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Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the RN to BSN program, students are expected to:
  • Promote safe, quality, evidence-based care to populations and communities in structured and unstructured healthcare environments.
  • Analyze quality improvement measures used in both structured and unstructured healthcare environments.
  • Act as an evolving scholar, translating current evidence into nursing practice.
  • Evaluate collaboration techniques used in various healthcare environments.
  • Apply leadership principles and theories to both the practice and the profession of nursing.
  • Apply information management principles, techniques, and systems to manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
Accreditation
The RN to BSN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). GBC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
 
The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Great Basin College at the Elko campus located in Elko, Nevada is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
 
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the RN-BSN Program is Continuing Accreditation.
 
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/great-basin-college
 
Mission Statement
The mission of GBC’s registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is to prepare registered nurses for research and theory based professional practice roles as leaders and change agents in the transformation of nursing and health care for rural and under served populations.
 
Program Description
A totally online program, the registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed for non-traditional RN students with an associate degree who want to continue their education in nursing and still be engaged in practicing their profession. The program allows the flexibility to work toward a degree full-time or part-time and to adapt completion of course assignment times and locations convenient to the student’s personal and professional lives. All practicum experience is community-based and can happen in student’s local area.
 
Contact Information
Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 775.327.2317.
 
The RN to BSN program is independent of Great Basin College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program, but builds upon the associate degree in nursing education’s lower-division general education and nursing core course requirements. The RN to BSN program also integrates additional lower-division and upper-division general education courses consistent with Great Basin College’s Bachelor of Science degrees. These courses are also available online. Nursing course theoretical content and practicum application is relevant across all healthcare settings and nursing roles, including those unique to the needs of rural populations and communities.
 
Program Requirements
Licensed (active status) registered nurses who have graduated from an ACEN accredited associate degree in nursing program awarded by a regionally accredited institution are eligible to apply for admission. Admission to the RN to BSN Program is a separate process from admission to Great Basin College. In order to be considered for admission to the RN to BSN program, all students must meet the requirements for formal admission to Great Basin College. College-level courses of equivalent semester hour credit and content may be transferred by direct credit from other accredited institutions. Transcript evaluation might be necessary and may require supporting information such as course syllabi and books. Transcript(s) should be sent to The Admissions and Records office for evaluation.
 
Application Process
An in-person or telephone advisory meeting with a nursing faculty advisor is recommended at the time of application and required prior to enrollment in any RN to BSN course.
 
All students applying for the RN to BSN program must meet the following minimum criteria:
  • Have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with an associate degree in nursing from a program that is ACEN accredited.
  • Possess an active status, good standing registered nursing license.
Once minimum criteria have been met, interested RNs must submit the following information to the School of Health Sciences and Behavioral Health, no later than 5 p.m., July 1, in order to meet the fall application deadline:
  • Official transcripts reflecting a cumulative grade point average equal to or greater than 3.0 as calculated by Great Basin College formulas with final grade of C or higher in any required associate degree program course and/or any course being considered for transfer credit. (Note: students who have a 2.5-3.0 GPA may be admitted pro­visionally. Provisional admission means that a student must maintain a GPA of 2.7 or better during their first semester in the program in order to continue in the program).
  • Completed application packet for admission to the RN to BSN program.
  • Completed application for admission to GBC (un­less student has previously attended GBC).
  • Letters of reference requirement is waived for graduating GBC ADN graduates.
 
Enrollment in the program is limited and students are admitted only in the fall semester. Selection is made using a points system based on overall GPA, resume, essay, and reference letters.
 
Academic Progression
Upon admission to the RN to BSN program, students can begin coursework.
Enrolled students are subject to all program policies as described in the RN-BSN student handbook.
 
Note: Year of admission to the RN to BSN program determines catalog year and course requirements.
Note: The amount of time between entrance and completion of the program shall not exceed six years.
 
The RN to BSN program consists of a total of 54 credits of upper-division nursing courses and lower- and upper-division general education courses.
 
General Education Requirements
English/Communications
Course # Course Title Credits
ENG 102 Composition II 3 Credits
 
U.S. and Nevada Constitutions:  HIST 101 and HIST 102 or PSC 101
Course # Course Title Credits
HIST 101 U.S. History to 1877 3 Credits
HIST 102 U.S. History Since 1877 3 Credits
PSC 101 Intro American Politics 3 Credits
 
Fine Arts (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
ART 160 Art Appreciation 3 Credits
ENG 203 Intro to Literary Study 3 Credits
ENG 223 Themes of Literature 3 Credits
FIS 100 Introduction to Film 3 Credits
FREN 111 First Year French I 3-4 Credits
FREN 112 First Year French II 3-4 Credits
HIST 208 World History I 3 Credits
HIST 209 World History II 3 Credits
HUM 101 Intro to Humanities I 3 Credits
HUM 210 Communicating Diversity 3 Credits
MUS 121 Music Appreciation 3 Credits
PHIL 101 Intro to Philosophy 3 Credits
PHIL 102 Critical Thinking 3 Credits
PHIL 135 Introduction to Ethics 3 Credits
SPAN 111 First Year Spanish I 3 Credits
SPAN 112 First Yr Spanish II 3 Credits
SPAN 211 Second Year Spanish I 3 Credits
 
Humanities (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
ART 100 Visual Foundations 3 Credits
ART 101 Drawing I 3 Credits
ART 107 Design Fundmntls I (2-D) 3 Credits
ENG 205 Intro to Creative Writing 3 Credits
MUS 101 Music Fundamentals 3 Credits
THTR 100 Introduction to Theatre 3 Credits
THTR 105 Introduction to Acting I 3 Credits
THTR 121 Stage Makeup 3 Credits
THTR 204 Theatre Technology I 3 Credits
WELD 200 Metal Art 3 Credits
 
Mastery Course Requirement (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
INT 339 Integrative Humanities Seminar 3 Credits
HUM 301 Studies in Humanities 3 Credits
INT 369 Integrative Science Seminar 3 Credits
GEOL 335 Earth Resources/Environment 3 Credits
HSC 300 Statistics for Health Sciences 3 Credits
INT 359 Integrative Math Seminar 3 Credits
MATH 389 Special Topics in Mathematics 3 Credits
ANTH 307 Ancient Civilizations 3 Credits
ANTH 332 (De)Constructing Race 3 Credits
HIST 303 Worlds of Islam 3 Credits
HIST 312 Expansion of the U.S. 3 Credits
HIST 341 Global China 3 Credits
INT 349 Integrative Social Science Sem 3 Credits
PSY 313 Well-Being: East Meets West 3 Credits
 
Program Requirements
Math Requirement (one course required) Choose from the courses listed below or any higher-level math course.  Excludes MATH 389)
Course # Course Title Credits
MATH 120 Fund of College Math 3 Credits
MATH 120E Fund of College Math Expanded 3 Credits
MATH 126 Precalculus I 3 Credits
MATH 126E Precalculus I Expanded 3 Credits
STAT 152 Intro to Statistics 3 Credits
 
Science Requirement  
Course # Course Title Credits
CHEM 100 Molecules/Life Modrn Wrld 3 Credits
 
Nursing Requirement
Course # Course Title Credits
NURS 326 Transition Professional Nurse 5 Credits
NURS 417 Information System/Quality Mgt 3-4 Credits
NURS 420 Evidence Based Pract/Research 3 Credits
NURS 429 Population Focus Comm Hlth (T) 4 Credits
NURS 436 Population Focus Comm Hlth (P) 4 Credits
NURS 437 Diversity/Hlthcare in Rural 3-4 Credits
NURS 443 Nursing Leadership/Mgt Theory 4 Credits
NURS 449 Nurse Leadership/Mgt Practicum 4 Credits
NURS 456 Senior Synthesis Seminar 5 Credits
 
Program Elective Requirement (one course required)
Course # Course Title Credits
NURS 312 Health Assessment/Promotion 3 Credits
NURS 337 Pathophysiology 3 Credits
 
Suggested Course Sequence for Traditional Track

Course Credits
NURS 326 5
NURS 443 4
NURS 449 4
TOTAL 14

 

Course Credits
Mastery Course* 3
NURS 429 4
NURS 436 4
TOTAL 11

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
Humanities* 3
Fine Arts* 3
CHEM 100 3
NURS 417 4
NURS 420 3
TOTAL 16

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
Mathematics* 3-6
NURS 437 3
NURS 456 5
TOTAL 11-14

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
NURS 312 (Spring) 3
NURS 337 (Fall) 3
TOTAL 3

 

Suggested Course Sequence for Fast Track

Course Credits
NURS 326 5
NURS 420 3
NURS 443 4
NURS 449 4
TOTAL 16

Course Credits
Mastery Course* 3
NURS 429 4
NURS 436 4
NURS 437 4
TOTAL 14

*Choose with advisor

Course Credits
Humanities/Fine Arts* ** 3
CHEM 100 3
NURS 417 4
NURS 456 5
Mathematics* 3
TOTAL 18
*Choose with advisor
** One Humanities or Fine Arts must have been taken during associates degree

Course Credits
NURS 312 (Spring) 3
NURS 337 (Fall) 3
TOTAL 3