Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Designed for practicing registered nurses, the GSC Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program challenges women and men to strive for intellectual and professional excellence, to build inclusive communities, and to promote social responsibility. The program is designed specifically for adult learners who prefer a combination of guided independent study, peer learning, and faculty-facilitated on-site learning, as well as a desire to acquire knowledge with practical professional application in an environment that offers collegial relationships with faculty and other students. The program builds on registered nurses’ prior education and clinical experiences, and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary health care environment. Click here to view a BSN Flyer.

The unique concept-based approach to nursing education provides emphasis on concepts and principles most relevant to baccalaureate nurse practice in today’s health care environment, and assists students in integrating knowledge gained from general education coursework. The course format and scheduling are designed to maximize student time, while facilitating student intellectual and professional growth. The program graduate is prepared for graduate study.

GSC’s BSN program is formatted in a 2+2 approach. All students must have a pre-licensure GPA of 2.5 and be licensed as a registered nurse in order to enroll in post-licensure nursing courses. Students who are not registered nurses, but intend to complete the BSN degree, will begin with the pre-licensure coursework and complete the associate degree. This plan allows the graduate to seek RN employment before completion of the bachelor degree.

All students must meet all general education requirements from both the pre- and post-licensure curriculum plans.

Students may enter and progress through the BSN program by way of one of three routes, or tracks:

1. Track 1: The Post-Licensure GSC AASN Degree Track. This track is primarily designed for GSC's registered nurse graduates who completed the two-year nursing program since 1992. GSC graduates who meet the BSN admissions standards to the college, can immediately transfer into the BSN program and register for courses.
2. Track 2: The Post-licensure RN to BSN Track. This track is designed for registered nurses with either an associate degree or diploma from any college/school. Students must follow the College’s standard admission procedure. They must complete general education course deficiencies in the pre-licensure curriculum plan.
3. Track 3: Four Year Track. Designed for students who intend to complete the BSN program but are not yet registered nurses. Students will complete the AASN curriculum and be licensed as a registered nurse while continuing the curriculum plan for the BSN. Students will be admitted to both the AASN and BSN programs (dual enrollment).

Nursing Philosophy

The philosophy of the BSN program is consistent with the mission of the Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science.

• View Nursing Philosophy

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will be able to:

• Integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to provide safe, high quality, patient-centered care including health promotion and risk reduction.
• Utilize technology to synthesize theory, research, and practice data to support and evaluate decision-making and quality improvement in nursing practice.
• Integrate leadership, systems change, and social justice principles to improve health outcomes of individuals, families, and populations in a variety of health care settings.
• Collaborate with other members of the inter-professional health care team to improve effectiveness of health care systems.
• Strengthen own professional identity and commitment to lifelong learning.

Students must complete 33 credit hours from the post-licensure curriculum plan at GSC. Although most RN to BSN students work full-time and choose to take classes on a part-time basis, some students opt to be full-time students. All students must complete the program of study within six years of beginning upper division nursing courses.

Admission to the post-licensure BSN program requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA for all post-secondary course work representing the pre-licensure curriculum plan at GSC, and current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse.

The RN licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which has established required criteria for nursing education programs that “enable the student to develop the nursing knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for the level, scope and standards of nursing practice consistent with the level of licensure” (NCSBN, 2006, Article IX, 9.1.2). These criteria serve as the foundation for a validation process in which 36 credit hours are awarded for nursing courses taken in an associate degree or diploma nursing program, thus allowing BSN students to receive credit for their basic nursing preparation.

Curriculum Plan

The college admits students twice a year in August and January. The full-time curriculum plan is designed to be completed in four semesters. The curriculum plan is laid out in a slightly different pattern for each admission cycle. If you have transfer credit or attend part-time, your personal curriculum plan will need to be customized for you. Please contact our admissions staff at 513-862-1678 for specific questions.

Total Post-Licensure Degree Requirements – 48 Credits

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