Description and Outcomes

The Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers a dynamic curriculum designed to organize and integrate content, skills, and procedures, increase your knowledge and competence, and provide the foundation for progressively higher levels of nursing practice.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is considered essential for registered nurses seeking broader professional responsibilities and career opportunities. Baccalaureate-level nurses are typically generalists that provide direct and indirect patient care. The program emphasizes professional growth and continuous learning, and features a capstone course and a professional development plan that includes career planning.

Upon successful completion of the required plan of study and all other graduation requirements, you may be academically prepared to apply to take the licensing examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN^®). Refer to the Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams section for important program disclosure information.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree prepares members of the nursing profession who are effective in the integration of evidence as a foundation for practice. The program emphasizes professional growth and lifelong learning by building upon a foundation of the arts, sciences, and humanities. Program outcomes promote leadership in a culturally diverse and global health care system that is rapidly changing. Graduates are prepared to provide direct and indirect care for individuals, families, communities and populations.

The Prelicensure BSN program option provides a comprehensive foundation for the development of nurses who are safe, effective practitioners. Program outcomes align with professional nursing standards and guidelines. Using courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities as a foundation, the curriculum integrates several learning modes, including theory, lab, clinical, and simulation experiences that incorporate the knowledge, skills, and values essential for professional nursing practice. The core courses cover in-depth physical assessment, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, information technology, leadership, and public health nursing. Also, you may choose nursing electives, which can serve as precertification preparation for subspecialty areas of nursing, including hospice/palliative care nursing, transcultural nursing, faith community nursing, and holistic nursing. Delivery of the content is through distance and onsite learning. Graduates are prepared to provide care across the lifespan, manage various health conditions along the wellness/illness continuum, and possess a foundation for progressively higher levels of nursing practice.

Program Length

The Prelicensure BSN option of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program consists of a minimum of 182 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of the Prelicensure BSN program option, you will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Discipline-Specific Outcomes

1. Integrate theoretical and empirical knowledge from the arts, sciences, and humanities to support nursing practice.
2. Apply organizational and systems leadership concepts in providing safe, cost-effective, and quality nursing care.
3. Integrate evidence in planning, implementing, and evaluating outcomes of care.
4. Implement safe and appropriate use of informatics and emerging health care technologies in the delivery of nursing care.
5. Analyze the influence of power, politics, policy, finance, and regulatory guidelines on health systems and nursing practice.
6. Employ interprofessional communication to lead collaborative teams in delivering patient centered care.
7. Incorporate health promotion, prevention, and risk-reduction strategies to provide population-focused care.
8. Demonstrate clinical reasoning that reflects ethical and professional nursing values.
9. Deliver nursing care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations to achieve positive outcomes in a variety of health care settings.

General Education Literacies and Professional Competencies

In addition to the discipline-specific outcomes, general education literacies and professional competencies are integrated throughout your academic program. You can review the general education literacies and professional competencies associated with your academic program in the undergraduate School of General Education section of this Catalog.

Program Availability

For program availability, please refer to the U.S. State and Other Approvals section and Program Availability Information.

Policies

Admissions Requirements

You must meet the below admissions requirements in addition to Purdue Global's general requirements.

If you have held prior health care licensure or certification, it may be subject to additional review during the admissions process. Past disciplinary action may be grounds for denial of admission to the program.

If applying for admission, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years old at the program's start date.
2. Complete an informational interview with an admissions representative.
3. Submit proof of evidence of high school graduation or a GED certificate and official transcripts from all other colleges and universities.
4. Achieve a passing score on the standardized admission examination that evaluates basic academic skills. Additional information about the exam is available through the School of Nursing.
5. Complete an admissions interview conducted by the Director of Nursing or designee.
6. Complete enrollment activities, including submission of the Student Expectations Acknowledgment Form. You must also submit a request for a criminal background check to the Purdue Global-approved vendor prior to the first day of your first term. If an approved background check is not on file with the University prior to the first day of your first term, your enrollment will be cancelled.
7. Pay all applicable application fees.

Progression Requirements

1. You must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each of the required courses for the program and attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
2. You will be withdrawn from the program if unable to successfully complete a course on the second attempt.
3. Prior to beginning any nursing major course, you must successfully complete the following courses with a minimum grade of "B": 

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   SC121	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	5
   SC131	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	5
   SC246	Fundamentals of Microbiology	5
   MM212	College Algebra	5
   MM207	Statistics	5

   If you are applying for transfer credit for any of the courses listed above, the prior course must have a grade of “B” or better to transfer. You will have one opportunity to repeat a course. If you fail to achieve a "B" on the second attempt, you will be dismissed from the program.
4. In order to remain enrolled in the program, you must submit proof of a negative result on drug/chemical substance testing by the deadline specified by the location where you are enrolled. You must provide a valid, verifiable, current prescription and evidence of appropriate medical supervision for medications that may affect your academic or clinical performance during the nursing program. If you test positive and do not have a prescription as described above, you will not be permitted to start the program or re-enroll at a later date.
5. Prior to the start of the sequence of clinical courses, you will be required to submit the following:
   1. Proof of a physical exam no more than 1 year old. The exam must be signed by a medical doctor, physician assistant, doctor of osteopathy, or nurse practitioner.
   2. Documentation of required health examinations, tests, and immunizations.
   3. Current American Heart Association CPR certification (also called BLS) at the health care provider level; online and American Red Cross will not be accepted. Certification must be valid during your full tenure in the program.

   You may be required to pass a second criminal background check prior to beginning certain courses that require clinical experiences.

6. Some facilities may require additional documentation, as necessary, to comply with specific federal and/or state requirements for student nurse candidates. Failure to submit appropriate documentation to participate in clinical experiences by the deadline will result in dismissal from the University.

7. If you are enrolled in the Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Lincoln location, you are required to complete your clinical experiences at various sites throughout the state of Nebraska and Southeast Iowa. If you are enrolled in the Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Augusta location, you are required to complete your clinical experiences at various sites throughout the state of Maine. Faculty will assign you to a clinical site, and you will be supervised by a faculty clinical instructor. You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation, housing, and availability to attend clinical experiences. Clinical locations may change at any time. You are required to complete all clinical activities assigned. Failure to meet clinical attendance requirements will result in failure of the course.

Accelerated LPN-to-BSN 

Effective September 19, 2018, the Accelerated LPN-to-BSN is no longer accepting enrollments.

In addition to meeting the above progression requirements, students enrolled in the Accelerated LPN-to-BSN must also meet the following requirements:

• Active, unrestricted LPN license
• Resume outlining at least 1 year of LPN experience
• Letter of recommendation indicating satisfactory LPN job performance from a supervisor who has worked with the LPN for at least 6 months
• Letter from the LPN applicant outlining interest in the LPN-to-BSN curriculum and requesting placement in the Accelerated LPN-to-BSN curriculum provided to the Director of Nursing at least 4 weeks before a scheduled Boot Camp session
• Successful completion of the LPN Boot Camp

Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams

Certain state certification and licensure boards have specific educational requirements for programs to lead to a license or nongovernmental certification that is a precondition for employment in a recognized occupation.

Unless otherwise specified, Purdue Global's programs are not designed to meet any specific state’s licensure or certification requirements. If certain licensed occupations, vocations, or professions are not explicitly listed, Purdue Global has not made a determination with respect to the licensure or certification requirements of those occupations, vocations, or professions. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please see Purdue Global’s Program Availability Information to determine enrollment eligibility.

You are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Such requirements may change during the course of your program. You are not automatically certified in any way upon program completion. Although certain programs are designed to prepare you to take various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee you will be eligible to take these exams or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of education and/or degree requirements, not having a criminal record, meeting other certification requirements, or the program or the University itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure.

The Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed to help you become academically and clinically qualified to provide outstanding patient care. Upon successful completion of the program of study, you may be academically prepared to apply to take the national licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN^®). This program meets the educational requirements to obtain licensure in the states of Maine and Nebraska. For more information on additional eligibility requirements, please visit:

• Maine Board of Nursing: http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensing/index.html
• Nebraska Board of Nursing: http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Nurse-Licensing.aspx

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Requirements
CM107	College Composition I	5
CM220	College Composition II	5
CS204	Professionalism - Theory and Practice in the Global Workplace	3
MM212	College Algebra	5
SC246	Fundamentals of Microbiology	5
Arts and Humanities (select one of the following):		5
HU200	Arts and Humanities - Modern Creative Expressions
HU245	Ethics
HU250	Humanities and Culture
Social Science (select one of the following):		5
SS211	The 1960s - Reshaping the American Dream
SS236	People, Power, and Politics - An Introduction to American Government
SS250	The Technological Revolution - A Social Scientific Approach
Total Core Requirements		33
Major Requirements
MM207	Statistics	5
PS124	Introduction to Psychology	5
SC115	Principles of Nutrition	5
SC121	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	5
SC131	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	5
SC156	Principles of Chemistry 1	5
or SS144	Sociology
SC435	Genetics	6
Total Major Requirements		36
Open Electives Requirements
Open Electives		10
Total Open Electives Requirements		10
Nursing Major Requirements
NU301	Fundamentals of Nursing Care	6
NU301ME	Fundamentals of Nursing Care Clinical	4
NU305	Clinical Pharmacology	5
NU307	Physical Assessment	5
NU309	Pathophysiology for Nursing	4
NU310	Research Guided Evidence-Based Nursing Practice	6
NU311	Nursing Care of Adults I	5
NU311ME	Nursing Care of Adults I Clinical	5
NU321	Nursing Care of Childbearing Families	4
NU321ME	Nursing Care of Childbearing Families Clinical	3
NU327	Nursing Care of Children, Adolescents, and Families	4
NU327ME	Nursing Care of Children, Adolescents, and Families Clinical	3
NU330	Nursing Care of the Mental Health Patient and Family	4
NU330ME	Nursing Care of the Mental Health Patient and Family Clinical	2
NU341	Nursing Care of Adults II	5
NU341ME	Nursing Care of Adults II Clinical	5
NU411	Nursing Care of Adults III	4
NU411ME	Nursing Care of Adults III Clinical	3
NU418	Nursing Care of the Geriatric Patient	4
NU418ME	Nursing Care of the Geriatric Patient Clinical	2
NU422	Leadership, Management, Issues, and Trends in Nursing	5
NU452	Community-Based Nursing Care	4
NU452ME	Community-Based Nursing Care Clinical	2
NU496	Bachelor's Capstone in Nursing for Entry-Level Practice	4
NU496ME	Bachelor's Capstone in Nursing for Entry-Level Practice Clinical	5
Total Nursing Major Requirements		103
TOTAL CREDITS		182

1	Students enrolled at a Maine location will take SS144 Sociology; students enrolled at the Lincoln location will take SC156 Principles of Chemistry.

Accelerated LPN-to-BSN

Effective September 19, 2018, the Accelerated LPN-to-BSN is no longer accepting enrollments.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Requirements
CM107	College Composition I	5
CM220	College Composition II	5
CS204	Professionalism - Theory and Practice in the Global Workplace	3
MM212	College Algebra	5
SC246	Fundamentals of Microbiology	5
Arts and Humanities (select one of the following):		5
HU200	Arts and Humanities - Modern Creative Expressions
HU245	Ethics
HU250	Humanities and Culture
Social Science (select one of the following):		5
SS211	The 1960s - Reshaping the American Dream
SS236	People, Power, and Politics - An Introduction to American Government
SS250	The Technological Revolution - A Social Scientific Approach
Total Core Requirements		33
Major Requirements
MM207	Statistics	5
PS124	Introduction to Psychology	5
SC115	Principles of Nutrition	5
SC121	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	5
SC131	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	5
SC156	Principles of Chemistry	5
SC435	Genetics	6
Total Major Requirements		36
Open Electives Requirements
Open Electives		10
Total Open Electives Requirements		10
Nursing Major Requirements
NU302	Transitions I for LPN-to-BSN Students	4
NU302NE	Transitions I For LPN-to-BSN Clinical	2
NU303	Transitions II for LPN-to-BSN Students	4
NU303NE	Transitions II for LPN-to-BSN Clinical	2
NU305	Clinical Pharmacology	5
NU307	Physical Assessment	5
NU309	Pathophysiology for Nursing	4
NU310	Research Guided Evidence-Based Nursing Practice	6
NU311	Nursing Care of Adults I	5
NU311ME	Nursing Care of Adults I Clinical	5
NU341	Nursing Care of Adults II	5
NU341ME	Nursing Care of Adults II Clinical	5
NU411	Nursing Care of Adults III	4
NU411ME	Nursing Care of Adults III Clinical	3
NU422	Leadership, Management, Issues, and Trends in Nursing	5
NU452	Community-Based Nursing Care	4
NU452ME	Community-Based Nursing Care Clinical	2
NU496	Bachelor's Capstone in Nursing for Entry-Level Practice	4
NU496ME	Bachelor's Capstone in Nursing for Entry-Level Practice Clinical	5
Prior LPN Experience and Coursework 1		24
Total Nursing Major Requirements		103
TOTAL CREDITS		182

1	Students will be awarded 24 credits for successfully completing the Accelerated LPN-to-BSN progression requirements.