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Northwest Missouri State University


Nurse at Health Center (Photo by Darren Whitley)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program is a collaborative program with community colleges. Students must complete their RN curriculum and licensing at a community college before completing the BSN curriculum at Northwest. The nursing courses are web-based, allowing students to continue working while finishing their degree.

Students have the option to begin their pre-nursing prerequisites at Northwest before transferring to a community college or university that offers a full BSN program. After completing the RN program at a community college, students would then transfer back to Northwest. Students can also begin their coursework at the community college and begin at Northwest after they have received their RN license.

Careers Available

Students with their BSN can still continue practicing as an RN. Job prospects generally increase for students with their BSN. Students who want to further their education need their Bachelor's degree. Some nursing positions you can get outside the general RN include: travel nurse, military nurse, forensic nurse, legal nurse consulter or surgical nurse.

Special Admission Requirements (beyond Northwest requirements)

For Northwest's RN-to-BSN completion program, students must have a 2.5 GPA and a current unencumbered RN License

Admission requirements for nursing programs are determined by the school. Nursing programs require a specific GPA requirement; most range from a 2.0-3.5. Nursing programs also require prerequisites which include general education courses as well as core sciences-anatomy, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.

Special Field Requirements

Students wanting to start their nursing curriculum at Northwest have two options: attend Northwest for 1-2 years and transfer to a university with a full BSN program or attend Northwest for 1-2 years, transfer to a community college for the RN program which usually takes two years and then, return to Northwest to finish the BSN curriculum.

Students holding an RN license already can enter Northwest to finish all coursework.

Course Requirements

Fall Courses
Nur 01-301 Theories and Models of Nursing 3 hours
Nur 01-311 Health Care Delivery Systems 3 hours
Nur 01-411 Health Assessment 5 hours
PE 22-554 Human Sexuality 3 hours
PE 22-552 Health Promotion 3 hours
Spring Courses
Nur 01-371 Pathophysiology 3 hours
Nur 01-381 Intermediate Pharmacology 3 hours
Nur 01-401 Leadership and Management in Nursing 5 hours
Nur 01-431 Family and Child Nursing 5 hours
PE 22-554 Human Sexuality 3 hours
PE 22-552 Health Promotion 3 hours
Summer Courses
Nur 01-421 Community Nursing 5 hours
Nur 01-452 Gerontological Nursing 3 hours
Nur 01-481 Research Methods in Nursing 3 hours

BSN students may take their remaining general education requirements as they take nursing courses. Students can view class openings on CatPAWS. To view exclusively online classes, view the Northwest Online openings.

Students transferring classes from partner schools may be able to complete the program in one year. Other students will likely take two years to complete the program due to prerequisites.

Partner Schools

Contact Information

Leslie Chandler
Coordinator of Student Orientation and Transfer Affairs
Email: lchand@nwmissouri.edu
Phone: 660.562.1951