Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
B.S.N. Program Outcomes
The B.S.N. program provides students with a liberal arts and science foundation along with concentrated study in the professional nursing major. Students develop competency in the assessment of health needs and in health promotion, maintenance, and restoration using a holistic framework. A rich variety of settings that reflect an array of actual and potential health problems experienced by individuals, families, and communities throughout the life cycle are used to support the development of clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and the role of a professional nurse.
The B.S.N. program integrates The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (AACN, 2021), Division 21 of the Oregon Nurse Practice Act (OSBN), and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan (NCSBN, 2023).
The B.S.N. program of study prepares graduates to:
- Provide safe, high-quality nursing care to individuals.
- Deliver holistic nursing care to populations across a health care continuum.
- Contribute to the nursing profession.
- Improve health care delivery across the continuum of care.
- Create and support healthy work environments.
Admission
Admission for First-year Students
First-year applicants for admission must meet the general entrance requirements of the University as set forth in the
"Admissions" section of this
Bulletin. All entering first-year students must complete a high school or college-level general chemistry course prior to beginning the B.S.N. program.
Admission for Transfer Students
University of Portland non-nursing majors who wish to transfer into the nursing program must apply as a transfer student and be considered for admission with external applicants. The application process for internal transfers is very competitive and there is no guarantee of acceptance into the transfer cohort.
For transfer students, acceptance into the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in college courses at the time of admission.
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in the prerequisite B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses of Anatomy and Physiology with labs and Microbiology with lab at the time of admission.
- The grade earned in courses transferred from an institution on the quarter system will be calculated against the semester credit hour equivalency. Examples include: 3 quarter credit hours equal 2 semester credit hours; 4 quarter credit hours equal 2.67 semester credit hours; 5 quarter credit hours equal 3.33 semester credit hours.
- Completion of a high school or college-level general chemistry course.
- Completion of all prerequisite courses by the time the student begins nursing (NRS) courses at the University of Portland. Prerequisite coursework must be taken at an accredited college or university and must be graded with a C or higher. Pass/No Pass is not accepted for prerequisites. Students may not audit a required prerequisite course.
- Satisfactory completion of all professional practice entry requirements, including background check, clean drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.
Prerequisite Courses
The prerequisite courses required for admission to the B.S.N. program for transfer students are:
UP Core Foundation Level Requirements — credit hours may vary
See UP Core Requirements and Core Curriculum Transfer Policy
The number of credit hours may vary depending on where these courses are completed.
Two of the three core requirements in the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the B.S.N. Foundation Requirements.
B.S.N. Foundation Requirements — credit hours may vary
- Foundations of Biology – If taken at UP, BIO 205 and BIO 005. If taken outside of UP, one or two courses (depending on the school) that include(s) molecular biology, cellular biology, and genetics. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
- Anatomy and Physiology with labs – If taken at UP, BIO 305, BIO 365, BIO 306, and BIO 366. If taken outside of UP, one school year of coursework. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
- Microbiology with lab – If taken at UP, BIO 359 and BIO 379. If taken outside of UP, one course and the accompanying lab. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
- Statistics – If taken at UP, MTH 161. If taken outside of UP, one course. Must have been completed within five years of acceptance to the program.
- A high school or college level general chemistry course is also required for admission.
- Any University of Portland student who plans to apply for transfer into the School of Nursing & Health Innovations and wishes to transfer a prerequisite B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course from another institution must first obtain the permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations prior to registration in the course. Such permission is required to ensure that the course is suitable for transfer to the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
Electives — credit hours may vary
Transfer students must have a minimum of 49 semester credit hours accepted in transfer to begin the B.S.N. program. Elective credit hours in writing, speech, science, foreign languages, or social sciences may be accepted to bring transfer students up to at least 49 semester credit hours, after the UP Core Foundation Level and B.S.N. Foundation Requirement credits have been accepted. AP, IB, or CLEP credits may also be accepted.
Progression
Progression for First-year Students
Progression in the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:
- Completion of all required 100- and 200-level nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis by the end of spring semester of the sophomore year.
- Completion of all UP Core Foundation Level Requirements by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year or with permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- Completion of all B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
- Students may not audit a UP Core Requirement, B.S.N. Foundation Requirement, or B.S.N. Major Requirement (see “B.S.N. Degree Requirements”) course.
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year.
- Completion of the following B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses with a grade of C or better: BIO 205/BIO 005 (Foundations of Biology with workshop), BIO 305/BIO 365 and BIO 306/BIO 366 (Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs), and BIO 359/BIO 379 (Microbiology for Nurses with lab).
- A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above in the following B.S.N. Foundation Requirement courses by the end of summer session 1 of the sophomore year: BIO 305/BIO 365 and BIO 306/BIO 366 (Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs) and BIO 359/BIO 379 (Microbiology for Nurses with lab).
- Any University of Portland School of Nursing & Health Innovations student wishing to transfer any B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course from another institution must first obtain the permission of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations prior to registration in the course. Such permission is required to ensure that the course is suitable for transfer to the School of Nursing & Health Innovations. The student must earn a grade of C or better in any B.S.N. Foundation Requirement course they wish to transfer. A grade of Pass/No Pass is not allowed.
- The grade earned in courses transferred from an institution on the quarter system will be calculated against the semester credit hour equivalency. Examples include: 3 quarter credit hours equal 2 semester credit hours; 4 quarter credit hours equal 2.67 semester credit hours; 5 quarter credit hours equal 3.33 semester credit hours.
- A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
- All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better before progressing to the next semester. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis must be successfully completed to meet degree requirements.
- A grade of C- or lower in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
- Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or withdraw from a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may attempt the course a second time. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in or withdraw from their second attempt of a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
- A required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be repeated only once if a grade of No Pass was received on the first attempt. Students who receive a second grade of No Pass when they repeat a required nursing (NRS) course graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
- Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements, including background check, drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.
- Exceptions to the above progression requirements may be granted on an individual student basis and upon approval of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ associate dean for academic affairs.
Additional Progression Information
- Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.N. program of study. The UP Study Abroad program recommends a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher before going abroad but will consider applications from anyone with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above.
- Student conduct issues will be taken into consideration for progression in the nursing program.
- Students who do not complete professional practice requirements as directed will not be allowed to attend professional practice experiences (lab, simulation, or clinical) and may lose their professional practice placement. Until professional practice requirements are obtained, students will not be able to participate in the professional practice course’s activities or assignments, potentially resulting in an inability to demonstrate the professional practice course outcomes necessary to pass the course. Progression in the program may be delayed.
- Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into or during professional practice courses may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- See the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook for additional grounds for dismissal from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook.
Progression for Transfer Students
For internal and external transfer students, progression in the B.S.N. program is based on the following criteria:
- Students may not audit a UP Core or B.S.N. Major Requirement course.
- A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
- All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on an A-F basis must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better before progressing to the next semester. All required nursing (NRS) courses that are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis must be successfully completed to meet degree requirements.
- A grade of C- or lower in or withdrawal from any required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may result in delayed progression and delayed program completion.
- Students who receive a grade of C- or lower or withdraw from a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may attempt the course a second time. Students who receive a grade of C- or lower in or withdraw from their second attempt of a required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on an A-F basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
- A required nursing (NRS) course that is graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be repeated only once if a grade of No Pass was received on the first attempt. Students who receive a second grade of No Pass when they repeat a required nursing (NRS) course graded on a Pass/No Pass basis may be dismissed from the B.S.N. program.
- Satisfactory completion of all professional practice requirements including background check, drug screen, HIPAA, American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and all immunizations.
- Exceptions to the above progression requirements may be granted on an individual student basis and upon approval of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ associate dean for academic affairs.
Additional Progression Information
- Transfer students may only study abroad in the summer semester between their junior and senior year. Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand study abroad options and their impact on the B.S.N. program of study. The UP Studies Abroad program recommends a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher before going abroad but will consider applications from anyone with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or above.
- Student conduct issues will be taken into consideration for progression in the nursing program.
- Students who do not complete professional practice requirements as directed will not be allowed to attend professional practice experiences (lab, simulation, or clinical) and may lose their professional practice placement. Until professional practice requirements are obtained, students will not be able to participate in the professional practice course’s activities or assignments, potentially resulting in an inability to demonstrate the professional practice course outcomes necessary to pass the course. Progression in the program may be delayed.
- Students with a positive drug screen prior to entry into or during professional practice courses may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- Students who have been suspended from the University may be dismissed from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- See the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook for additional grounds for dismissal from the School of Nursing & Health Innovations.
- All B.S.N. students are responsible for adhering to the policies in the most current version of the School of Nursing & Health Innovations B.S.N. Student Handbook.
B.S.N. Degree Requirements for Students Enrolled as First-Year Students
To qualify for the degree, the following requirements must be met:
- A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
- Successful completion of all nursing program requirements.
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, including UP Core Requirements, B.S.N. Foundation Requirements, and B.S.N. Major Requirements.
UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See UP Core Requirements
Two of the three core requirements for the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the major.
One Exploration Level course is satisfied by THE 348 within the major.
NRS 104 and NRS 440 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S.N.
B.S.N. Foundation Requirements - 18 credit hours
B.S.N. Major Requirements - 71 credit hours
Because nursing is a dynamic field, the nursing curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ discretion.
| NRS 104 | Nursing Professionalism and Practice | 3 |
| NRS 116 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan I | 3 |
| NRS 204 | Foundations in Health Assessment | 3 |
| NRS 206 | Professional Practice: Health Assessment | 1 |
| NRS 207 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Health Assessment | 1 |
| NRS 216 | Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan II | 3 |
| NRS 302 | Nursing Licensure Lab III | 1 |
| NRS 306 | Professional Practice: Population Health and Wellness | 4 |
| NRS 307 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Population Health and Wellness | 3 |
| NRS 308 | Professional Practice: Acute Illness Management | 4 |
| NRS 309 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Acute Illness Management | 3 |
| NRS 316 | Population Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 317 | Acute Illness Management Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 325 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 3 |
| NRS 326 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 3 |
| NRS 400 | Nursing Licensure Lab IV | 1 |
| NRS 406 | Professional Practice: Chronic Illness Management | 4 |
| NRS 407 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Chronic Illness Management | 3 |
| NRS 408 | Professional Practice: Senior Synthesis | 4 |
| NRS 409 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Senior Synthesis | 3 |
| NRS 416 | Chronic Illness Management Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 440 | Social Justice and Population Health | 3 |
| NRS 460 | Senior Synthesis: Advancing the Culture of Health | 3 |
| NRS 480 | Life-Long Learning | 3 |
| THE 348 | Theological Dimensions of Suffering and Death | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
B.S.N. Degree Requirements for Transfer Students
To qualify for the B.S.N. degree, the following requirements must be met:
- A grade of C or better or Pass in all required nursing (NRS) courses.
- Successful completion of all nursing program requirements.
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, including all required prerequisite courses, UP Core Requirements, and B.S.N. Major Requirements.
UP Core Requirements — credit hours may vary
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
Transfer students into the B.S.N. program complete the UP Core Foundation Requirements as prerequisites for admission. The number of credit hours may vary depending on where these courses are completed.
See UP Core Requirements and Core Curriculum Transfer Policy.
Two of the three core requirements for the Science & Problem Solving Habit are satisfied by the mathematics and science requirements within the B.S.N. Foundation Requirements.
One Exploration Level course is satisfied by THE 348 within the major.
NRS 104 and NRS 440 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.S.N.
B.S.N. Foundation Requirements - credit hours may vary
Credit hours will vary depending on where the courses are completed. See the “Admission for Transfer Students” section above for information about the B.S.N. Foundation Requirements, which are prerequisites for admission.
Electives - credit hours may vary
Credit hours will vary depending on where the courses are completed. See the “Admission for Transfer Students” section above for information about the Electives requirements, which are prerequisites for admission.
B.S.N. Major Requirements - 68 credit hours
Because nursing is a dynamic field, the nursing curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing & Health Innovations’ discretion.
| NRS 204 | Foundations in Health Assessment | 3 |
| NRS 206 | Professional Practice: Health Assessment | 1 |
| NRS 207 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Health Assessment | 1 |
| NRS 208 | Transition into Professional Nursing | 6 |
| NRS 302 | Nursing Licensure Lab III | 1 |
| NRS 306 | Professional Practice: Population Health and Wellness | 4 |
| NRS 307 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Population Health and Wellness | 3 |
| NRS 308 | Professional Practice: Acute Illness Management | 4 |
| NRS 309 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Acute Illness Management | 3 |
| NRS 316 | Population Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 317 | Acute Illness Management Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 325 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 3 |
| NRS 326 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 3 |
| NRS 400 | Nursing Licensure Lab IV | 1 |
| NRS 406 | Professional Practice: Chronic Illness Management | 4 |
| NRS 407 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Chronic Illness Management | 3 |
| NRS 408 | Professional Practice: Senior Synthesis | 4 |
| NRS 409 | Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Senior Synthesis | 3 |
| NRS 416 | Chronic Illness Management Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NRS 440 | Social Justice and Population Health | 3 |
| NRS 460 | Senior Synthesis: Advancing the Culture of Health | 3 |
| NRS 480 | Life-Long Learning | 3 |
| THE 348 | Theological Dimensions of Suffering and Death | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 120