Nursing Major

Entry into the Major

Application for admission to the nursing program is a separate process and in addition to being admitted to the College. Space is limited and not all qualified applicants are guaranteed admission. Requirements for application to enter the nursing program:

Requirements for application to enter the nursing program: 

A checklist of these requirements is available for download: BSNApplicationChecklist2023.

1. BSNApplication2023. Applications are accepted March 1–April 1 for admission to the fall cohort. Applications received after April 1 will be reviewed at the discretion of the program director.
2. Sophomore standing eligibility (at least 28 credits) by end of semester of application
3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all courses through fall of sophomore year; all courses taken through fall of sophomore year are GPA ranked for admission status
4. Minimum of “C+” in prerequisites (Must be completed or enrolled in at time of application): BIOL151 General Biology I and Lab (or BIOL101 with nursing program director approval), ENGL110 College Writing I, CHEM107 General, Organic and Biochemistry and Lab or CHEM113 General Chemistry I and Lab, COMM111 Fundamentals of Speech, BIOL221 Human Anatomy and Lab, PSYC120 Human Growth and Development, BIOL222 Human Physiology and Lab, BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab (Note: Per biology dept., a minimum of ‘B’ in BIOL101 Principles of Biology and Lab is required as a prerequisite for BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab)
5. Minimum of “C+” in support courses (Must be completed to graduate from nursing program): HLTH201 Nutrition, SCIE330 Ethics in Science, MATH120 Introduction to Statistics (Note:  MATH110 Math Problem Solving or MATH111 is prerequisite for MATH120 Introduction to Statistics)
6. Minimum of “C+” in NURS301 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing (Must be completed or enrolled in at time of application)
7. Required prerequisite and support courses may be repeated only once (1). A “C+” or higher must be earned on the repeated attempt of a prerequisite or support course to qualify for admission to or progression in the nursing program. No more than three (3) required prerequisite and support courses may be repeated. Failing a total of four (4) required prerequisite and/or support courses will result in denial of admission to or dismissal from the nursing program. All failed required courses will be counted towards the dismissal policy (e.g.. If first attempt is failed and the course is successfully repeated, the first attempt will be counted as one (1) failure for the dismissal policy). Two (2) withdrawals (either withdrawal passing or withdrawal failing) from the same required pre-requisite, support, or nursing course will be considered as one (1) failure and will count towards the dismissal policy.
8. At the time of application to the core nursing program, science credits, including transfer science credits and science credits taken at Bethany, cannot be older than six (6) years. This includes the following courses: BIOL101 Principles of Biology and Lab, BIOL151 General Biology I and Lab, CHEM107 General, Organic and Biochemistry and Lab, CHEM113 General Chemistry I and Lab, BIOL221 Human Anatomy and Lab, BIOL222 Human Physiology and Lab, and BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab. Students with science credits older than six (6) years will need to retake applicable science credits. 
9. Copy of unofficial transcript
10. Complete and successfully pass a national criminal background check (and drug screen upon request). CBProgramApplicationDirections2022
11. Completion of the HESI® Admission Assessment Exam. HESIAdmissionAssessmentInformation; HESI Admission Assessment Payment Form2023
    • HESI Testing Date: Monday, February 28, 2023 at 4:30pm, Meyer Hall 109
12. Director/faculty interview (upon request)

• Acceptance status letters will be mailed on or before May 1. Letters will be mailed to the address on the application unless otherwise indicated by applicant. 
• Preference for admission to the nursing major will be given to students with general education, pre-requisite, and support course credits earned at Bethany. Transfer students must meet the same requirements for admission. Bethany Lutheran College does not accept nursing credits on transfer.
• Students not accepted for admission may be listed as an alternate per the Nursing Department Admissions Committee. Students on the alternate list may also reapply for admission to the nursing program the following year and will be considered in the next pool of applicants but will not be guaranteed admission.
• Students not accepted for admission may reapply for admission to the nursing program the following year.  Students may reapply for admission two (2) times and must do so in consecutive years. 
• Students desiring to transfer into the nursing program, whether from another institution, or from a different major at Bethany Lutheran College, are to follow the regular admission process and requirements of the nursing program. Transfer students from another institution must be admitted to the college before applying for admission to the nursing program.  Official transcripts from all other institutions must be submitted to the college Registrar.
• Due to the traditional design of the curriculum, Bethany Lutheran College does not provide advanced standing to or accept core nursing credits on transfer from persons who currently hold licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Any person holding LPN licensure desiring admission to the nursing program must follow the regular admission process and requirements of the nursing program.

Requirements Upon Acceptance and Before Starting the Nursing Program

Upon acceptance to the nursing program, students must provide additional requirements for clinical placement. The following requirements are due by August 1:

• Attend the mandatory nursing program orientation session (held in early May)
• Documentation of certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant OR documentation of satisfactory completion of a nursing assistant course within six years preceding acceptance to the nursing program (separate fees; provide copy of transcript or certificate)
• Current CPR/BLS for health care providers’ certification. CPR/BLS certification must be through American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network. (Must maintain throughout the entire nursing program. Provide copy of certificate/card.)
• Health Clearance Form with proof of required immunizations and medical insurance (See http://blc.edu/nursing-major for list of immunizations and Health Clearance Form)

General Education/Prerequisite Requirements 

At the time of application to the core nursing program, science credits, including transfer science credits and science credits taken at Bethany, cannot be older than six (6) years. This includes the following courses: BIOL101 Principles of Biology and Lab, BIOL151 General Biology I and Lab, CHEM107 General, Organic and Biochemistry and Lab, CHEM113 General Chemistry I and Lab, BIOL221 Human Anatomy and Lab, BIOL222 Human Physiology and Lab, and BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab. Students with science credits older than six (6) years will need to retake applicable science credits.

*A grade of “C+” or higher (per individual course scale) must be obtained in each of the prerequisite and support courses.

• *BIOL151 General Biology I and Lab and lab 4 cr. (or BIOL101 with nursing program director)
• *BIOL221 Human Anatomy and Lab 4 cr.
• *BIOL222 Human Physiology and Lab 4 cr.
• *BIOL360 Microbiology and Lab 4 cr.
• *CHEM107 General, Organic and Biochemistry and Lab or *CHEM113 General Chemistry I and Lab 5 cr.
• *COMM111 Fundamentals of Speech 3 cr.
• *ENGL100 Stretch Composition I and *ENGL101 Stretch Composition II or *ENGL110 College Writing I 3-6 cr.
• *HLTH201 Nutrition 3 cr.
• MATH110 Math Problem Solving  or MATH111 4 cr.
• *MATH120 Introduction to Statistics 3 cr.
• *PSYC120 Human Growth and Development 3 cr.
• RELG108 Essentials of Christianity I I and RELG109 Essentials of Christianity II or RELG110 Introduction to Christianity I and RELG111 Introduction to Christianity II 4 cr.
• RELG electives (200 level) 3 cr.
• RELG electives (300 and 400 level) 6 cr.
• SMNR101 Freshman Seminar 2 cr.
• *SCIE330 Ethics in Science 3 cr.
• General Education History Elective 3 cr.
• General Education Literature Elective 3 cr.
• General Education Fine Arts Elective 3 cr.

Core Requirements

Note: Enrollment in the nursing core courses requires formal acceptance into the nursing major. Students must pass the nursing core courses with a grade of “C+” or higher (per nursing grade scale).

• NURS301 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing 4 cr.
• NURS310 Assessment and Skills for Nursing 5 cr.
• NURS320 Pharmacology for Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS331 Pathophysiology for Nursing 4 cr.
• NURS340 Gerontological Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS350 Evidence-Based Nursing 2 cr.
• NURS360 Adult Nursing 5 cr.
• NURS370 Transcultural Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS400 Issues and Trends in Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS410 Childbearing Family Nursing 4 cr.
• NURS420 Child and Adolescent Nursing 4 cr.
• NURS430 Mental Health Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS440 Community Health Nursing 3 cr.
• NURS450 Leadership and Management in Nursing 5 cr.
• NURS460 Transition into Professional Nursing 2 cr.

Health Requirements

In addition to college health requirements, students must meet clinical requirements needed to participate in clinical practicum. This includes obtaining a physical examination and providing official documentation (clinic, hospital, health care provider, lab reports, or state immunization record) of required immunizations. The physical exam must be completed within six (6) months of program start date. Students must complete the Health Clearance Form and provide official documentation of:

• COVID-19 Vaccine: Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine OR one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Booster vaccines are recommended. Note: Religious and medical exemption requests are reviewed and determined by clinical agencies. Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without COVID vaccination.   
• MMR (measles/rubeola, mumps, rubella/German measles): Two (2) MMR vaccinations or positive titer of each. If titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat titer is required. Those who have a positive titer after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who have a negative titer after the “booster” dose must receive 1 additional dose
• Tetanus/Diptheria (Td) or Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis (Tdap): One (1) adult dose Tdap vaccine within past 10 years or Tdap once with Td booster within past 10 years.
• Varicella (Chicken pox): Two (2) vaccinations or positive varicella titer. If titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat titer is required. Those who have a positive titer after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who have a negative titer after the “booster” dose must receive 1 additional dose.
• Tuberculosis: Negative two-step TB skin test (Mantoux), or two negative consecutive annual tests, or QuantiFERON gold test or T-Spot titer test within 6 months of program start date. If skin test is positive, a chest x-ray is required with provider documentation of negative disease within 6 months of program start date. A one-step skin test must be completed annually while in the nursing program. Students who have a history of a positive TB skin test must complete an annual symptom screen instead of an annual TB skin test.
• Hepatitis B vaccination or Hepatitis A/B combo vaccination: Three (3) vaccinations. Documentation of the first of three doses is required prior to the start of clinical. Documentation of the entire series of three doses within six months of starting the Hepatitis B series is required. Positive anti-HBs titer is also acceptable. If anti-HBs titer is negative, documentation of 1 “booster” dose and a repeat test for anti-HBs 1–2 months later is required. Those who test positive for anti-HBs after the single “booster” dose are considered to be immune and no further testing or vaccination is needed. Those who test negative for anti-HBs after the “booster” dose must receive 2 additional doses to complete a second 3-dose series. — OR — Complete Hepatitis B vaccination declination form. Note: Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without Hepatitis B vaccination.
• Influenza: Seasonal influenza vaccine required annually by October 1. — OR — Signed documentation from a physician or provider of medical exemption. Note: Clinical agencies may not allow participation in clinical experiences at their site without Influenza vaccination.
• Medical health insurance coverage (self, through parents, Medical Assistance) is required. Student insurance may be purchased from a variety of companies such as: Nurses Service Organization, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna.
• The nursing program does not guarantee alternative facility placements in cases where students are not allowed at planned clinical sites due to personal or medical circumstances. Students with these circumstances may be unable to continue in the nursing program. Students with personal or medical circumstances that may limit their eligibility to participate in clinical are encouraged to meet with the program director in advance of any clinical courses. Students with questions about religious and medical exemption requests are encouraged to meet with the program director in advance of any clinical courses.

Compliance tracking of the Health Clearance Form, required immunizations, CPR Certification, nursing assistant course or CNA, and medial health insurance coverage is completed online through Castle Branch. Please contact the Director of Nursing for specific procedures.

Program Fee

In addition to the college tuition and fees, students who are admitted to the nursing program will be assessed a program fee each semester. The fee will pay for the following personal property and services:

1. Official Uniforms (Scrub top x 2; Polo top; Pants or skirt x 2; Lab coat; Name badge)
2. Nursing Practice Tools
3. Nursing Skills Supply Lab Kit
4. Malpractice/Liability Insurance
5. Health Requirements Compliance Tracking
6. MN Dept of Health and Human Services Background Study
7. Clinical Placement 
8. Simulation Lab 
9. HESI® Exams 
10. Shadow Health Digital Clinical Experiences
11. Nursing Pin