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Toledo Campus: BSN Nursing Prelicensure

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

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Become a nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Gain a strong foundation for a cutting-edge career registered nurse (RN) with Mercy College's eight-semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. You'll gain hands-on training as a nurse and achieve a bachelor's degree-level education.

This bachelor's degree nursing program provides the breadth of academic and clinical experience to prepare you to become an RN. Courses begin in the spring (January) and fall (August) semesters. However, students can be admitted and begin taking pre-requisite and general education courses toward their program of choice in the fall semester (August), spring semester (January), or summer semester (May).

Priority Review Dates for Program Admission

January 15 for a fall semester clinical start

September 15 for a spring semester clinical start

New students meeting program criteria, must have a completed admissions file and all transcripts received, by the priority review date. Students submitting applications for admission after the priority review date may be reviewed but may or may not be eligible for a program seat due to reaching the capacity of clinical seats. Students applying after the priority review date may be offered a spot on the waitlist. Check with an admissions officer for questions regarding the priority review date and program waitlist.

Program Overview

Bachelor's degree nursing education prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to practice nursing with competence, compassion, and integrity. Unlike a 2-year ADN nursing program, 4-year bachelor's nursing programs integrate general education, liberal arts, biological sciences, social sciences, and the interrelationship between theory, practice, and research. Students gain a well-rounded education while still completing their nursing degree.

Students are prepared as nurse generalists to function as providers, designers, and managers of patient care across the healthcare continuum. They are responsible for delegation of tasks and supervision of supportive healthcare workers and for collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. Bachelor's degree nurses typically earn a higher salary and greater job security than associate degree nurses.

MSN Fast Track

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree now also have the option to take one or more (maximum of six credit-hours) 500 level graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. The course options are part of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. More information about the MSN fast-track option is below.

MSN Fast Track Information

Program Handbook

History

In 1992, Mercy College of Ohio began the transition from a diploma school of nursing to a degree-granting institution. In 1994, the College granted its first associate degrees in nursing. The strategic plan at that time included the implementation of a baccalaureate program in nursing. In 1999, the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and the Ohio Board of Regents (now the Ohio Department of Higher Education) granted approval for the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. In June 2000, The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (now Higher Learning Commission) approved the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The first pre-licensure and registered nurse (RN) to BSN completion students were admitted in fall 2000.

Program Learning Outcomes

The baccalaureate program of study is further based on sound principles of education progressing from simple to complex, familiar to unfamiliar, and general to specific. The program provides students with the opportunity to achieve program objectives through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and competencies necessary to function as professional nurses who meet the healthcare needs of individuals across the lifespan. The following student learning outcomes emphasize Christian values, critical thinking, clinical competence, and professional development:

  1. Integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as the basis for clinical judgement.
  2. Apply quality improvement strategies to promote a culture of safety.
  3. Incorporate evidence-based practice to ensure effective nursing care.
  4. Use informatics and healthcare technologies to manage and improve the delivery of nursing and health care services.
  5. Demonstrate leadership strategies within the complex healthcare system to recognize and influence health policies and laws.
  6. Collaborate in interprofessional partnerships to optimize health.
  7. Provide health promotion and disease prevention interventions to improve population health outcomes.
  8. Incorporate professional and ethical behavior, the commitment to lifelong learning, and professional values into nursing practice.
  9. Provide holistic care to diverse populations across the lifespan.

Students interested in applying to the BSN Pre-licensure coursework and clinical experiences must complete a BSN Candidacy form in Semester III if a current student and meet the following admission requirements or transfer student guidelines by following the process below.

BSN Pre-licensure coursework and clinical experiences are sequential and begin in fall (August,) and spring (January) semesters with NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290. Candidates who apply after the priority application dates will be considered based on seat availability.

Application for Priority Application Review Date for File to be Complete Review of Candidates
Fall Start (August) January 15th February 15th
Spring Start (January) September 15th October 15th

Admission Requirements

Candidates must be high school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.7 or GED recipients with a score of 570 (score of 57 prior to 2002).

Applicants must have achieved the following test scores:

  • ACT composite score of 21, with a score of 20 on mathematics sub-test and a score of 19 on scientific reasoning sub-test, or SAT with a combined score of 1060-1090 or above.
  • ACT/SAT is waived for a transfer student who has earned a minimum of 15 college credit hours at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.

Applicants must have completed and passed these high school courses, or their college equivalents:

  • *Biology – one year
  • *Chemistry with a lab – one year
  • *Math – Algebra – one year

All courses should be completed with a grade of “C” or better; a grade of “B” or better is preferred.

*Courses must have been completed within the past seven (7) years with grade of “C” or better.

Transfer students must be high school graduates or GED recipients and have earned a minimum of 15 credit hours of college coursework from a regionally-accredited college, with a GPA of at least 2.7 and have completed all the necessary program prerequisite courses. For applicants who have attended more than one regionally-accredited college, the cumulative GPA from all colleges must equal at least 2.7. The Nursing Division BSN Program Admission Scoring Rubric will be used to objectively review a candidate’s educational records.

The BSN Pre-licensure Nursing Program Admissions Committee will not consider applicants for admission into the program if applicants have failed two or more nursing courses at another college or university or have been dismissed from another nursing program in the past five (5) years.

Students who do not meet the requirements or who need to complete the necessary program prerequisite courses should review General College Admission Requirements in the Enrollment Management section of the College Catalog.

Candidacy Review Process

All candidate information will be thoroughly evaluated by the BSN Pre-licensure Nursing Program Admissions Committee using the Nursing Division BSN Program Admission Scoring Rubric. The scored rubric provides an objective review of candidates’ educational records. Accepted students will receive a letter from the Dean of Nursing.

The Direct from High School Initiative- Edge

The College offers Direct Admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, called EDGE (Early Decision Guaranteed Enrollment), which guarantees a seat in the Nursing program after three semesters of specific coursework.

This option is specifically designed for high school seniors with:

  • A minimum GPA of 3.3
  • A minimum composite ACT score of 24 or SAT score of 1160-1190

A high school student who is accepted into the EDGE program must begin at Mercy College within one year of high school graduation.

EDGE is a full-time eight-semester program of study designed for highly qualified students pursuing a career in nursing. Students must:

  • Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in Mercy College coursework, with a 3.0 GPA in the science courses.
  • Complete all prerequisite courses and by the end of the third semester.

Students in the EDGE program do not have to complete the BSN Candidacy form.

Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.

Semester I

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 220 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
MTH 104 Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability 3
Or
MTH 130 College Algebra 4
NUR 101 Introduction to Nursing 1
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology 3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3

Semester II

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 201 Physiological Basis of Nutrition 2
BIO 210 Microbiology 4
BIO 221 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
MTH 140 Introduction to Statistics 3

Semester III

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 290 Pathophysiology 3
CHM 111 Basic Organic and Biochemistry 4
REL 290 Medical Ethics 3
PSY 201 Lifespan Psychology 3
SOC 211 Cultural Diversity 3

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, students must complete all college requirements including:

General Education Requirements

Specific courses are required by the program.

Complete All of the Following Courses:

Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 minimum

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
ENG 102 English Composition II 3

Math, Statistics and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
MTH 104 Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability 3
Or
MTH 130 College Algebra 4
MTH 140 Introduction to Statistics 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 201 Lifespan Psychology 3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3

Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity (includes Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
REL 290 Medical Ethics 3
SOC 211 Cultural Diversity 3
Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity – Religious Studies course 3

Natural Sciences, Technology and Innovation (GNSI) - 6 minimum

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 201 Physiological Basis of Nutrition 2
BIO 210 Microbiology 4
BIO 220 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
BIO 221 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
BIO 290 Pathophysiology 3
CHM 111 Basic Organic and Biochemistry 4

Required Nursing Pre-Licensure Program Course Requirements

Complete All of the Following Program Courses:

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
NUR 101 Introduction to Nursing 1
NUR 256 Fundamental Nursing Concepts 8
NUR 259 Pharmacology Nursing Concepts 4
NUR 316 Clinical Nursing Concepts I 8
NUR 318 Professional Nursing Concepts I 4
NUR 326 Clinical Nursing Concepts II 8
NUR 328 Professional Nursing Concepts II 5
NUR 416 Clinical Nursing Concepts III 8
NUR 418 Professional Nursing Concepts III 5
NUR 426 Clinical Nursing Concepts IV 7
NUR 428 Professional Nursing Concepts IV 3
NUR 481 NCLEX-RN Preparation 2
Printable Version

Semester I

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 220 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
MTH 104 Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability 3
NUR 101 Introduction to Nursing 1
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology 3
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3

Semester II

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 201 Physiological Basis of Nutrition 2
BIO 210 Microbiology 4
BIO 221 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
MTH 140 Introduction to Statistics 3

Semester III

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
BIO 290 Pathophysiology 3
CHM 111 Basic Organic and Biochemistry 4
REL 290 Medical Ethics 3
PSY 201 Lifespan Psychology 3
SOC 211 Cultural Diversity 3

Semester IV

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
Religious Studies general education course 3
NUR 256 Fundamental Nursing Concepts 8
NUR 259 Pharmacology Nursing Concepts 4

Semester V

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
NUR 316 Clinical Nursing Concepts I 8
NUR 318 Professional Nursing Concepts I 4
Arts, Humanities, Culture, Diversity of Social Science Electives 3

Semester VI

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
NUR 326 Clinical Nursing Concepts II 8
NUR 328 Professional Nursing Concepts II 5
General Elective 3

Semester VII

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
NUR 416 Clinical Nursing Concepts III 8
NUR 418 Professional Nursing Concepts III 5

Semester VIII

Course Number Course Name Credit Hours
NUR 426 Clinical Nursing Concepts IV 7
NUR 428 Professional Nursing Concepts IV 3
NUR 481 NCLEX-RN Preparation 2

Sample program of study for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-licensure.

The NUR courses begin in the fourth semester. However, students can begin pre-nursing coursework or transfer to Mercy College to continue pre-nursing coursework at any point.

The baccalaureate program of study is further based on sound principles of adult education progressing from simple to complex, familiar to unfamiliar, and general to specific. The Program provides students with the opportunity to achieve program objectives through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and competencies necessary to function as professional nurses who meet the healthcare needs of individuals across the lifespan. The following student learning outcomes emphasize Christian values, critical thinking, clinical competence, and professional development:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of liberal education (Arts and sciences) in making clinical judgments for diverse populations with complex health problems.
  2. Demonstrate leadership skills, quality improvement, and patient safety in caring for populations with complex health problems.
  3. Demonstrate ability to participate in basic nursing research by sharing evidence-based nursing practices with the inter-professional healthcare team.
  4. Employ knowledge and skills of information management in patient care technology.
  5. Apply principles of legal, ethical and economic policy related to influencing healthcare delivery and practice.
  6. Effectively communicate and collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals to deliver evidence based, patient-centered care.
  7. Provide therapeutic nursing interventions that assist populations, communities, groups, and individuals across the life span whose lives are affected by, illness, distress, disease, disability or death.
  8. Incorporate professional behavior, the commitment to lifelong learning, and professional values, including legal and ethical aspects into the practice of nursing.
  9. Integrate holistic care to a diverse population in a variety of healthcare settings.

Program Outcomes

  • Document .pdfBSN PreLicensure


    Program outcomes data for BSN Prelicensure program, including the NCLEX pass rates and survey data.

    Download

Career Outlook

Employment Growth

Overall job opportunities for RNs are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2024. In fact, registered nurses are projected to generate approximately 711,900 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. [bls.gov]

Salary Range

The national annual salary for RNs for registered nurses ranges from $47,150 – $102,990, with the median wage being $68,450. [bls.gov]

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements listed below are for entry into the nursing coursework for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-Licensure program. Students who do not meet these requirements or who need to complete the necessary program pre-requisite courses should review general college admission requirements. Students should review the basic requirements below along with the additional pre-requisite and nursing program entrance requirements listed below this section.

An applicant must be a high school graduate with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7 or a general equivalency diploma (GED) recipient with a score of 570 (score of 57 prior to 2002). If an applicant’s GPA or GED score is below the minimum, he/she may be eligible for admission under transfer student guidelines.

In addition to a candidate having at least a 2.7 cumulative grade point average, each candidate will be reviewed using the Nursing Division BSN Program Admission Scoring Rubric. The rubric score will provide an objective view of the candidate’s educational record.

Applicants must have achieved the following test scores:

  • ACT composite score of 21, with a score of 20 on mathematics sub-test and a score of 19 on scientific reasoning sub-test, or SAT with a combined score of 1060-1090 (The College Board concordance tables, 5.9.2016) or above.
  • ACT/SAT is waived for transfer students who have earned a minimum of 15 college semester hours at a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.

Applicants should have completed and passed these high school courses, or their college equivalents:

  • Biology* – one year
  • Chemistry with a lab* – one year
  • Math – Algebra* – one year

All courses should be completed with a grade of "C" or better; a grade of "B" or better is preferred. Courses marked with * must have been completed within the past seven years with grade of “C” or better; a grade of “B” or better is preferred.

A transfer student must be a high school graduate or a GED recipient and have earned a minimum of 15 credit hours of college coursework from a regionally accredited college, with a GPA of at least 2.7. For applicants who have attended more than one regionally accredited college, GPAs from all colleges must combine to equal at least 2.7. The program rubric will be used to objectively review a candidate’s educational record as described above. The program Admissions Committee will not consider an applicant for admission into the program if an applicant has failed two or more nursing courses at another college or university or has been dismissed from another nursing program in the past five (5) years.

For students who are not United States citizens and/or for whom English is a second language, please review the college catalog for further admission information.


Coursework Entrance Requirements

In addition to the basic admission requirements listed above,

students must adhere to the following guidelines and process for

entrance into this program's nursing coursework (NUR courses). Process for entrance into this program's higher-level coursework (NUR courses): NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290

  1. In addition to adhering to all admission and entrance requirements, transfer students must submit an application to Mercy College of Ohio per admission process listed in the Mercy College of Ohio catalog.
  2. A current Mercy College of Ohio student seeking entrance into this program's coursework (NUR courses) is required to fill out a Candidacy for Program of Study-Bachelor of Science in Nursing Form after Semester I-III courses are completed with a grade of “C” or better. Forms are located on the Mercy College website under Student Records Forms or in the Nursing Advisor’s office.
  3. Students seeking entrance into higher-level nursing coursework (NUR Courses) must have a cumulative collegiate grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7 to be considered for entrance into NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290. Entrance into higher-level nursing coursework is competitive and not guaranteed.
  4. Students must successfully complete courses listed in Semester I-IV with a grade of “C” or better, a grade of “B” or better is preferred, to begin in NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290. Science and math courses must have been completed within the past seven years with grade of “C” or better.
  5. Nursing coursework is sequential and begins each Fall (August) and Spring (January) with NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290. Applicants must have submitted the Candidacy for Program of Study: BSN Nursing Form and all transcripts by the priority application deadline for their file to be complete.
  6. Students will be notified of acceptance into nursing coursework by the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health.

Direct Admit for High School Students : BSN Nursing Prelicensure

Mercy College of Ohio offers a Direct Admit Initiative called Direct EDGE to qualified high school seniors accepted into the bachelor's nursing program