2016-2017

Nursing - Option for Registered Nurses, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing

College of Health and Human Services

This degree was designed to provide a pathway for Registered Nurses (RNs) to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. RNs who have graduated from a state or nationally accredited associate-degree or diploma-nursing program are eligible to apply for this degree.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 30 units of preprofessional requirements
  • At least 30 units of major requirements

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Highest Mathematics Required STA 270
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Additional Fees/Program Fees Required
University Honors Program Optional
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan
Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

  • Clinical Practice and Prevention: Integrates theory, evidence, professional perspectives, and patient preferences into clinical judgment to provide holistic patient-centered care across the lifespan and healthcare continuum, and in healthcare environments.
  • Communication: Incorporates effective communication into professional nursing practice.
  • Critical reasoning:
    • Synthesizes evidence and nursing knowledge to evaluate and modify clinical nursing practice, in order to provide holistic, safe, comprehensive, patient-centered care.
    • Integrates reliable evidence from multiple ways of knowing to inform practice and make clinical judgments.
  • Leadership: Integrates knowledge and skills in leadership, quality improvement, health care policy and patient safety into practice to provide high quality care.
  • Professionalism and Professional Values
    • Integrates professional values and their associated behaviors into the practice of nursing.
    • Incorporates ethical and legal principles and professional standards into nursing practice.
    • Integrates caring’s affective characteristics into patient-centered care and with other healthcare professionals.
  • Global Health
    • Global Engagement: Promotes safety and quality of health care outcomes for diverse populations incorporating principles of advocacy, leadership and collaboration.
    • Diversity Education: Advocates for health equity and social justice for vulnerable populations and the elimination of health disparities both locally and globally.
    • Environmental Sustainability: Participates in collaborative efforts to improve aspects of the environment that negatively impacts health both locally and globally.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • You must apply and be accepted to the School of Nursing's program in addition to being admitted to the university, as well as have a current Arizona nursing license.
    • You are eligible for this program option if you are a registered nurse who has graduated from a state, or nationally accredited, associate degree or diploma nursing program. Please note, if you are a diploma graduate, you need to contact an advisor to apply for 30 units of nursing credit. You may also be eligible to enter a designated concurrent enrollment program with a partner community college and complete this track.
    • We offer this as a web-based option to statewide students throughout Arizona. Contact your local Extended Campuses' office or the School of Nursing's Office of Student Services for information about admission and transcript evaluation.
Associate Degree Transfer Block
  • RNs who earned their degree from an Arizona Community College may transfer up to 90 units toward the B.S.N. Other RNs should consult with a distance-learning advisor to determine transfer credits. Students currently in the final year of an Arizona community college nursing program may also be eligible for admission; please contact an advisor for recommended courses.

Major Requirements
General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

  • PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION
  • Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee of $10 per credit hour for the duration of the 30 unit program has been approved for this program.