Toledo Campus: BSN Nursing Prelicensure

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.

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.