Bachelor of Science in Nursing Nursing Pre-Licensure Major (BSN)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Lynn Wiles, Undergraduate Program Director
Suzanne Van Orden, Chief Academic Advisor

The pre-licensure baccalaureate curriculum is designed to accommodate the needs of students desiring to become registered nurses. The pre-licensure nursing curriculum admits a cohort of students each fall semester. This is a full-time program where all nursing courses are completed in five consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer, fall, spring). Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the national licensure exam (NCLEX) to become registered nurses. 

Graduates of the baccalaureate program in professional nursing are generalists prepared to care for culturally diverse individuals and groups across the lifespan in a complex global community. Upon completion of the innovative, technology-enhanced program, graduates are knowledgeable about current trends in health care, assume responsibility for their professional growth, and are prepared for graduate study in nursing. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.

Intended Pre-licensure Nursing Students - Health Sciences Advising Center

Applicants for admission to the undergraduate nursing program must complete prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better prior to being admitted to the School of Nursing. Transfer students may complete the prerequisite courses at another college or university but are responsible for having a transfer credit evaluation completed by the transfer evaluation unit in the Office of Admissions to determine that transfer courses are equivalent and acceptable to University requirements.

Applicants must complete a School of Nursing Supplemental Application to be considered for admission to the undergraduate nursing program. The School of Nursing Supplemental Application may be obtained directly from the School of Nursing Academic Advising Office or the School of Nursing website: https://www.odu.edu/nursing

In summary the applicant must:

1. Apply and be admitted to the University as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
2. Submit a School of Nursing Supplemental Application directly to the School of Nursing with photocopies of all previous college transcripts attached. Submit all items in the same envelope. Do not mail transcripts in separate envelopes to the School of Nursing.
3. A minimum of 30 credit hours that apply to the BSN must be completed before applying to the program. If admitted, all required lower-division departmental and general education courses must be completed prior to the enrollment date of the nursing curriculum. 
4. Transfer students must have a transfer of credit evaluation completed by the transfer evaluation unit in the Office of Admissions.

The School of Nursing is committed to an equitable, inclusive, and diverse learning community. A balance of applicant experiences, attributes, and academic metrics is used to assess applicants. Academic metrics will be applied across the entire qualified candidate pool with the intent of creating a richly diverse student body. Pre-licensure applicant review considers the following criteria:

• Grade point average (GPA) of identified courses
• Pre-admissions aptitude testing (i.e., HESI)
• Measure of applicant experiences/attributes related to potential for success (i.e., work/volunteer experience, ODU prerequisites).
• Personal statements may be obtained through writing prompts and/or interviews.

Guaranteed Entry Program for High School Students

The nursing program offers a guaranteed entry program. This program is designed for highly qualified high school students who are committed to completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Old Dominion University. Applicants must meet and maintain eligibility requirements as defined by the program. For more information, contact the pre-nursing advisor at 683-5137.

General Pre-Licensure Policies

1. All pre-licensure students are required to have an initial physical exam completed and submitted by the first week of courses in the major.
2. Returning prelicensure students (second year, third year) must have an annual PPD and returning physical form completed and submitted by the first week of courses in the fall semester.
3. All prelicensure students must provide written documentation of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation certification (professional level course) each year by the first week of courses in the semester.
4. Professional liability insurance is required for all clinical courses. The University covers this requirement for students enrolled in required clinical courses for the activities associated with those courses.
5. Due to the intimate nature of nursing practice with vulnerable populations, criminal background/sex offender status checks are required of all prelicensure students.
6. The School of Nursing technical standards and performance requirements are located on the School's website and student handbook.
7. The School of Nursing computer competency requirements are located on the School's website and student handbook. 

Continuance Policies

1. A grade of C (2.00) or better is required in all nursing courses to continue in the nursing program.
2. An average of 80% or better on objective tests within a nursing course is required to earn a grade of C (2.00). A student who earns an average less than 80% on objective tests for a nursing course is awarded a grade of D or F and will not be considered in good academic standing in the major.
3. A nursing student who fails a nursing course and is readmitted to the nursing program is allowed to repeat the failed course only once.
4. A student who leaves the major and is readmitted may be required to take additional course work prior to or concurrent with readmission.
5. A student may be readmitted to the nursing major only once.

Note: Policies and procedures are outlined in more detail in the School of Nursing Student Handbook. All students accepted into the nursing major are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this handbook upon entry into the major.

Requirements

Lower-Division General Education

Oral Communication requirement is met in the major

Information Literacy and Research requirement is met in the major

Mathematics: STAT 130M

Human Behavior: PSYC 203S and SOC 201S

Nature of Science: CHEM 105N, CHEM 106N, BIOL 150, BIOL 151, BIOL 240 or BIOL 250, BIOL 241 or BIOL 251

Impact of Technology: upper-division T course from outside the College of Health Sciences

Students must complete the entire curriculum of 120-126 credits (depending upon foreign language exemption) to meet degree requirements. Nursing courses are taken in the order listed. Students applying to the nursing major should complete all of the non-nursing courses prior to beginning the major. Courses must be completed with a grade of C (2.00) or better (not a C-) for transfer credit to Old Dominion University. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration for admission to the pre-licensure program.  A grade of B or better makes the applicant more competitive.

Nursing courses are taught in fall, spring and summer semesters. Summer enrollment is required.

Each semester in the program students are assessed a non-refundable program fee of $375.  This fee is posted to the student's account to be paid with tuition.  The fee covers a variety of program-related expenses outside of tuition and books.

Upper-Division General Education

• Option A. Approved Minor, 12-24 hours; also second degree or second major.
• Option B. Interdisciplinary Minor, 12 hours specified by the department, 3 of which may be in the major area of study.
• Option C. An approved certification program such as teaching licensure
• Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the School of Nursing and not required by the major (6 hours)

Requirements for Graduation

Requirements for graduation include the following:

• Minimum of 120 credit hours.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
• Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
• Completion of Senior Assessment.

Nursing Pre-licensure Major

All Nursing courses must be completed as scheduled in the terms in the plan of study.

Elective credit may be needed to meet the minimum 120 credit hours required for the degree.

Honors Program for Pre-Licensure Nursing Majors

The School of Nursing has elected to offer departmental honors to interested and qualified undergraduate students. The honors curriculum reflects the school's commitment to scholarship, leadership, clinical practice and community service. 

Application to the Honors Program occurs at the end of the first semester in the upper-division courses. Acceptance is limited to approximately 10% of the class size and students will be considered based on:

1. A minimum GPA of 3.50
2. Faculty recommendation

Applications will be distributed to pre-licensure students at the end of the first semester in nursing courses. Honors advisors will obtain faculty recommendations for the applicants.

Students who are selected for the Honors Program must complete the following requirements in addition to regular course and clinical requirements.

1. Completion of required departmental honors courses
   1. NURS 387 in place of NURS 363.
   2. NURS 491 in place of NURS 481.
2. Design and implement a community service project encompassing 25 or more volunteer hours. This is above and beyond the clinical hours in community health or participation in Student Nursing Association projects.
3. Complete a leadership project in NURS 491 Role Transition.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years.  It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor.  Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.