Program Overview

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Nursing, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

The School of Nursing offers a traditional curriculum in the baccalaureate program as well as the online R.N.-B.S. completion. Successful completion of curricular requirements results in a Bachelor of Science degree.

Program Goal

The goal of the VCU School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is to prepare students with foundational competencies as nurse generalists for entry into professional nursing practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate competence to practice person-centered care across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare systems
• Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education and related disciplines into nursing practice
• Exhibit professionalism that reflects the inherent values fundamental to nursing
• Display effective interprofessional teamwork skills
• Demonstrate professional nursing practice grounded in the application of current evidence
• Utilize information technologies and processes related to patient care delivery
• Show competence in leadership, quality improvement and patient safety to provide quality health care
• Apply health promotion and disease prevention competencies at the individual and population levels

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:

1. Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended
2. Submit a completed application with all required materials to the School of Nursing
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on a scale of 4.0 on all college course work
4. Present no grades lower than C- in any prerequisite or collateral course (anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses must be taken within 10 years of starting the nursing program)
5. Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university
6. Complete the following prerequisites prior to starting the nursing program:

• BIOL 101 & BIOZ 101: Biological Concepts and Biological Concepts Laboratory
• BIOL 205: Basic Human Anatomy
• BIOL 217: Principles of Nutrition
• PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
• SOCY 101 or ANTH 103: Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology
• UNIV 111 and UNIV 112: Introduction to Focused Inquiry and Focused Inquiry II

7. Complete the following collateral requirements prior to beginning nursing courses:

• BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
• PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206: Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory
• PSYC 304: Life Span Developmental Psychology
• STAT 208, STAT 210, or STAT 212: Statistical Thinking, Basic Practice of Statistics, or Concepts of Statistics

Prerequisites for Second Degree Students

Applicants who have completed a previous baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited college or university are required to complete only the following prerequisites prior to beginning nursing courses:

• BIOL 205: Basic Human Anatomy
• BIOL 217: Principles of Nutrition
• BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
• PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206: Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory
• PSYC 304: Life Span Developmental Psychology
• STAT 208, STAT 210, or STAT 212: Statistical Thinking, Basic Practice of Statistics, or Concepts of Statistics

Degree Requirements

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121. Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Major Requirements

• Major core requirements:
  • NURS 301: Nursing Informatics
  • NURS 350: Introduction to Professional Nursing
  • NURS 380: Applied Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 403: Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care
  • NURS 408: Ethics, Law and Public Policy: Application to Nursing Practice
  • NURS 450: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I
  • NURS 451: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II
  • NURS 478: Leadership and Management in Health Care
  • NURS 484: Entry Into the Nursing Profession
  • NURS 494: Senior Synthesis
  • NURS 523: Fundamental Nursing Concepts
  • NURS 524: Applied Practice: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Fundamental Nursing Concepts
  • NURS 535: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 536: Applied Practice: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 547: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 548: Applied Practice: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 550: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 551: Applied Practice: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
• Additional major requirements:
  • IPEC 501: Foundations of Interprofessional Practice
  • IPEC 502: Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • IPEC 560: Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults
• Ancillary requirements:
  • BIOL 101 or BIOL 151: Biological Concepts or Introduction to Biological Sciences I
  • BIOL 205: Basic Human Anatomy
  • BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
  • BIOL 217: Principles of Nutrition
  • PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206: Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory
  • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
  • PSYC 304: Life Span Developmental Psychology
  • SOCY 101 or ANTH 103: Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology
  • STAT 208, STAT 210, or STAT 212: Statistical Thinking, Basic Practice of Statistics, or Concepts of Statistics
• Electives: Select courses at 300-level or higher (9 credits)

Recommended Course Sequence/Plan of Study

A sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU is provided. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

Freshman Year

• Fall semester:
  • BIOL 101 or BIOL 151: Biological Concepts or Introduction to Biological Sciences I
  • BIOZ 101 or BIOZ 151: Biological Concepts Laboratory or Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I
  • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
  • UNIV 111: Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication
  • General education course (3 credits)
• Spring semester:
  • BIOL 205: Basic Human Anatomy
  • BIOL 217: Principles of Nutrition
  • SOCY 101 or ANTH 103: Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology
  • UNIV 112: Focused Inquiry II
  • General education course (3 credits)

Sophomore Year

• Fall semester:
  • BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
  • PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206: Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory
  • PSYC 304: Life Span Developmental Psychology
  • STAT 208, STAT 210, or STAT 212: Statistical Thinking, Basic Practice of Statistics, or Concepts of Statistics
  • UNIV 200: Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication
• Spring semester:
  • NURS 350: Introduction to Professional Nursing
  • NURS 380: Applied Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 450: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I
  • NURS 523: Fundamental Nursing Concepts
  • NURS 524: Applied Practice: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Fundamental Nursing Concepts

Junior Year

• Fall semester:
  • IPEC 501: Foundations of Interprofessional Practice
  • NURS 403: Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care
  • NURS 451: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II
  • NURS 535: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 536: Applied Practice: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Across the Lifespan
  • Elective (300-level or higher) (3 credits)
• Spring semester:
  • IPEC 502: Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
  • NURS 301: Nursing Informatics
  • NURS 547: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 548: Applied Practice: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • General education courses or electives (6 credits)

Senior Year

• Fall semester:
  • NURS 408: Ethics, Law and Public Policy: Application to Nursing Practice
  • NURS 550: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • NURS 551: Applied Practice: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan
  • General education course or elective (3 credits)
  • Electives (300-level or higher) (3 credits)
• Spring semester:
  • IPEC 560: Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults
  • NURS 478: Leadership and Management in Health Care
  • NURS 484: Entry Into the Nursing Profession
  • NURS 494: Senior Synthesis

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121.