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Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program for RNs

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The Idaho State University School of Nursing Bachelor of Science Completion Program for Registered Nurses (RNs) is designed to provide advanced education and expand opportunities for currently licensed registered nurses and students concurrently enrolled in an Associate Degree RN program. Classes are taught online and one clinical course is required, which can be completed in the student's community of residence.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion program provides learning opportunities for students to prepare them for the role of the professional nurse in today's complex health care system.

More Information

Questions related to this degree program should be addressed to:

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Karen Ludwig, M. COUN

Academic Advisor

Office: Pocatello

208-282-4481

sonadvis@isu.edu

Schedule a Meeting

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Kimberly Gratiot, M.Ed.

Academic Advisor

Office: Meridian

208-373-1784

sonadvis@isu.edu

Schedule a Meeting

Program Overview

Program Information and Outcomes 

The School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion program offers the following:

  • Online and clinical courses: 16 NURS credits plus 6 requisite credits
  • Up to 18 credits in NURS 4400 can be awarded for related experiences through the Prior Learning Assessment
  • Students may concurrently enroll after completing their first term of their Associate Degree in Nursing Program
  • Course work can be completed in as few as two semesters based on individualized Plan of Study
  • Clinical rotations can be planned in student’s geographic location
  • Online educational methods provide for flexibility in completion of course work

Please see the BSN Completion Program Information for the requisite and upper division nursing courses.

If you have questions after looking through the School of Nursing website, please see the Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Undergraduate Nursing Programs Student Handbook

Program Outcomes

Completion of the undergraduate program provides the graduate with the abilities to:

  1. Evaluate critical thinking skills based upon nursing knowledge integration, the sciences and the humanities, in planning direct and indirect care for diverse populations in rural or urban settings.
  2. Develop individual traits and personal power to interact constructively with clients, families and communities.
  3. Evaluate the broad range of technology requirements.
  4. Create effective communication with clients, families, communities and other health care providers using verbal, non-verbal, electronic and/or written modalities.
  5. Evaluate the principles of population health needs.
  6. Value behaviors congruent with current standards of professional practice, and promote the nursing profession.
  7. Appraise basic nursing science information and develop expertise in the comprehensive care of clients, families, and communities.

The Importance of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is a critical first step for a career in professional nursing. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, recognizes the BS degree in nursing as the minimum educational requirement for a professional nursing practice. Recommendations by AACN state that education has a significant impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse clinician.

Nurses with BS degrees are well-prepared to meet the demands placed on today's nurse. Bachelor of Science nurses are prized for their skills in critical thinking, leadership, case management, and health promotion, and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, community hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting. Following the School of Nursing's curriculum prepares students to become professional registered nurses and includes the following essential components of all baccalaureate nursing programs: a liberal education, professional values, core competencies, core knowledge, and role development.

Finances

Cost of Attendance

Costs for tuition and fees at ISU are listed on the Cost of Attendance web page on the Finance and Administration website.

Professional Fees

In addition to ISU tuition and fees, a professional fee is assessed for all undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Nursing. Professional fees for the nursing programs are used to support faculty salaries, instruction support services, durable & disposable equipment and supplies, faculty and staff program travel, capital equipment and a reserve for maintenance and purchase of major capital items.

Current Professional Fees

The list of current professional fees for all School of Nursing programs can be found here on the Professional Fees page.

Scholarships

Idaho State University Scholarships

The School of Nursing annually awards over $100,000 in scholarships, and the School of Nursing scholarship application is available annually in April in the Bengal Online Scholarship System (BOSS).
Please see the Scholarship Office website for more information about scholarship opportunities available through ISU.

Travel Nursing

Nursing Education Scholarship awarded by Travel Nursing career organization.
Amount: $1,000.
Requirements: Accepted to or currently attending a full-time nursing or medical program at an accredited institution.
Travel Nursing Scholarship.

Nursing Scholarship

CampusRN has $15,000 in Scholarships Available to Nursing & Allied Health Students.

Career Opportunities

Nurse Careers

Search Thousands of Entry Level Jobs, Externships, & Scholarship Opportunities on CampusRN.

Faculty Openings

Apply for opportunities to teach right here at the Idaho State University School of Nursing. 

Nursing ALD

Browse their Free Job Board, Publications and Events

Requisite Courses

Our 2 requisite courses can be completed before or during program enrollment. All requisite courses must be completed with a C grade or higher.

Requisite Course
 ISU Course
ISU Credits
Pathobiology BIOL 2229 or BIOL 3306 3
Statistical Reasoning MATH 1153 3

We use all completed requisites combined with all completed ADRN courses to calculate the nursing application GPA and a minimum 2.0 GPA is required for the nursing application.

If courses are taken outside of Idaho State University, official transcripts verifying successful completion must be submitted to the ISU Registrar’s Office as part of the ISU application process.

Petitions to the School of Nursing may be required to establish equivalence for courses taken from other colleges or universities (see "School of Nursing Petition Process" below).

BSN Completion Program Information

NURS Curriculum

All NURS courses must be completed with a C grade or higher and a minimum 2.0 GPA is required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the General Education requirements prior to starting our upper-division nursing courses. Students are also encouraged to review the Baccalaureate Graduation Requirements.

Required NURS Courses
 ISU Course Number
ISU Credits
Professional Nursing NURS 3105 3
Evidence Based Nursing Practice NURS 3330 3
Foundations of Health Informatics for Nursing NURS 4180 2
Population Health Nursing and Clinical NURS 4200 & 4200C 3 & 2
*Leadership and Management in Nursing NURS 4220 3
Electives
   
*Experiential Learning Equivalency+ NURS 4400+ 1-18
Independent Study NURS 4491 1-6
Professional Nursing Synthesis NURS 4440 1-2
Role of the BS Prepared Nurse in Current Society
(can be substituted for NURS 3105)
NURS 4410 2
Evidence Based Research in Health Sciences
(can be substituted for NURS 3330)
DHS 4426 3

*NURS 4220 and NURS 4400 cannot be completed until student has earned their RN license.

+NURS 4400 requires the student to submit a portfolio for the School of Nursing and for Academic Affairs to review through the Prior Learning Assessment process. Starting in Fall 2021, up to 18 upper division credits may be awarded based on the student's experiences. The awarding of these credits is based on the individual student need as well as their experiences, and not all students will utilize the full number of credits. Please contact your advisor and the Student Opportunity Development Office prior to completing a portfolio.

School of Nursing Petition Process

Petitioning Courses

For any course that does not transfer into ISU as equivalent, students are welcome to submit a petition to the School of Nursing to see if the faculty will accept their course in place of the given School of Nursing undergraduate requirement.  Students are also welcome to submit a petition for a course they would like to take to see if the School of Nursing would pre-approve the course for our undergraduate requirements.

Petitions must include:

  • A completed form, including a signature and date
  • A copy of the course description for the course (a course syllabus is preferred)
  • An unofficial transcript with course completion (not needed if seeking pre-approval for a course)

Please send the completed information to the School of Nursing via email at sonadvis@isu.edu. Staff will process your petition and send to the faculty for review for the final decision. If the faculty approves your petition, an approved nursing petition means that your course will satisfy the undergraduate nursing requirement but will not show as equivalent to the ISU course in your ISU transcript. The petition process usually takes 2-3 weeks.

Petitioning Other Requirements

In some cases, students may want to petition School of Nursing requirements other than courses. These may include, but are not limited to, undergraduate nursing application requirements, undergraduate nursing admission requirements, or graduation requirements. These petitions must include:

  • A completed form, including a signature and date
  • A statement explaining the need for the petition
  • Any documentation you may have to support the petition

Students should contact the School of Nursing Academic Advisor for guidance on their nursing petition and/or University Petition.

Eligibility and Selection

Applicants are required to be admitted to ISU and apply separately to the School of Nursing.

To apply for admission Idaho State University, please fill out an Undergraduate Application.

  1. Apply as a degree-seeking student, undergraduate pre-nursing major.
  2. There is a $50.00 application fee to Idaho State University.
  3. Current ISU students do not need to reapply for admission.

Annual application openings for the Bachelor's Completion program track:

  1. Fall semester for a Spring semester start in the program
    • 8 a.m. September 15th through 5 p.m. November 15th
  2. Spring semester for a Summer semester start in the program
    • 8 a.m. December 1st through 5 p.m. February 1st
  3. Summer semester for a Fall semester start in the program
    • 8 a.m. April 1st through 5 p.m. June 1st

In addition to the general requirements of Idaho State University, applicants must meet the following program criteria:

  1. Enrollment in or completion of an Associate's Degree in Registered Nursing Program
  2. Cumulative 2.0 GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses.

Please review the Application Instructions for BS Completion Admission for more detailed information regarding application criteria, including important deadlines.

Acceptance to the School of Nursing is competitive and meeting admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. In addition to the general requirements of Idaho State University, the student must meet the following program criteria:

  1. Enrollment in or Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing Program
  2. 2.0 GPA – the cumulative GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses.


*There is a $50.00 application fee to the School of Nursing.

Application and Admission Requirements for Admission

Applicants are required to meet with a School of Nursing Academic Advisor to determine eligibility, no less than 24 hours prior to the application period closing; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor at least two (2) weeks prior to the application closing.

School of Nursing Advisor will confirm an applicant's eligibility to apply by reviewing the following items:

  1. Approval of any required course petitions no less than 15 days prior to the application closing date.
  2. Create an Academic Plan of Study with the Advisor to include
    • Schedule for completion of Nursing curriculum
    • Schedule for completion of corequisite classes (statistics and pathobiology)
    • Schedule for completion of any additional resident or upper division credits needed to meet ISU Bachelor Degree requirements
  3. Once the Advisor confirms an applicant's eligibility, they will provide the applicant with the application enrollment key to begin the School of Nursing application in ISU Community Moodle. ISU Community Moodle Application

Admission decisions will be made and sent out via email no later than two weeks after the closing date of the application.

Acceptance to the School of Nursing is contingent on the application meeting admission requirements.

Admission Process once accepted:

  1. Complete admission requirements.

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