Program Overview

Nursing B.S.N. Degree

The B.S.N. program, established in 1965 by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, is a four-year nursing program that combines a broad liberal arts and science foundation with an extensive range of nursing courses.

Program Overview

The nursing degree program prepares students to provide nursing care in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practice, long-term care, clinics, and health care/community agencies. Students gain experience in diverse settings such as academic medical centers, rural hospitals, community agencies, schools, and prisons. After earning the B.S., students become eligible to take the national licensure examination for registered nurses, known as the NCLEX.

Why a Four-Year Nursing Degree?

A four-year education helps nurses navigate the increasingly complex medical field. In its report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, the Institute of Medicine recommends that 80 percent of all nurses have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree by 2020.

• Hospitals applying for Magnet status employ a larger percentage of nurses with a B.S. degree than those without.
• Many institutions have higher pay grades for baccalaureate-prepared nurses.
• A four-year degree is also the foundation for the advanced education needed for advanced practice positions (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist) and other advanced nursing roles (administrator, educator, or researcher).

Program Details

• The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
• The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at The Pennsylvania State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Accreditation

The Penn State Scranton nursing program is offered through the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is one of the largest educators of pre-licensure students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with over 2200 undergraduate and graduate students on 13 campuses.

Nursing Faculty

• Justina Malinak, DNP, MSN, RN, Director for Undergraduate Nursing Education at Penn State Scranton, Assistant Teaching Professor-Nursing.

More Academic Information

• Academic Advising
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Support
• Associate Degrees
• Bachelor's Degrees
• 2 + 2 Degree Plan
• Graduate Programs and Courses
• Minors at Penn State Scranton
• Registrar
• Special Programs
• Undergraduate Research
• University Bulletin

See Also

• University Bulletin
• College of Nursing
• B.S.N. Program
• Nursing Certificates

Penn State Scranton

A full-service, four-year university conveniently located near Scranton, offering four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.

Contact and Resources

• For more information about the nursing program, please refer to the University Bulletin or contact the College of Nursing directly.
• The Pennsylvania State University is committed to providing a quality education to its students, and the nursing program is no exception. With its strong foundation in liberal arts and science, as well as its extensive range of nursing courses, the B.S.N. program at Penn State Scranton is an excellent choice for those looking to pursue a career in nursing.