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About Nursing (RN)

Registered nurses (RNs) work in collaboration with physicians and members of other health care disciplines. When providing direct patient care, nurses observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress, which provides the basis for care planning and intervention. RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health.RN roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research and teaching in nursing programs, as well as practicing in many other invigorating settings. Some nurses choose to focus on a particular specialty. There are numerous specialty options — each of which has education/certification requirements and a related professional network or organization.

Preparation and Applying

In order to be accepted into an accelerated BSN program, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree.

  • Admission standards for accelerated programs are competitive with programs typically requiring a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a thorough pre-screening process.
  • In preparation for an accelerated program, we recommend taking the following pre-health track courses:
    • Two semesters of biology with labs
    • Two semesters of chemistry with labs
    • Two semesters of organic chemistry with labs
    • One semester of microbiology with lab
    • Two semesters of anatomy and physiology
    • One semester of developmental psychology, introduction to sociology, medical ethics, health care economics, and college math/statistics.
  • Nursing school requirements for admission can be different for each school and can differ according to the degree program you are applying to study.
Education and Licensure
  • Upon graduating from a state-accredited nursing school, graduates of accelerated baccalaureate programs are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN© to become registered nurses (RN).
  • The nurse with a baccalaureate degree is prepared to practice in all health care settings—critical care, outpatient care, public health, and mental health.

Additional Resources