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Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Requirements

The Charles Share Trust Division of Nursing at Northwestern offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) designed to meet you where you are, and take you where you want to go. Since 1982, our nationally respected nursing programs have prepared graduates for successful, meaningful careers in healthcare and advanced nursing education. 

We offer three flexible pathways to a BSN: 

The Traditional (Generic) Track is a four-year program for students beginning their nursing journey. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX-RN) and become licensed registered nurses. To learn more about the Traditional track, see the Generic Track button below on the left. 

The LPN-to-BSN Track is a hybrid option designed for working LPNs who are ready to advance their careers. This pathway blends online coursework with hands-on learning, allowing students to balance work, life, and school. Through Oklahoma's articulation agreements and partnerships with regional technology centers, eligible students may recieve credit for prior learning. To learn more about the LPN-to-BSN track, see the LPN-to-BSN Program Track button below on the left. 

The RN-to-BSN Track supports registered nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing or diploma who want to earn their BSN, often through an online format that fits a working nurse's schedule. To learn more about the RN-to-BSN track, see the RN-to-BSN Program Track button below on the left. 

Admission is competitive and based on a students potential for success, program requirements, and available course space. Our faculty are committed to supporting motivated students as they move toward professional practice and lifelong learning in nursing. 

Generic Track

Minimum criteria for generic or traditional 4-year curriculum applicants, seeking admission to the junior nursing courses are:

  1. Meet the NWOSU Admission requirements. Must provide a copy of official transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended to the Northwestern Registrar's office. â€‹Transcripts may be submitted by the student in person or by mail. The Registrar’s office also will accept transcripts sent electronically as official if they are sent via email to Sheri Lahr or Teri Warren directly from the issuing institution or the institution’s third party company (E-Script, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.).  These transcripts must be on file in the Northwestern Registry Office on the Alva campus.
     
  2. Completion of all courses listed as prerequisites to the nursing major with a minimum of “C” before entering the junior nursing courses, maintaining the RGPA requirement of 2.50. Applicants completing prerequisite coursework during summer session may be admitted conditionally pending attainment of the specified RGPA, and a minimum grade of “C” in the following prerequisite courses prior to beginning the junior nursing courses in the Fall.
  • CHEM    1105    Chemistry for Non-Majors OR CHEM 1115 General Chemistry I
  • BIOL       3115    Introduction to Microbiology
  • BIOL       3184    Human Anatomy
  • BIOL       3194    Human Physiology
  • NURS     3033    Pathophysiology for Nurses OR BIOL 4503 Pathophysiology
  • ENG       1113    Comp I
  • ENG       1213    Comp II
  • HED       1820    Nutrition (3 hours)
  • MATH    1513    College Algebra
  • MATH    2013    Statistics OR PSYC 4213 Statistics
  • PSYC     1113    General Psychology
  • PSYC     3123    Human Life-Span Development
  • SOC       1113    Introductory Sociology
  • SCOM    1113    Intro to Speech Communication
  1. Must have a Science GPA of 2.5.  Applicants cannot repeat a science course more than one time. A withdrawal counts as a repeat. 
     
  2. Complete and submit the following Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing BSN Program Application components online:
  • University Application
  • BSN Program Application (Includes college and/or technology center transcript submission)
  • BSN Applicant Reference Form (List three references from teachers or employers)
  • Online submissions from the three references listed on Applicant Reference Form
  • Background Check
  1. Successful completion of a federal background check through Certified Background. For more information visit the Nursing Background Check web page.
  2. All students who have decided to enter the Nursing Program must complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), at a required level to be admitted into the program. For more information, visit the NWOSU TEAS Information web page.

Effective January 1, 2022, the NWOSU Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing will no longer require the Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) certification as an entry requirement into the BSN Nursing Program.  While the Division acknowledges the importance of the CNA role and will continue to recommend it to students, the cost of the course is an issue for many.  We will be including pertinent content in our nursing courses and increasing skills time for students to ensure their knowledge and respect for this role.  If you have any questions about this change, please contact your Academic Advisor or Mrs. Pam Hess.

Completed applications (including references and transcripts) are submitted to the Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing and are reviewed by the Admissions Committee to be presented to the faculty in February. Upon acceptance into the program, students will be required to submit the following:

  • Complete History and Physical
  • Immunization Records/Current TB Test
  • Health Insurance
  • Transcripts to courses completed during the Spring and Summer semesters following acceptance

LPN to BSN Program Track

Minimum criteria for the LPN-to-BSN track within the traditional 4-year curriculum applicants, seeking admission are:
  1. Meet the NWOSU Admission requirements. Must provide a copy of official transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended to the Northwestern Registrar's office. â€‹Transcripts may be submitted by the student in person or by mail. The Registrar’s office also will accept transcripts sent electronically as official if they are sent via email to Sheri Lahr or Teri Warren directly from the issuing institution or the institution’s third party company (E-Script, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.).  These transcripts must be on file in the Northwestern Registry Office on the Alva campus.
  2. Completion of all courses listed as prerequisites to the nursing major with a minimum of “C” before entering the junior nursing courses, maintaining the RGPA requirement of 2.50. Applicants completing prerequisite coursework during summer session may be admitted conditionally pending attainment of the specified RGPA, and a minimum grade of “C” in the following prerequisite courses prior to beginning the junior nursing courses in the Fall.
  • CHEM    1105    Chemistry for Non-Majors OR CHEM 1115 General Chemistry I
  • BIOL       3115    Introduction to Microbiology
  • BIOL       3184    Human Anatomy
  • BIOL       3194    Human Physiology
  • NURS     3033    Pathophysiology for Nurses OR BIOL 4503 Pathophysiology
  • ENG       1113    Comp I
  • ENG       1213    Comp II
  • HED       1820    Nutrition (3 hours)
  • MATH    1513    College Algebra
  • MATH    2013    Statistics OR PSYC 4213 Statistics
  • PSYC     1113    General Psychology
  • PSYC     3123    Human Life-Span Development
  • SOC       1113    Introductory Sociology
  • SCOM    1113    Intro to Speech Communication
  1. Must have a Science GPA of 2.5.  Applicants cannot repeat a science course more than one time. A withdrawal counts as a repeat. 
     
  • University Application
  • Online submissions from the three references listed on Applicant Reference Form
  • Background Check
  1. Successful completion of a federal background check through Certified Background. For more information visit the Nursing Background Check web page.
  2. All students who have decided to enter the Nursing Program must complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), at a required level to be admitted into the program. For more information, visit the NWOSU TEAS Information web page
Completed applications (including references and transcripts) are submitted to the Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing and are reviewed by the Admissions Committee to be presented to the faculty in February. Upon acceptance into the program, students will be required to submit the following:
  • Complete History and Physical
  • Immunization Records/Current TB Test
  • Health Insurance
  • Transcripts to courses completed during the Spring and Summer semesters following acceptance
    Curriculum and plan of study for the LPN-to-BSN track
 
LPN TO BSN Program
 
Pre-requisite courses must be fully completed prior to entry
UNIV 1011 Ranger Connection
ENGL 1213 Composition II
ENGL 1113 Composition I
BIOL 3184 Human Anatomy (Tech Articulation) *
MATH 1513 College Algebra
SCOM 1113 Intro to Speech Communication
SOC 1113 Introductory Sociology
PSYC 1113 General Psychology
CHEM 1105 Chemistry for Non-Majors
Humanities - 3 Credits
MATH 2013 Statistics OR PSYC 4213 Statistics
 
BIOL 3115 Introduction to Microbiology
H ED 1820 Nutrition (Tech Articulation) *
PSYC 3123 Human Life Span (Tech Articulation) *
NURS 3033 Pathophysiology for Nurses
BIOL 3094 Human Physiology (Tech Articulation) *
HIST 1483 US History to 1877 OR HIST 1493 US History Since 1877
POLS 1113 American Federal Government and Politics
FIN 1113 Personal Finance
LEAD 1013 Habitudes OR GBUS 2033 Leadership in Business
 
PRE-REQUISITE HOURS = 64 CREDIT HOURS
NURS 3013 Introduction to Nursing Care and Skills (Tech Articulation) *
 
 
SPRING NURSING COURSES                                     SUMMER NURSING COURSES
NURS 3003 Holistic Assessment (1st 8 weeks - Hybrid with in person residency)
NURS 3147 Nursing Care of the Family (Didactic online with precepted clinical)
NURS 3337 Nursing Care of the Adult II (Didactic online with precepted clinical)
NURS 3023 Role Transition (online)
NURS 3103 Pharmacology and Nursing Care ## (1st 8 weeks online if credit by exam not awarded)
Spring Total Credit Hours = 13
Summer Total Credit Hours = 10
 
FALL NURSING COURSES                                          SPRING NURSING COURSES
NURS 4316 Nursing Care of the Adult III (Hybrid with online course; in person clinical/lab)
NURS 4216 Nursing Care in the Community (Hybrid with online course; in person clinical/lab)
NURS 4003 Research Utilization (online)
NURS 4333 Professional Issues in Nursing (online)
NURS 3226 Nursing Care in Mental Health (Hybrid with online course; in person clinical/lab)
NURS 4216 Nursing Leadership (Hybrid with online course; in person clinical/lab)
Fall Total Credit Hours = 15
Spring Total Credit Hours = 15
NURSING CREDIT HOURS = 63; TOTAL CREDIT HOURS = 127
* Advanced standing credit is awarded for courses in accordance with the articulation agreement between Northwestern and each listed Career Tech Center
Credit is awarded after validation of skills for NURS 3013 Skills
## Credit by Exam may be awarded for Pharmacology
 

RN to BSN Program Track

RN students may complete their BSN degrees through the Online RN-to-BSN Program at NWOSU. Please see the link on the Nursing homepage for the program.

BSN Student Learning Outcomes

The BSN graduates of NWOSU Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing are able to:

  1. Integrate transpersonal human caring into own clinical practice.  (Caring)
  2. Use the nursing process as a foundation for safe nursing practice.  (Safety)
  3. Assess the effects of clinical practice through reflection.  (Reflection)
  4. Integrate the principles of holistic nursing into own clinical practice.  (Holistic Care)
  5. Systematically utilize the approach to nursing research with evidence based practice principles to provide multi-dimensional, high quality, and cost-effective care in the provision of nursing care in a changing environment. (Evidence Based Practice)
  1. Incorporate an awareness of the dignity, worth and uniqueness of each person into nursing practice by developing skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide culturally competent health care.  (Cultural Competence)
  2. Utilize effective communication skills to engage in therapeutic nurse/client relationships.  (Communication)
  3. Synthesize theories and principles from nursing, the natural and behavioral sciences, and the liberal arts into nursing practice based on sound clinical reasoning.  (Clinical Reasoning)
  4. Collaborate with consumers, health team members, and communities to restore, evaluate, promote, and maintain optimal health.  (Leadership)
  5. Integrate principles of teaching-learning to develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate teaching plans designated to promote, restore, and maintain optimal outcomes.  (Leadership)
  6. Facilitate problem solving to resolve ethical, moral, and legal dilemmas using sound clinical reasoning and the standards of nursing practice. (Clinical Reasoning)
  1. Effectively implement the use of informatics as a means of communication for the delivey of health care. (Technology)

Computer Requirements for Success in Program

All Charles Morton Share Trust Division of Nursing students must have access to a computer for assignments and testing. Students in the traditional BSN program must have access to a laptop computer for classroom testing.

Minimum Technology Requirements:

Broadband Internet Access- Hard-wired access preferred

  • 4 GB RAM (minimum) 
  • 2.9 GHz Processor (minimum) or faster with two or more cores
  • 64 GB hard drive (minimum)
  • Windows 10 or higher
  • Web Browser (Firefox or Chrome Stable Channel Release)
  • Microsoft Office 2019 Suite or higher
  • Adobe Reader 9 or higher
  • Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX12 or later
  • Display: 1280 x 768 screen resolution, 9" or greater monitor
  • Internet Connection: Internet connectivity is necessary

Additional program-specific applications may be required.

BSN Student Handbook

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