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 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 at 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 School of Nursing and Health Innovations for Summer 2023-entry transfer students are:

University Core Curriculum Foundation Requirements — credit hours may vary

See Core Curriculum 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 Scientific and Quantitative Literacy and 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, one or two courses (depending on the school) that include(s) molecular biology, cellular biology, and genetics. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
• Anatomy and Physiology with labs – If taken at UP, BIO 305, BIO 365, BIO 306, and BIO 366. If taken outside of UP, one school year of coursework. 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 and the accompanying lab. 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. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
• 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 and 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 and 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 and Health Innovations.

Electives

Transfer students must have a minimum of 49 semester credit hours accepted in transfer to begin the B.S.N. program. Elective credit hours in writing, speech, science, foreign languages, or social sciences may be accepted to bring transfer students up to at least 49 semester credit hours, after the Foundation Level Core Curriculum and B.S.N. Foundation Requirement credits have been accepted. AP, IB, or CLEP credits may also be accepted.

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 by the end of spring semester of the sophomore year.
2. Completion of all Foundation Level University Core Curriculum Requirements by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year or with permission of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.
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 University Core Curriculum 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 B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses BIO 205/BIO 005 (Foundations of Biology with workshop), 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 with a grade of C or better.
7. A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in the B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses 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) by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
   • Any University of Portland School of Nursing and 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 and 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 and Health Innovations. The student must earn a grade of C or better in any B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course they wish to transfer. 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 must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better or Pass before progressing to the next semester.
11. A grade of C- or lower or No Pass in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course will result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
12. A required nursing (NRS) course may be repeated only once, regardless of whether it is repeated due to withdrawal or unsuccessful completion (a grade of C- or lower or No Pass).
13. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or No Pass in or withdraw from their second attempt (repeat) of a required nursing (NRS) course will be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
14. Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements, including background check, clean drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.

Additional Progression Information

• Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.N. program of study. The UP Studies 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 by the submission deadline will not be allowed to attend class or professional practice experiences, will lose their professional practice placement, and their progression in the program may be delayed.
• Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into professional practice courses will be dismissed from the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.
• Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.
• All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing and 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 University Core Curriculum 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 must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better or Pass before progressing to the next semester.
4. A grade of C- or lower or No Pass in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course will result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
5. A required nursing (NRS) course may be repeated only once, regardless of whether it is repeated due to withdrawal or unsuccessful completion (a grade of C- or lower or No Pass).
6. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or No Pass in or withdraw from their second attempt (repeat) of a required nursing (NRS) course will be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
7. Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements including background check, clean drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.

Additional Progression Information

• Transfer students may only study abroad in the summer semester between their junior and senior year. Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.N. program of study. The UP Studies 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 by the submission deadline will not be allowed to attend class or professional practice experiences, will lose their professional practice placement, and their progression in the program may be delayed.
• Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into professional practice courses will be dismissed from the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.
• Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing and Health Innovations.
• All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook.