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Beginning with the January 31, 2008, applications, this program will be offered as an M.S.N. for initial R.N. Licensure (pending approval). We are no longer taking applications for this B.S.N. track. Please look in our Graduate Program section for a pdf Fact Sheet about this new M.S.N. program. 

Post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post-Baccalaureate B.S.N.)
    (formerly known as the Accelerated B.S.N. Program) 

This program is designed for those who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field and would now like to go into nursing and earn their B.S.N.

Note:  This program is being converted to an M.S.N. for R.N. licensure effective January 2009 (pending approval). See the Web site for the College of Nursing and Health Services about the new program, particularly the Admission Requirements and the Prerequisites Courses. 

For the Post-bac B.S.N. program, the following requirements are necessary for admission to the Department of Nursing.

• Official transcript indicating B.A./B.S. degree
• Official transcripts of all college coursework
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.00 scale) calculated from all college coursework
• Completion of program prerequisites     

Prerequisite Courses

Before applying to the Post-bac nursing program, seven prerequisite courses must be completed at any accredited college or university (cumulative GPA of 3.0).

• Statistics
• Chemistry (with laboratory component)
• Human Anatomy (with laboratory component)
• Human Physiology (with laboratory component)
• Microbiology (with laboratory component)
• Nutrition
• Life span growth and development (must cover the entire life span)

The science courses must include labs. All courses must be at least three (3) semester credits. Courses taken under the quarter system must be at least four (4) quarter credits.

All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better. The prerequisite course grades are heavily weighted in the admission process. Although there is no age limit at this time on prerequisite courses, they contain prerequisite content needed for nursing courses so students with very old courses may wish to consider retaking them if appropriate.

Not all of the prerequisite courses are available at Metropolitan State University. Students may take applicable courses at any accredited college or university. Some colleges may offer a sequence of courses rather than a single course (such as Anatomy and Physiology I and II or Child and Adolescent Development and Adulthood and Aging).

Students with questions about the applicability of a course to meet one of the prerequisites should contact the Nursing undergraduate advisor. Some courses may need to be approved by petition. Petitions are obtained by contacting the College of Nursing.

Program Courses

After being accepted into the program, students will successfully complete 60 credits of nursing coursework. This program will require a full-time commitment for four semesters (fall/spring). Some courses may be available during summer terms to lighten the fall/spring credit loads.

• NURS 304 Fundamental Concepts of Professional Nursing (8 credits)
• NURS 305 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing I (3 credits)
• NURS 306 Principles of Pharmacology for Nursing (3 credits)
• NURS 309 Nursing Care During Illness (8 credits)
• NURS 315 Theoretical Foundation of Nursing II (3 credits)
• NURS 335 Nursing Research (3 credits)
• NURS 402 Ethical Dimensions for Nursing Practice (2 credits)*
• NURS 407 Family Health Nursing (3 credits)*
• NURS 408 Maternal Child Health Nursing (6 credits)
• NURS 456 Community Health Nursing (4 credits)
• NURS 456P Community Health Nursing Practicum (2 credits)
• NURS 458 Leadership and Management in Nursing (6 credits)
• NURS 460 Mental Health Nursing (4 credits)
• NURS 461 Nursing Care in Complex Situations (5 credits)

If a student qualifies NURS 407 may be taken for graduate credit as NURS 607.

Background Check

Under the 1995 amendments to the Vulnerable Adults Act, individuals who provide direct contact service to patients or residents of facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health must undergo a background check. Persons who participate in a clinical placement as part of an educational program are among those affected by the law.

An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of a negative background study is not permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota-licensed health care facility. This could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in either the B.S.N or M.S.N. programs.

Course Locations

• Metropolitan State University (Saint Paul Campus)
• Anoka Ramsey Community College (Coon Rapids Campus)
• North Hennepin Community College (Brooklyn Park)

Every effort is made to hold classes on only two of the three campuses each semester. In addition, students are required to travel to clinical sites in the Metropolitan area to complete the clinical components of the program. Some courses are taught in an online or Web-enhanced format.

Application Process

After the above prerequisites are complete you may apply to the program.

1. Attend an information session to obtain the application.*
2. Complete the application.
3. Write a student essay responding to a question on the application.
4. Enclose a $20 application fee and send the application, essay, and fee to the addresss indicated.
5. Arrange to have official transcripts sent from all previously attended colleges and universities.

*Students who cannot attend an information session may contact the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to obtain an application.

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Contact

For more information contact Sandi Gerick sandi.gerick@metrostate.edu (651) 793-1379
To contact the Nursing Department call (651) 793-1375.