of the form and give credit for attached documentation.
Is it true that if I provide a doctor’s note, I can leave parts of my form incomplete?
In most cases, students with incomplete forms will be have their forms rejected. Please consult our examples posted on our website for guidance on how to complete your form. Only a few exceptions apply for rare and extenuating circumstances e.g. a student is receiving medical treatment for a condition that prohibits vaccination. A doctor’s note indicating a student is receiving a second MMRV vaccine at a later date will not be accepted. Similarly, a doctor’s note regarding lab evidence for Hep B immunity in section A of our form cannot waive this requirement. The immunization form will not be accepted until either the date of the second dose for MMRV has occurred (or the student can provide positive blood test results) or all of Section A for Hep B is completed. However, students who have completed sections A and B for Hep B i.e. are non-immune to Hep B in Section A and HBsAg negative in Section B and must complete a 2nd series of 3 doses along with follow up lab evidence in section C will be granted an extension. They can submit your immunization/health record demonstrating they are receiving a second series but have not yet completed the 3 doses (i.e. show the first date and attach documentation to indicate the dates of next shots).
Police Record Checks
If I live in Toronto, do I need to come on campus to pick up a Toronto Police Record request form?
Student Placement Coordinators will mail this form to students who are Toronto residents in mid-June.
Will I need another police record check while in the program?
The Faculty of Nursing requires students to submit an updated police record check (vulnerable sector screening) by August 1 every year. In some cases, the agency where the student is placed may ask for a more recent police record check. Students are expected to comply with agency-specific requirements.
I am out of town and I received my results for a vulnerable sector screening police record check end of November last year. Will this be accepted?
We would not accept your police record check valid until November. It is in your best interest to request an expedited service for Toronto Police Record check when you return end of July to meet our August 1 deadline.
Where can I get a letter on U of T letterhead stating that I require a vulnerable sector screening for program requirements?
Students can contact Kong Ng, Student Placement Coordinator, Undergraduate Program (nursingplacementoffice@utoronto.ca).
CPR
Do I need CPR Level C + AED certification or CPR HCP for my student preparedness permit?
The CPR requirement for the entry into our nursing program is just Basic BCLS Level C. Some agencies only offer Basic Level C but some offer with a combination of BCLS C with AED (automated external defibrillator) or HCP (Health Care Provider). If you can find an agency that offers Basic Level C, please go ahead and register with them or else Basic Level C with either AED or HCP is fine. We do not require to First Aid. Either course CPR C + AED certification or CPR HCP certification would satisfy our requirement.
My BLS expires on June 12 so I will have to recertify before then in order to avoid taking the whole course over again. Is this okay?
You should have valid certification that lasts for two years. We would advise you that it is in your best interest to arrange to re-do your certification so that you are covered for the full duration of your program i.e. after June 30. This will avoid having to book and pay for another appointment with Synergy prior to the end of June in the middle of your clinical placement. This can be very disruptive to your studies.
Mask-Fit Testing
I heard there is mandatory mask-fit testing for new BScN students. Where can I get information on when this will occur?
Mandatory on-campus mask-fitting sessions will occur throughout a designated day in September. BScN students will need to book themselves into an available timeslot for when they can have their session. All payments are made in advance online. More information will be sent to BScN students in the summer and will be posted here on this website once plans are finalized.
General Questions
What if I have a requirement that expires mid-year?
It is in your best interest to have all your requirements last throughout the entire duration of the academic year until June 30. This will mean you pay for your file review ONCE and you will be approved for the full duration of the year. Please note if health/immunization requirements lapse mid-year, it is your responsibility to ensure you keep your documents current and update them with Synergy. In order for you to do this you will be required to book and pay for a subsequent Synergy appointment prior to the documents expiration date. If you have more than one document expiring we suggest you update them together in one appointment to avoid further additional charges. Expired documents will impact your clinical experience.
Are there other hospital/agency requirements that I need to know about prior to starting practicum placements?
Many agencies will ask students to complete confidentiality forms, IT security clearance, and other forms 4-6 weeks prior to the start of practicum. Students should check their UofT email messages to ensure they do not miss this crucial step or they may be prevented from starting practicum. Students should also visit the website of the organization where they are placed to seek out the links to importation orientation materials.
How do I get my documents translated into English? The onus is on the student to have certified translated documents. You can do a web search for various certified translation services in Toronto (or other cities).
I was on a leave of absence, why do I need to meet the same student preparedness requirements as new first-year students? Any student who previously started our program and is returning from a leave of absence will need to update his/her information i.e. immunization, police record check, CPR, etc. by August 15.