Nursing (Traditional), B.S.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Traditional program pathway, prepares a practice-ready professional with the requisite knowledge and skills to provide both direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations encompassing all age groups. The role of the baccalaureate graduate incorporates the areas of liberal education, professional values, core competencies, core knowledge and professional role development. The baccalaureate graduate is a member of the profession of nursing and as such embodies multiple roles including designer, manager and coordinator of care for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations across the life span. The BSN graduate nurse will have knowledge and be competent in providing education based on research and will utilize leadership skills to always be an advocate for the most vulnerable. Educational emphasis is placed on critical thinking, research, management and leadership to provide nurses a broader understanding of issues affecting both patient care and healthcare delivery in today’s complex and dynamic healthcare environment.
Program Details
- Requires 180 QH, including General Education, for completion
- Requires a cumulative NLU GPA of 2.5 or higher for graduation
- Requires a minimum grade of C in coursework applied to the degree - major coursework, general education coursework, and elective coursework
- Program retention requirements:
- If a student fails a major course requirement, they must retake and successfully pass it the second time before progressing in the program. If the student is unsuccessful the second time, they will be dismissed from the program. Students cannot enroll in the same major course requirement a third time.
- Students must pass all components of a nursing course - didactic, lab (L) and/or clinical (C) - in the same term. Failure in one component will result in administrative withdrawal from all components. Students must then repeat all components in the subsequent term.
- Students may choose to pursue a general minor or concentration in keeping with Undergraduate policy with the below understanding:
- Addition of a minor or concentration will result in more than 180 credits of coursework
- Addition of a minor or concentration may impact financial aid; students should consult with Student Finance in advance of adding a minor or concentration.
- GEN 203 is not required for transfer students. Freshman students must complete GEN 103.
- Any pre-requisites and program specific general education requirements can be waived at the discretion of the Nursing director if it is determined that required content was delivered in the context of other coursework. Course waivers do not impact the required 180 credit minimum for degree conferral.
- Major coursework that is part of the professional nursing sequence can’t be transferred. The professional sequence includes HTH 203, HTH 301, and all NUR courses in the major (except NUR 100 and HTH 201).
- Major coursework that is not part of the professional sequence is transferable as outlined below:
- An introductory nursing course (NUR 100) can be evaluated for eligibility on a case-by-case basis through syllabus review and Nursing director decision. A minimum grade of C is required.
- A nutrition course (HTH 201) can be evaluated for eligibility if it includes content on nutrition across the lifespan. A minimum grade of C is required.
- While not a prerequisite to Full Admission/starting the Nursing Professional Sequence, PHI 107 or another introductory philosophy course must be complete (with a C or higher) before students take PHI 205 in Term 5 of clinical work
- PHI 205 must be taken after the start of clinical coursework in the professional nursing sequence and is not eligible for transfer by B.S. Nursing students. Earlier equivalencies no longer apply for any new or returning students going forward.
- Requirements for transfer credit application in the B.S. Nursing, Traditional pathway:
- Course age limit applies to all prerequisite Science coursework as described in Admissions Requirements
- Students whose science coursework falls outside established course limits but who have current and long-standing professional experience applying science knowledge can request a review by the Nursing director for credit applicability. A current CV must accompany the request, and references may be requested.
- All coursework considered for transfer must be from an institutionally accredited college or university
- Credit for Prior Learning acceptance criteria:
- Institutional CPL credit limit applies
- No CPL is accepted for B.S. Nursing major requirements
- Institutional CPL policy is applicable to Communications course requirements and electives only. Any type of CPL credit, including Sophia and StraighterLine, can be used to fulfill these requirements.
- Program pre-requisites and program specific general education requirements, except Nutrition, can be fulfilled through the following nationally recognized standard examinations only: AP, IB, CLEP, and DANTES
- Course age requirements apply
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students will be able to:
PLO1. Integrate knowledge from liberal arts, science, and nursing science as the basis of critical thinking and clinical judgment in professional nursing practice.
PLO2. Plan and implement evidence-based nursing interventions utilizing a systems approach (i.e., nursing process) to meet the health care needs of individuals and communities across the age span in diverse settings.
PLO3. Utilize information technology ethically and effectively to support clinical judgment and the achievement of patient outcomes in professional nursing practice.
PLO4. Demonstrate the use of effective communication skills to collaborate with patients, families and the interdisciplinary/interprofessional healthcare team.
PLO5. Utilize leadership concepts and skills to guide clinical judgment in the practice of professional nursing.
PLO6. Integrate ethical and social values along with legal knowledge to support clinical judgment and decision making in professional nursing practice.
PLO7. Value lifelong learning as a necessary component of professional nursing practice.
PLO8. Implement ethical nursing care by accepting responsibility and accountability for patient outcomes in professional nursing practice.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the Undergraduate Admission requirements, the following apply:
- Freshman students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Transfer students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Students below a 3.0 incoming GPA, high school or transfer, are not eligible for B.S. Nursing admission
- Students with a lower GPA who are committed to pursuing Nursing should speak to their Enrollment Advisor about options to complete coursework for GPA improvement before re-applying to the B.S. Nursing
- Existing NLU students wishing to join the B.S. Nursing must complete a Change to Program form and will be evaluated for eligibility according to the following policies:
- Students who have completed 15 QH or more at NLU must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Students who have completed less than 15 QH at NLU will have eligibility determined by their incoming GPA (either high school or transfer)
- Two-step admission process for the B.S. Nursing, Traditional pathway:
- Step 1: Students are admitted to NLU with a Preliminary Admission status at the Pre-Nursing classification in the BSN, Traditional pathway. While in the Preliminary Admission status, students will work with their academic advisors/coaches to complete all prerequisite coursework needed to move into the Professional Nursing Course Sequence, Traditional pathway.
- Upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C (science and non-science) and minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, students are eligible to move to the second step in the admission process. Students who complete all prerequisites coursework at NLU and follow the suggested course sequence will reach this point at the end of the sixth term.
- Students whose cumulative undergraduate GPA is between 2.75 and 2.99 may petition to move to the second step in High Potential Admission status
- Any transfer of science prerequisite coursework is subject to the below time limitations:
- Science pre-requisite coursework taken outside a conferred degree has an age limit of 5 years
- Science prerequisite coursework taken within a conferred degree (associate's) has an age limit of 7 years
- Prerequisite courses criteria and requirements:
- Two-attempt limit on all prerequisite courses taken at NLU (including course withdrawals)
- Students may not begin the Nursing Professional Sequence (NUR 200) with any prerequisites in progress or unmet
- Science prerequisites:
- SCI 102/ SCI 102L - Survey of Biological Science and Lab
- SCI 200/ SCI 200L - Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab
- SCI 305/ SCI 305L - Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab
- SCI 311/ SCI 311L - Microbiology and Lab
- SCI 112 - Chemistry for Healthcare or other chemistry course with organic and biochemistry components
- HTH 201 - Nutrition for Healthcare or other relevant nutrition course
- Non-Science prerequisites:
- PSY 101 - Intro to Psychology
- PSY 315 - Lifespan Development
- MTH 101 - Introduction to Mathematical Concepts or other college-level mathematics course
- Step 2: Students are fully admitted to the BSN program. At this time, the admission status will change to Admitted (with High Potential if petition) and students are eligible to begin the professional course sequence, Traditional pathway.
- Students must have an admissions status of Admitted before beginning the first course in the professional course sequence - NUR 200
- International transcripts must be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluator
- Course descriptions and syllabi must be submitted for all program-specific general education requirements to be considered for transfer credit. This also applies to NUR 100 and HTH 201.
Required Courses
General Education Requirements
Communications
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Humanities and Fine Arts
| PHI 107 | Introduction to Ethics and Social Critique | 5 |
| PHI 205 | Ethics in Healthcare | 5 |
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
| MTH 101 | Introduction to Mathematical Concepts | 5 |
| MTH 102 | Statistical Foundations | 5 |
| SCI 102 | Survey of Biological Science | 5 |
| SCI 102L | Survey of Biological Science Lab | 2 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Program Specific General Education Requirements
Note: Students may use any college level mathematics course in lieu of MTH 101.
Additional General Education Requirements
Major Requirements - 97 QH
| HTH 201 | Nutrition for Healthcare | 5 |
| HTH 203 | Pathophysiology | 5 |
| HTH 301 | Genetics and Genomics in Healthcare | 5 |
| NUR 100 | Introduction to Professional Nursing and Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 200 | Foundations of Nursing Practice I | 5 |
| NUR 200C | Foundations of Nursing Practice I Lab/Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 200L | Foundations of Nursing Practice I Lab | 1 |
| NUR 210 | Foundations of Nursing Practice II | 5 |
| NUR 210C | Foundations of Nursing Practice II Lab/Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 210L | Foundations of Nursing Practice II Lab | 1 |
| NUR 220L | Nursing Success Support Corequisite Lab | 0 |
| NUR 300 | Pharmacology | 5 |
| NUR 302 | Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice | 5 |
| NUR 303 | Issues in Professional Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 304 | Adult Health I Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 304C | Adult Health I Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 305 | Gynecologic and Obstetric Health Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 305C | Gynecologic and Obstetric Health Nursing Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 306 | Child Health Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 306C | Child Health Nursing Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 400 | Population Health Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 400C | Population Health Nursing Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 401 | Behavioral Health Nursing | 5 |
| NUR 401C | Behavioral Health Nursing Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 402 | Adult Health II | 5 |
| NUR 402C | Adult Health II Clinical | 2 |
| NUR 403 | Leadership in Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 405C | Transition to Practice Immersion Clinical | 3 |
Program Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. Students may pursue a general minor or concentration to fulfill these hours.
Additional Program Policies
Nursing Program Progression Policy for students who have stopped out of the program but have been away less than one full calendar year (applies to all B.S. Nursing program pathways).
Students in the professional nursing course sequence who have been away from clinical coursework for two or more terms must audit (excludes summer term for students in traditional pathway), at no cost, NUR 210 L/C or NUR 204 L/C, depending on pathway, prior to resuming the full professional sequence. The only exception to this policy is students who have only passed NUR 200 L/C in the clinical requirements; these students are able to move into the NUR 210 series in keeping with their established course sequence without re-auditing previously completed coursework.
Nursing Program Re-Entry and Re-Admission Policy (applies to all B.S. Nursing program pathways):
- Governs requirements to review completed prerequisites for course age limits and overall prerequisite course requirements for students who have been away from the BSN for a calendar year or more.
- BSN Re-Entry applies to students who have been away from NLU for a minimum of four quarters (one calendar year) and a maximum of seven consecutive quarters (below two calendar years):
- All students must complete the re-entry process
- Pre-Nursing students with missing prerequisites will have their coursework reviewed for changes and course age limits
- Nursing students who were fully admitted with no missing prerequisites but did not start the professional sequence will have their coursework reviewed for changes and course age limits
- Students who successfully started the professional sequence (completed clinical coursework with a C or higher) must audit (at no charge) in their first term back the most recently completed of the following: NUR 200C/L; NUR 210C/L; NUR 204C/L
- BSN Re-Admission - applies to students who have been away from the BSN for 8 or more consecutive academic quarters (over two calendar years):
- All students must re-apply to NLU for reconsideration for BSN admission
- All students, regardless of prior admission or professional sequence status, will have prerequisite coursework reviewed for course age limits and changes in prerequisite course requirements
- Students who successfully started the professional sequence (completed clinical coursework with a C or higher) must audit (at no charge) in their first term back the most recently completed of the following: NUR 200C/L; NUR 210C/L; NUR 204C/L