2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - RN to B.S.N.
The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Program is specifically designed for individuals currently working on or having completed academic preparation as an associate degree prepared nurse. Classes include content on research, evidence-based practice, safety and quality, professional identity, informatics, emergency preparedness, leadership, community and population health nursing.
For many associate degree prepared RNs, completing a B.S.N. degree affords additional career opportunities and a broader scope of practice. The RN-B.S.N. Program is designed at a part-time pace and is currently being offered as a fully online program with applied learning and practicum experiences in the senior year. Individualized program plans based on previously completed coursework are created for each applicant.
Admission
- You must complete the RN-B.S.N. application to Grand Valley State University and seek admission as a degree-seeking student. Upon admission to GVSU, you must participate in Transfer Student Advising and Registration.
- To be admitted to the RN-B.S.N. program, a prospective student must have earned an overall GPA of 3.0 or have earned a 3.0 GPA within their last 15 to 16 credits. In addition, a student must demonstrate completion of the required prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0).
During enrollment in the senior sequence NUR 400-level courses, students must do the following:
- Complete comprehensive health compliance requirements including, but not limited to, a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening. It is the responsibility of the student to establish and maintain all compliance requirements. Clinical practicum sites can refuse to accept students who have not successfully completed all GVSU health requirements as well as those who have received exemptions through GVSU. Because clinical sites have the right to refuse a student's placement based on their health compliance status this may negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate. Please note: If there is illegal activity in the background check/fingerprinting or if there is evidence of one or more prohibited substance(s) in the drug test, the clinical practicum sites have the right to refuse a student's placement, which may negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate.
- Be licensed as an RN in their state of residency in preparation for the clinical practicum experiences in the senior nursing sequence. Timing of providing proof of RN licensure occurs in the senior sequence as communicated by KCON. The student's RN licensure must remain unencumbered while enrolled in the RN-B.S.N. program.
Requirements for a Major in Nursing
RN-B.S.N. students are required to
- Fulfill the university general education requirements;
- Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit for graduation; and
- Earn 58 credits at a four-year institution with the last 30 uninterrupted credits earned at GVSU.
Prerequisite Courses:
- BMS 310 - Basic Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits) OR BOTH WRT 130 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch II (3 credits) or an Honors Sequence Course
Prior Learning
- NUR 496: RN-BSN Professional Learning Registered Nurse Licensure (up-to-32 credits awarded for proof of unencumbered RN licensure in state of residency)
Required Nursing Courses
- NUR 265 - Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 311 - Dimensions of Nursing Practice (2 credits)
- NUR 312 - Professional Nursing Issues (2 credits)
- NUR 411 - Community-based Nursing Care (4 credits) (SWS)
- NUR 412 - Nursing Care for Populations (4 credits)
- NUR 414 - Collaboration for Nurses (2 credits)
- NUR 456 - Transformative Nursing Leadership (4 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework
Junior Level
These nursing courses can be taken in any order and include:
- NUR 311 - Dimensions of Nursing Practice (2 credits)
- Prerequisite or general education course (3 credits)
- NUR 312 - Professional Nursing Issues (2 credits)
- Prerequisite or general education course (3 credits)
- NUR 265 - Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice (3 credits)
- Issues/elective (3 credits)
Senior Level
These nursing courses are offered once a year in a specific sequence of three semesters and include:
- NUR 411 - Community-based Nursing Care (4 credits) (SWS)
- NUR 412 - Nursing Care for Populations (4 credits)
- NUR 414 - Collaboration for Nurses (2 credits)
- NUR 456 - Transformative Nursing Leadership (4 credits)
To progress in the B.S.N. program, a minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in the prerequisite, required, corequisite, and all nursing courses.
A grade less than a C (2.0) is considered a failure in all required B.S.N. courses. Students who fail more than one required course will not be allowed to remain in the program. Withdrawal from a course when "not in good standing" will be considered a course failure regardless of when the withdrawal occurs.