Nursing (BS)

The School of Nursing’s undergraduate nursing program has patient-centered care at the core of the curriculum. The School of Nursing offers two programs for a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing (BSN and Accelerated Second Degree). Each program is intense and demanding. Students must complete all prerequisite courses before taking the nursing courses. The BS in Nursing prepares students for entry level nursing practice as well as future graduate study. All students must successfully complete the pre-major requirements before they will be considered for admission to the major.

Graduates of the program are expected to demonstrate competencies consistent with being a critical thinker, a culturally competent caring provider of health care, an effective communicator, and a responsible manager of health care. Graduates are prepared to be successful on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is required to practice and be licensed as a Registered Nurse in all states.

Please see the UNLV School of Nursing web page for information about programs, faculty and facilities.  Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available on the UNLV Degrees Directory.

Program Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program of study, graduates will:

1. Use emerging patient care technologies and information systems to support safe, effective nursing practice.
2. Integrate leadership concepts, skills and decision-making in the provision of high-quality nursing care delivery in a variety of settings.
3. Apply knowledge of healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments, including local, state, national and global healthcare trends in nursing practice.
4. Integrate professional values, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors into nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate sound clinical judgment in the planning, provision, and evaluation of evidence-based nursing care at the individual, group, and community levels.
6. Demonstrate effective inter- and intra-professional communication and collaboration for improving patient outcomes.
7. Apply principles that enhance safety for patients and health care providers through both individual performance and system effectiveness.
8. Use clinical prevention strategies to promote health and prevent disease across the life span at the individual and population levels.

Admissions Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Application for the BSN

1. Completion of all prerequisite courses or enrollment of last remaining prerequisite courses listed on Pre-Nursing worksheet.
2. A minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA is required to apply to the Nursing program. If no UNLV GPA has been earned then the cumulative GPA from all other schools attended will be used.
3. A minimum “B or higher” is required for MATH 124   or higher, KIN 223  , KIN 224  , BIOL 251A  , BIOL 251L   and NURS 299  .
4. A minimum “C or higher” is required for all other courses listed.
5. A review of all prerequisite courses must be completed by an academic advisor to confirm eligibility for admission. 

Career Possibilities

The undergraduate nursing program prepares a clinical practice generalist. Students attain the knowledge, competencies, and attitudes to practice nursing safely, effectively, and efficiently.

Graduates of the program are expected to demonstrate competencies consistent with being a critical thinker, a culturally competent caring provider of health care, an effective communicator, and a responsible manager of health care. Graduates are prepared to be successful during the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required to practice and be licensed as a registered nurse in all states.

Workplace

Graduates are prepared to practice in diverse locations such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, public health, home health, elementary and high schools, and businesses such as health insurance or case management companies.