Grand Valley's traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree program focuses on evidence-based nursing practice. This curriculum is a competency-based curriculum that focuses on developing specific skills and abilities that are essential for effective nursing practice. Students are prepared to provide nursing interventions for individuals, families, groups, and communities at a beginning, generalist level and will complete five semesters of clinical coursework.

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- Learn from exceptional faculty invested in your success
- Receive guidance from experienced academic advisors every step of the way
- Experience local and relevant clinical practicums arranged for you 
- Work with state-of-the-art technology for teaching and learning
- Create an individual program plan with your advisor

The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) is accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the undergraduate curriculum is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Baccalaureate Essentials.  It focuses on the student’s role development as 1) provider of care; 2) designer, manager and coordinator of care; and 3) member of the profession.  Students graduating from the KCON baccalaureate program are expected to display the following outcomes:

1. Provide nursing care based on expanding clinical judgment within parameters of functional capacity of individuals, families, groups and communities in multiple settings that incorporate knowledge from the liberal arts and knowledge unique to nursing.
2. Coordinate health care with individuals, families, groups and communities across the life span, using communication skills, in collaboration with members of the health care team.
3. Assume ethical, legal and professional accountability for the development and practice of nursing in a changing health care environment.

KCON teaching and learning practices, curricula and learning environments are designed based on our philosophy of nursing education and organizing framework, to foster the behaviors that faculty believe are most important for the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and member of the profession. These include: 

1. Critical thinking
2. Communication
3. Assessment
4. Health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention
5. Illness and disease management
6. Information and health care technologies
7. Ethics
8. Human diversity
9. Global health care 

Grand Valley’s nursing program focuses on evidence based nursing practice. Students are prepared to provide nursing interventions for individuals, families, and communities at a beginning, generalist level and will complete five semesters of clinical coursework. Nursing courses are not held during the summer for students in the traditional program.

Clinical courses use multiple teaching methods, including hands on learning, in a variety of health care settings. Students will receive instruction and gain knowledge in our learning labs, through simulation exercises, and in clinical experiences. KCON offers multiple clinical rotations in such areas as medical/surgery, mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics, long term care, and community health; students will complete approximately 1,260 clinical hours throughout the undergraduate experience. These rotations may include settings in:

1. Primary care
2. Acute and rehabilitation hospitals
3. In patient and community mental health sites
4. County health departments
5. Home care agencies
6. Community health screening clinics
7. Immunization clinics 

Some students, based on interest and opportunity, can earn credit towards their community health clinical obligations through a two week faculty-lead study abroad trip to Ghana. This program offers an intercultural nursing experience that provides students with an opportunity to compare and contrast different community-based health care systems.  For more study abroad information.

Once admitted into the BSN program, students must take the following list of nursing courses. All courses listed as follows must be completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0). 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.

The list of courses in the BSN program are: 

• NUR 222 – Foundations of Nursing Theory
• NUR 223 – Foundations in Nursing: Assessment and Clinical Skills
• NUR 225 – Foundations in Nursing Simulation 
• NUR 310 – Adult Nursing I
• NUR 313 – Adult Clinical I
• NUR 319 – Adult Nursing Simulation I
• NUR 326 – Nursing Pharmacology
• NUR 329 – Community Public Health Nursing I
• NUR 342 – Obstetrics Theory
• NUR 343 – Obstetrics Clinical
• NUR 349 – Obstetrics Simulation 
• NUR 346 – Pediatric Theory
• NUR 347 – Pediatric Clinical
• NUR 345 – Pediatric Simulation

• NUR 352 – Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
• IPE 402 – Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Practice
• NUR 403 – Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical
• NUR 404 – Adult Nursing II
• NUR 405 – Adult Nursing Simulation II
• NUR 406 – Psychiatric Mental Health Theory
• NUR 407 – Adult Nursing Clinical II
• NUR 408 – Ethics and Challenges in Professional Nursing
• NUR 415 – Multi-Patient Nursing Simulation 
• NUR 422 – Leadership Theory
• NUR 423 – Clinical Immersion
• NUR 424 – Transition to Practice: Nursing and Beyond
• NUR 495 – Community Public Health Nursing II

The nursing major also consists of required core courses. A student must achieve a grade of C or higher in the following courses in order to progress to the next level:  BMS 305 (Clinical Nutrition), BMS 310 (Pathophysiology), and BIO 355 (Genetics).

For full course descriptions and program requirements, visit the current BSN program section of the GVSU Catalog. For more information on program prerequisites, plans, and guides visit the BSN Requirements and Guides page on KCON Office of Student Services' website. 

Upon completion of the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, graduates are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse and entry into professional nursing practice.

Students who are admitted to the university as a degree-seeking undergraduate student may apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for Traditional students through the competitive admission process. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline are ineligible for this program. 

Competitive admission: students must enroll as a nursing major and complete a secondary application. Completion of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

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