What is Nursing?

The nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level is a generalist who functions as a practitioner, scholar and leader. In clinical practice, the nurse collaborates with other health care professionals and serves as health teacher and client advocate. By functioning autonomously, the nurse implements the nursing process for individuals, families, groups and communities throughout the life cycle.

Baccalaureate nursing education has, as its foundation, the study of general and cognate courses in the humanities and physical, biological and behavioral sciences. Nursing courses provide for the attainment of knowledge and skills and the development of attitudes and values essential to competent nursing practice and beginning professional leadership. In keeping with the philosophy of the college, the goals of the undergraduate program are to prepare a professional nurse and to provide a foundation for graduate education.

BSN program objectives:

1. Apply relevant theories from nursing and related natural and behavioral sciences as a foundation for planning holistic care to enhance modify or support population focused health care in various environmental contexts. 
2. Demonstrate clinical judgment while providing holistic care as a member of the interprofessional team in various environmental contexts. 
3. Employ effective communication and collaboration for professional nursing practice utilizing information management and patient care technology. 
4. Demonstrate leadership to effectively implement evidence-based interventions that promote patient safety and quality improvement initiatives within the context of the interprofessional team 
5. Apply nursing process to address the health of diverse populations in the provision of evidence-based, comprehensive nursing care. 
6. Educate diverse populations in health promotion, disease prevention, maintenance, and health restoration. 
7. Use scholarly inquiry to guide professional practice. 
8. Demonstrate leadership in health policy, advocacy, and management of holistic care. 
9. Apply professional standards of practice incorporating legal, ethical, and resource management. 

Major Details

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) will complete four years of full-time study, consisting of general education, nursing clinicals and course work.  All first-year students will apply directly to the nursing major, where they will either be awarded Direct Admission to the BSN major, or referred to Pre-Nursing for their first-year.  If admitted to Pre-Nursing, students will then apply to the nursing major in the Spring Semester of their freshman year, which is a competitive admissions process based on the grades from the First-Year Nursing Curriculum, as well as other qualitative measurements.  Once admitted to the sophomore level, students will begin their nursing clinicals and course work, which takes three full-time years to complete.

Success Factors

Individuals who have a strong desire to help others, a commitment to life-long learning and an ability to work with people of all cultures can be successful in the field of nursing. Career opportunities in nursing allow for multiple work environments, so the nursing field is ideal for those who prefer to have flexibility in their career path.

Special Opportunities

The first college in the United States to award a university degree in nursing, the UC College of Nursing is part of UC's internationally recognized Academic Health Center that includes UC Health and the Colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy and Medicine. Health care institutions and agencies in the region provide excellent in-depth educational and clinical opportunities for students.

In keeping with its pioneering role in nursing education, the college added the master of science in nursing program in 1956 and the doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in 1990.

Ours is a diverse student population that includes males, females, minorities, international students, college graduates with degrees in other disciplines and career RNs who are pursuing advanced degrees. This diversity provides an environment in which students not only learn from the faculty, but from each other.

Students have a significant number of clinical experiences as part of the course of study beginning at the sophomore level. Clinical groups are usually composed of eight students and an instructor, allowing for personal attention and confidence building. Additionally, upon admission to the sophomore level of our program, students may elect to complete their nursing courses at our satellite program on the UC East campus of the University of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio. Those students who elect to take their classes at the UC East location are still UC College of Nursing students earning a BSN degree. Courses offered at UC East are taught by College of Nursing faculty and fulfill College of Nursing requirements — we've just made our program more accessible to those for whom our uptown east (medical campus) location is less convenient.  To learn more about the UC East location please visit:  http://nursing.uc.edu/future_students/campus_facilities.html .

An interesting aspect of the undergraduate program is the role of transition experience in the senior year. This experience offers a concentrated clinical experience with a preceptor in a clinical area similar to working as a graduate nurse. The college also offers clinical electives so that students can gain additional experience in a selected area in which they may wish to work after graduation.

Admission Requirements

All first-year students will apply directly to the nursing major, where they will either be awarded Direct Admission to the BSN major, or referred to Pre-Nursing for their first-year.  If admitted to Pre-Nursing, students will then apply to the nursing major (BSN) in the Spring Semester of their freshman year, with the application and admission criteria listed below.

First-Year Nursing Admission Guidelines

Applicants to the Nursing program will be holistically reviewed using criteria such as high school GPA, ACT/SAT test scores, a personal statement, an essay, (optional) letters of recommendations, extra-curricular activities, honors, award recognition, leadership roles, work/volunteer experience, etc.. Some admission guidelines include:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or preparatory school
• Successful completion of 19 units of college-preparatory subjects: English (4 units); College-Prep Math (4 units); Science (3 units), including 1 unit of Biology and 1 unit of Chemistry; Social Studies (3 units); Electives (5 units). Recommended: Foreign language, Anatomy & Physiology, upper-division Science courses, and Honors, AP, or PSEOP courses.

• Minimum high school GPA of 3.0, and a recommended minimum ACT score of 24 or an SAT score of 1090.
• Completed UC application and official high school or preparatory school transcripts.

BSN Application Criteria

• All applicants must have applied to and been admitted to UC
• Submit BSN application to the College of Nursing by the posted deadline (early Spring)
• Have final transcripts from outside institutions sent to UC’s Office of Admissions by the posted deadline
• Applicants must have completed the First-Year Nursing Curriculum, or be in their final term of those specific classes
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 to apply
• Admission is very competitive, as we receive more applications than we have clinical spaces available, therefore admission is not guaranteed by meeting these criteria.
• The GPA from the First-Year Nursing Curriculum will be considered, as well as other qualitative characteristics

Changing Major and Transfer Requirements

In order to apply for Pre-Nursing, students changing majors from other colleges within UC or transferring from schools outside UC must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0, and will be considered on a space available basis. When applying to the BSN program, these students must follow the BSN application criteria listed above.

International Student Admission Requirements

International students applying to the freshman year with the intention of entering the sophomore year of the BSN program must meet all requirements as listed for freshman and transfer students as well as meet University of Cincinnati minimum standards for TOEFL.

Application Deadlines

First-Year Nursing Admission Deadline:

The application deadline for students applying as freshman to the nursing major is December 1^st.  Any applications received after that date will only be considered for Pre-Nursing status, and not the BSN Direct Admission.  Please visit the University of Cincinnati’s Office of Admissions website for information regarding final application and confirmation deadlines for freshmen.

BSN Admission Deadline:

The application to the BSN Program is posted on www.nursing.uc.edu each Spring, and is due by the deadline stated on the application.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are considering transferring to this major from another school, use u.select to see how credits you have earned will transfer to UC. See course descriptions by college.

Curriculum Guide Versions:

Traditional Undergraduate 4 year Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program

Special Programs

The University of Cincinnati nursing co-op program is a one-of-a-kind program that encourages personal and professional growth. Experienced RN clinical preceptors provide one-on-one mentoring, and additional hands-on nursing encounters provide invaluable opportunities to students.

Only students with established reputations for consistent high achievement are accepted into this competitive program. The co-op program, established collaboratively with UC Health University Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, is offered exclusively to UC College of Nursing students.

Benefits

• Grow professionally
• Explore career options
• Experience real-world and direct application of classroom studies
• Experience increasing levels of responsibility
• Participate in pre-employment training
• Establish professional contacts
• Earn substantial wage

Objectives

• To prepare outstanding BSN nurses who are committed to excellence.
• To develop knowledge and critical thinking in nursing practice and the human experience of health, illness and healing.
• To equip the graduate with the ability to function more independently in a clinical setting.
• To teach leadership skills and provide experience in direct patient care.

Time to Degree Completion

Four years.

BSN Graduation Requirements

The requirements for conferring the bachelor's degree in nursing are:

1. Successful completion of:
   • the required courses in the program of study for the College of Nursing (121 credit hours);
   • degree requirements within seven years from date of matriculation;
2. A minimum of a 2.0 current and cumulative grade point average;
3. Filing of the appropriate degree application forms with the University of Cincinnati by the defined deadline;
4. Payment of all delinquent university/college obligations;
5. Recommendation by the faculty of the College of Nursing.

The requirements for certifying program completion to a board of nursing are:

1. Conferred BSN degree;
2. Successful completion of College exit exam.

Career Possibilities

Career opportunities in nursing are numerous. Professional nurses are assuming new and greater responsibilities in hospitals, schools, industry and community agencies. Nurses are employed as caregivers, teachers, counselors, managers and researchers. Additionally, nurses now can create careers out of striking combinations of interests such as: computers, music and art, law, politics, business, publishing and the media, among others.

UC nursing graduates are well prepared to enter the job market or to engage in graduate study. The faculty of the UC College of Nursing are well known and respected in the community for their teaching, research and service.

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's Web site.

Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The baccalaureate program at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, 202-887-6791.

For additional information about the nursing major at the University of Cincinnati, contact the College of Nursing at 513-558-3600 or nursing1@uc.edu.

Program Contact

Julie McCullough
Academic Advisor
3110 Vine Street

University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210038
Cincinnati, OH 45221

513-558-3600
Julie.McCullough@uc.edu