Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program for RNs
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 primarily from the Pocatello campus through a hybrid-course model, integrating face to face and online formats into all courses. Clinical experiences can be completed in a student's geographic location within the state of Idaho.
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:
Program Overview
Program Information and Outcomes
The School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion program offers the following:
- Online and clinical courses: 15 NURS credits plus 6 requisite credits
- Up to 30 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:
- 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.
- Develop individual traits and personal power to interact constructively with clients, families and communities.
- Evaluate the broad range of technology requirements.
- Create effective communication with clients, families, communities and other health care providers using verbal, non-verbal, electronic and/or written modalities.
- Evaluate the principles of population health needs.
- Value behaviors congruent with current standards of professional practice, and promote the nursing profession.
- 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
B.S. Completion Program Estimated Costs - Per Semester page.
Scholarships
The School of Nursing annually awards approximately $40,000 in scholarships, and the School of Nursing scholarship application is available annually in April.
Please see the Scholarship Office website for more information about scholarship opportunities available through ISU. For the list of nursing scholarships under Division of Health Science, please see the "Scholarship Listings by College" web page.
Scholarship Resources Outside of ISU
The ISU Scholarship Office also maintains a page with other scholarship resources outside of ISU.
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.
NURS Course |
ISU Course Number |
ISU Credits |
| Evidence Based Nursing Practice | NURS 3330 or DHS 4426 | 3 |
| Foundations of Health Informatics for Nursing | NURS 4180 | 2 |
| Population Health Nursing and Clinical | NURS 4200 & 4200C | 5 |
| **Leadership and Management | NURS 4220 | 3 |
| **Role of the BS Prepared Nurse in Today’s Society | NURS 4410 | 2 |
| **Experiential Learning Equivalency | NURS 4400+ | 1-30 |
**NURS 4220, NURS 4400, and NURS 4410 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. Up to 30 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
School of Nursing Undergraduate Petition Form
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
The applicant is required to apply to Idaho State University and to the School of Nursing. The student must apply to and meet all requirements for admission to Idaho State University. Current Idaho State University students do not need to reapply to Idaho State University.
To apply to Idaho State University, please fill out an Undergraduate Application.
*There is a $50.00 application fee to Idaho State University. Apply as Undergraduate/Pre-Program Nursing.
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:
- Enrollment in or Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing Program
- 2.0 GPA – the cumulative GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses.
To apply to the School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion program, please visit the ISU Community Moodle Application site.
*There is a $50.00 application fee to the School of Nursing.
Application and Admission Requirements for Spring 2021 Admission
- Submit your unofficial transcripts for review and meet with adviser to discuss courses, petition process, program information, and application eligibility.
- Email transcripts and questions to sonadvis@isu.edu
- School of Nursing Undergraduate Petition Form
- Submit required documentation and compete application from August 1, 2020 through November 15, 2020.
Acceptance to the SON is competitive and meeting admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Admission decisions will be made and sent out via email in early December. If not accepted, contact a nursing advisor to discuss options.
Admission Process once accepted:
- Complete admission requirements.
- Successfully complete remaining rerequisite courses, NURS courses and complete associate nursing degree (If not already completed).
Eligibility and Selection
The applicant is required to apply to Idaho State University and to the School of Nursing. The student must apply to and meet all requirements for admission to Idaho State University. Current Idaho State University students do not need to reapply to Idaho State University.
To apply to Idaho State University, please fill out an Undergraduate Application.
*There is a $50.00 application fee to Idaho State University. Apply as Undergraduate/Pre-Program Nursing.
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:
- Enrollment in or Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing Program
- 2.0 GPA – the cumulative GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses.
To apply to the School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion program, please visit the ISU Community Moodle Application site.
*There is a $50.00 application fee to the School of Nursing.
Application and Admission Requirements for Fall 2021 Admission
- Submit your unofficial transcripts for review and meet with adviser to discuss courses, petition process, program information, and application eligibility.
- Email transcripts and questions to sonadvis@isu.edu
- School of Nursing Undergraduate Petition Form
- Submit required documentation and compete application from January 15, 2021 through April 15, 2021.
Acceptance to the SON is competitive and meeting admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Admission decisions will be made and sent out via email in early May. If not accepted, contact a nursing adviser to discuss options.
Admission Process once accepted:
- Complete admission requirements.
- Successfully complete remaining rerequisite courses, NURS courses and complete associate nursing degree (If not already completed).
Late applications may be accepted on a rolling bases through June. Please contact the adviser for updates or details.