2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Second Degree
The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) second degree (SD) B.S.N. program is for individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university and wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. KCONs accelerated SD B.S.N. program is designed for full-time study and is delivered in a hybrid format. KCON accepts applications and admits students to the SD B.S.N. program three times a year (winter, spring/summer, and fall).
Admissions Requirements
- Apply to and earn admission to Grand Valley State University
- Declare nursing as a major
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (including transfer credits)
- Complete with a grade of C (2.0) or better all admission prerequisites coursework by time of application
- Earn a minimum prerequisite grade point average of 3.0 (including transfer credits)
- Adhere to the KCON course repeat policy which states that a student may repeat three admission prerequisite courses and two of those courses can be BMS, CHM, or BIO. No prerequisite course may be repeated more than once.
Admission to the program is highly competitive and a student may not be admitted if only meeting the minimum requirements. Additional information about the admissions process, including application deadlines, can be found on the KCON website at gvsu.edu/kcon.
Prior to beginning KCON clinical courses, students must complete comprehensive health compliance requirements including, but not limited to, a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening. Clinical sites can refuse to accept students who have not successfully completed all GVSU health requirements which may negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate. It is the responsibility of the student to establish and maintain all compliance requirements. Please note: If there is illegal activity in the background check/fingerprinting or if there is evidence of one or more prohibited substance(s) in the drug test, the clinical sites have the right to refuse a student's placement which may also negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate.
In addition, all State Boards of Nursing review records of all graduates who have completed a nursing program to determine eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN). All State Boards of Nursing retain the right to deny a B.S.N. graduate permission to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination if convicted of a crime.
All courses listed as follows must be completed by SD B.S.N. students with a minimum grade of C (2.0). In addition, continued progression through the nursing major requires a minimum grade of C (2.0) in corequisite and nursing courses. All required courses for the nursing major must be taken for graded credit, with the exception of some clinical nursing courses that are designated as credit/no-credit.
Prerequisite Admission Courses
Admission prerequisite courses that must be completed before applying to the SD B.S.N. program (21 credits).
- BIO 355 - Human Genetics (3 credits) (Prerequisites for BIO 355 are BIO 120 or both CMB 155 and CMB 156)
- BMS 212 - Introductory Microbiology (3 credits) (Prerequisites for BIO 212 are BIO 120 OR CHM 155 with CMB 156; AND CHM 230)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits) (Prerequisites for BIO 355 are BIO 120 or both CMB 155 and CMB 156)
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits) (Prerequisite for BMS 251 is BMS 250)
- CHM 230 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry (4 credits) (Prerequisite for CHM 230 is CHM 109)
- PSY 364 - Life Span Developmental Psychology (3 credits) (Prerequisite for PSY 364 is PSY 101)
Courses to be completed prior to the start of the professional nursing program.
- BMS 305 - Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
- BMS 310 - Basic Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
Corequisite and Nursing Courses
- NUR 322 - Theoretical Foundations for Health Assessment and Promotion (3 credits)
- NUR 323 - Clinical Application of Health Assessment and Promotion (4 credits)
- NUR 324 - Introduction to Professional Nursing Theory (3 credits)
- NUR 325 - Clinical Judgment in Health Assessment and Promotion (1 credit)
- NUR 328 - Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing (3 credits)
- NUR 332 - Adult Health Theory (6 credits)
- NUR 333 - Adult Health Clinical (5 credits)
- NUR 335 - Clinical Judgment in Adult Health (1 credit)
- NUR 336 - Research and Evidence-based Nursing Practice (3 credits) OR NUR 338 - Critical Appraisal of Evidence-based Practice in Nursing (1 credit)
- NUR 442 - Childbearing and Child-rearing Theory (4 credits)
- NUR 443 - Childbearing and Child-rearing Clinical (3 credits)
- NUR 445 - Clinical Judgment in Childbearing, Child-rearing, Community Health and Mental Health (1 credit)
- NUR 446 - Community Health and Mental Health Theory (4 credits)
- NUR 447 - Community Health and Mental Health Clinical (3 credits)
- NUR 472 - Transitions to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
- NUR 473 - Clinical Immersion (4 credits)
- NUR 475 - Clinical Judgment in Immersion (1 credit)
- NUR 476 - Population Health Theory (4 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework
Semester One
There are 14 credits required, including:
- NUR 322 - Theoretical Foundations for Health Assessment and Promotion (3 credits)
- NUR 323 - Clinical Application of Health Assessment and Promotion (4 credits)
- NUR 324 - Introduction to Professional Nursing Theory (3 credits)
- NUR 325 - Clinical Judgment in Health Assessment and Promotion (1 credit)
- NUR 328 - Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing (3 credits)
Semester Two
There are 13-15 credits required, including:
- NUR 332 - Adult Health Theory (6 credits)
- NUR 333 - Adult Health Clinical (5 credits)
- NUR 335 - Clinical Judgment in Adult Health (1 credit)
- NUR 336 - Research and Evidence-based Nursing Practice (3 credits) OR NUR 338 - Critical Appraisal of Evidence-based Practice in Nursing (1 credit)
Semester Three
There are 15 credits required, including:
- NUR 442 - Childbearing and Child-rearing Theory (4 credits)
- NUR 443 - Childbearing and Child-rearing Clinical (3 credits)
- NUR 445 - Clinical Judgment in Childbearing, Child-rearing, Community Health and Mental Health (1 credit)
- NUR 446 - Community Health and Mental Health Theory (4 credits)
- NUR 447 - Community Health and Mental Health Clinical (3 credits)
Semester Four
There are 12 credits required, including:
- NUR 472 - Transitions to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
- NUR 473 - Clinical Immersion (4 credits)
- NUR 475 - Clinical Judgment in Immersion (1 credit)
- NUR 476 - Population Health Theory (4 credits)
To progress in the B.S.N. program, a minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in the prerequisite, required, corequisite, and all nursing courses.
A grade less than a C (2.0) is considered a failure in all required B.S.N. courses. Students who fail more than one required course will not be allowed to remain in the program. Withdrawal from a course when "not in good standing" will be considered a course failure regardless of when the withdrawal occurs.
Minimum Number of Hours for Graduation: Completion of 56 credits in the professional nursing curriculum is required for the Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree. Fifty-four (54) credits if approved to take NUR 338 instead of NUR 336.