The Accelerated B.S. Degree in the Nursing Program prepares students to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) upon graduation and to become Registered Nurses. This Option for earning the B.S.N. is designed for second-degree students who hold a minimum of a B.A. or B.S. Degree in any field and who have completed necessary prerequisite courses and admission requirements. The program of study is intense and nursing courses required for licensure are completed within four semesters. This B.S.N. Option builds on previous learning and provides specific clinical education that prepares nursing professionals who can practice in a wide variety of settings. The B.S.N. framework emphasizes the practice of professional nursing, including assessment, promotion, maintenance, restoration and evaluation of the health of individuals, families, groups, communities and populations. Nursing courses include classroom instruction and clinical laboratories in patient-care settings.

Academic Policies

1. Nursing courses from other Programs may be considered non-equivalent and not be transferred into this program with the exception of NURS 307/L.
2. Students are admitted as a cohort. Should progression through the curriculum be interrupted, students whose progress is interrupted will need to reapply to the Program and will be considered on a space-available basis. All Nursing courses must be completed within 5 years after taking the first Nursing course.
3. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all prerequisite and nursing courses. A grade of “C-”will require the student to repeat the course or concurrent theory/lab courses. All Nursing courses may be repeated only once with a maximum of 15 repeated units. Students progressing on schedule through the Program will be given priority space in classes, and students repeating courses will be considered only on a space-available basis. The need to repeat some courses may interfere with the repeating student’s ability to complete the Degree.
4. Students must enroll and pass concurrently both theory and clinical laboratory components of each area of study that contains these components.
5. Requirements for A-B.S.N. are the same as above for R.N.-B.S.N. as related to necessary health insurance, health examinations, immunizations, TB testing, titers, criminal background checks, drug screens, nursing liability insurance, CPR certification, fire safety cards or other requirements needed to maintain compliance with University and affiliating clinical agency requirements. Documentation is to be submitted to the designated person upon request and before the first patient-care experience.
6. Access to reliable transportation is required for clinical courses off campus.
7. Due to the clinical requirements imposed by external clinical partners, students must be prepared to attend clinical rotations in the community settings any day of the week, including weekends and at various times of the day, including evenings and nights. No reasonable student accommodation to clinical scheduling can be made given the cohort nature of the Program and the external limitations placed on the Department by hospitals and other clinical settings. Clinical rotations can change each academic semester or year given external assignments of times and days.
8. The faculty reserves the right to make Program modifications as necessary to meet current professional standards, Board of Registered Nursing requirements and accreditation criteria.

Requirements for Admission to A-BSN Pathway

1. An earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution;
2. Undergraduate GPA if 3.0 or better;
3. All prerequisite course grades must be “C” or higher. All science prerequisites must have been completed within the past 7 years. Courses that have been taken at an Upper Division undergraduate-level or that combine prerequisite content (e.g. single course of 5 semester units in anatomy and physiology course with lab) will be considered on a case-by-case basis as potentially meeting minimum requirements;
4. Earning a minimum grade of “C” in prerequisite courses;
5. A personal interview may be requested of all applicants;
6. Apply to CSUN and the A-BSN no later than November 30;
7. A-BSN application is a separate application procedure from admission to the University, and students are responsible to assure their applications are complete. No waiting list is maintained and students must reapply each year for which they wish to be considered;
8. Potential applicants are responsible to consult the CSUN Nursing website for up-to-date information on application deadlines and procedures.

Requirements for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

1. Prerequisite Courses

Any of the following courses or their equivalents that were completed as part of the first degree program do not need to be repeated. Course equivalencies can be checked at http://assist.org or with the help of an advisor.

BIO 211/212 Human Anatomy and Lab (2/1)
BIOL 215/L Introductory Microbiology and Lab (2/1)
BIOL 281/282 Human Physiology and Lab (3/1)
CHEM 103 General Chemistry and Lab (4)
MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (3)

General Education courses from the following sections:

Oral Communication (3)
Written communication (3)
Critical thinking (3)

Total Units: 37

2. Required Courses for the B.S.N. Program

NURS 302 Basic Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 307/L Health Assessment in Self Care Agency and Lab (2/1)
NURS 310 Principles of Nursing Research (3)
NURS 315 Pharmacology and Self-Care Agency (2)
NURS 318/L Introduction to Professional Nursing and Clinical lab (3/4)
NURS 319 Effective Communications in Professional Nursing (2)
NURS 321/AL Adult/Aged Medical Surgical Nursing and Clinical Lab (4/8)
NURS 321BL Nursing Care of Older Adults Lab (1)
NURS 426 Nursing Systems Issues and Ethics (3)
NURS 427/L Dynamics of Nursing Leadership and Clinical Lab (3/2)
NURS 428/L Community Health Nursing and Lab (3/2)
NURS 430/L Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing and Clinical Lab (2/1)
NURS 443/L Nursing Care of Children and Clinical Lab (2/1.5)
NURS 444/L Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Clinical Lab (2/1.5)

Total Units in the Major: 56

GE Units Fulfilled as Part of Original B.A./B.S.: 6

Total Units Required Beyond Original B.A./B.S. Degree: 62