Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

B.S.N. Program Outcomes

The B.S.N. program provides students with a liberal arts and science foundation along with concentrated study in the professional nursing major. Students develop competency in the assessment of health needs and in health promotion, maintenance, and restoration using a holistic framework. A rich variety of settings that reflect an array of actual and potential health problems experienced by individuals, families, and communities throughout the life cycle are used to support the development of clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and the role of a professional nurse.

The B.S.N. program integrates The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021), Division 21 of the Oregon Nurse Practice Act (OSBN), and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan (NCSBN, 2023).

The B.S.N. program of study prepares graduates to:

1. Provide safe, high-quality nursing care to individuals.
2. Deliver holistic nursing care to populations across a health care continuum.
3. Contribute to the nursing profession.
4. Improve health care delivery across the continuum of care.
5. Create and support healthy work environments.

Admission

Admission for First-year Students

Admission for Transfer Students

University of Portland non-nursing majors who wish to transfer into the nursing program must apply as a transfer student and be considered for admission with external applicants. The application process for internal transfers is very competitive and there is no guarantee of acceptance into the transfer cohort.

For transfer students, acceptance into the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:

1. A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in college courses at the time of admission.
2. A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in the prerequisite B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses of Anatomy and Physiology with labs and Microbiology with lab at the time of admission.
3. The grade earned in courses transferred from an institution on the quarter system will be calculated against the semester credit hour equivalency. Examples include: 3 quarter credit hours equal 2 semester credit hours; 4 quarter credit hours equal 2.67 semester credit hours; 5 quarter credit hours equal 3.33 semester credit hours.
4. Completion of a high school or college-level general chemistry course.
5. Completion of all prerequisite courses by the time the student begins nursing (NRS) courses at the University of Portland. Prerequisite coursework must be taken an accredited college or university and must be graded with a C or higher. Pass/No Pass is not accepted for prerequisites. Students may not audit a required prerequisite course.
6. Satisfactory completion of all professional practice entry requirements, including background check, clean drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.

Prerequisite Courses

The prerequisite courses required for admission to the B.S.N. program for transfer students are:

UP Core Foundation Level Requirements — credit hours may vary

See UP Core Requirements and Core Curriculum Transfer Policy

The number of credit hours may vary depending on where these courses are completed.

Two of the three core requirements in the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the B.S.N. Foundation Requirements.

B.S.N. Foundation Requirements — credit hours may vary

• Foundations of Biology – If taken at UP, BIO 205 and BIO 005. If taken outside of UP, content must include the introductory principles of biology, including the nature of scientific inquiry, biochemistry, metabolism, protein structure and function, cell structure and function, and genetics. No lab component required. 
• Anatomy and Physiology with labs – If taken at UP, BIO 305, BIO 365, BIO 306, and BIO 366. If taken outside of UP, a full series with labs that focuses on the structure and function of the human body, including cells, tissues and organs of the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, with an emphasis on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
• Microbiology with lab – If taken at UP, BIO 359 and BIO 379. If taken outside of UP, one course that focuses on the structure, physiology, and genetics of cellular microorganisms and viruses, discussed in relation to the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases including study of the immune system, and the accompanying laboratory investigation of microorganisms that affect human health with an emphasis on proper handling of specimens, selective and differential cultivation, laboratory diagnosis, and evaluation of antimicrobial agents. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
• Statistics – If taken at UP, MTH 161. If taken outside of UP, one course.
• A high school or college level general chemistry course is also required for admission.
• Any University of Portland student who plans to apply for transfer into the School of Nursing & Health Innovations and wishes to transfer a prerequisite B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course from another institution must first obtain the permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations prior to registration in the course. Such permission is required to ensure that the course is suitable for transfer to the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.

Electives — Additional Credit Requirements

The transfer BSN program of study requires students to complete 67 semester credits at the University of Portland. The total number of credits required for the BSN degree is 120. The difference must be made up in credits accepted in transfer upon matriculation. Credits from accredited colleges and universities, some AP, IB, and CLEP exam credits, and dual enrollment credits may be accepted in transfer.

Progression

Progression for First-year Students

Progression in the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:

1. Completion of all required 100- and 200-level nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis by the end of spring semester of the sophomore year.
2. Completion of all UP Core Foundation Level Requirements by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
3. Completion of all B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
4. Students may not audit a UP Core Requirement, B.S.N. Foundation Requirement, or B.S.N. Major Requirement (see “B.S.N. Degree Requirements”) course.
5. A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
6. Completion of the following B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses with a grade of B- or better: BIO 305/BIO 365 and BIO 306/BIO 366 (Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs), and BIO 359/BIO 379 (Microbiology for Nurses with lab).
7. Any University of Portland School of Nursing & Health Innovations student wishing to transfer any B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course from another institution must first obtain the permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations prior to registration in the course. Such permission is required to ensure that the course is suitable for transfer to the School of Nursing & Health Innovations. The student must earn a grade of B- or better in the following B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses they wish to transfer: Anatomy and Physiology with labs, and Microbiology with lab. For any other courses a student wishes to transfer, a grade of C or better is required. A grade of Pass/No Pass is not allowed.
8. The grade earned in courses transferred from an institution on the quarter system will be calculated against the semester credit hour equivalency. Examples include: 3 quarter credit hours equal 2 semester credit hours; 4 quarter credit hours equal 2.67 semester credit hours; 5 quarter credit hours equal 3.33 semester credit hours.
9. A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
10. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better before progressing to the next semester. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis must be successfully completed to meet degree requirements.
11. A grade of C- or lower in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
12. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or withdraw from a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may attempt the course a second time. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in or withdraw from their second attempt of a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
13. A required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be repeated only once if a grade of No Pass was received on the first attempt. Students who receive a second grade of No Pass when they repeat a required nursing (NRS) course graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
14. Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements, including background check, drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.
15. Exceptions to the above progression requirements may be granted on an individual student basis and upon approval of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ associate dean for academic affairs.

Additional Progression Information

• Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their faculty advisor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.N. program of study. The UP Study Abroad program recommends a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher before going abroad but will consider applications from anyone with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above.
• Student conduct issues will be taken into consideration for progression in the nursing program.
• Students who do not complete professional practice requirements as directed will not be allowed to attend professional practice experiences (lab, simulation, or clinical) and may lose their professional practice placement. Until professional practice requirements are obtained, students will not be able to participate in the professional practice course’s activities or assignments, potentially resulting in an inability to demonstrate the professional practice course outcomes necessary to pass the course. Progression in the program may be delayed.
• Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into or during professional practice courses may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• See the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook for additional grounds for dismissal from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook.

Progression for Transfer Students

For internal and external transfer students, progression in the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:

1. Students may not audit a UP Core or B.S.N. Major Requirement course.
2. A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
3. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better before progressing to the next semester. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis must be successfully completed to meet degree requirements.
4. A grade of C- or lower in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
5. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or withdraw from a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may attempt the course a second time. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in or withdraw from their second attempt of a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
6. A required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be repeated only once if a grade of No Pass was received on the first attempt. Students who receive a second grade of No Pass when they repeat a required nursing (NRS) course graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
7. Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements including background check, drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.
8. Exceptions to the above progression requirements may be granted on an individual student basis and upon approval of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ associate dean for academic affairs.

Additional Progression Information

• Student conduct issues will be taken into consideration for progression in the nursing program.
• Students who do not complete professional practice requirements as directed will not be allowed to attend professional practice experiences (lab, simulation, or clinical) and may lose their professional practice placement. Until professional practice requirements are obtained, students will not be able to participate in the professional practice course’s activities or assignments, potentially resulting in an inability to demonstrate the professional practice course outcomes necessary to pass the course. Progression in the program may be delayed.
• Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into or during professional practice courses may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• See the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook for additional grounds for dismissal from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
• All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook.