Undergraduate
Nursing
RMU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree prepares you to work in all health care settings and provides the greatest opportunity for advancement in today's health care industry.
The nursing program builds on the natural and behavioral sciences, integrating liberal arts and professional courses into a cohesive program. Led by faculty members with real-world experience, students develop strong technical skills, as well as the clinical judgment and critical thinking necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly changing health care system.
Students also learn to care for patients in state-of-the-art nursing laboratory, where bedside computers and patient simulators assist in developing clinical decision-making skills. Clinical experiences are conducted in community and hospital settings.
The B.S.N. degree program prepares students to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and psychomotor skills necessary for safe and competent practice.
- Integrate methods of research and scholarship to make and prioritize diagnoses, plan, implement, and evaluate the care of individuals, groups, and communities.
- Assess health and incorporate principles and methods of health promotion and health education in nursing care of individuals, groups, and communities.
- Integrate traditional and developing methods of discovering, retrieving, and using information in nursing practice.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors when providing nursing care to individuals and families.
- Describe how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the effect on patient care.
- Communicate clearly and succinctly in speech and writing.
The field of nursing provides a variety of career options, giving you the flexibility to choose a specialty that fits your unique interests and abilities. Specialties include pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency care, surgical nursing, and more. Other nurses work in non-hospital settings, such as forensic nurses, legal nurse consultants, clinical researchers, and school nurses.
The career outlook for nurses has never been better. With a nationwide nursing shortage and an aging population, qualified nurses have their choice of well-paying jobs. There are currently over 100,000 vacant nursing positions in the U.S., and that number is predicted to grow.
U.S. News ranked nursing #1 on it's Best Jobs of 2012 list, which is based on the Labor Department's employment projections.
Financial compensation for nurses varies according to geographic location, type of nursing, years of experience and level of education.
| 2010 national mean bachelor-level, entry-level salaries: (information from the National Association of Colleges and Employers) | ||||||
| By type of employer Average Salary | By job function Average Salary | |||||
| Educational Services | $45,000 | Medical Technology | $39,540 | |||
| Government (Federal) | $50,600 | Military | $50,467 | |||
| Healthcare Services (Nonprofit) | $53,861 | Registered Nurse | $46,771 | |||
| Healthcare Services (Profit) | $48,694 | Other Health Related | $53,667 | |||
| Hospitals | $45,151 | |||||
| 2009 RMU Survey Salary | BSN | Range $30,000 - $45,000 | Mean $40,000 | |||
| MSN | Range $45,000 - $70,000 | Mean $59,500 | ||||
| 2008 RMU Survey Salary | BSN | Range $40,000 - $59,000 | Mean $47,879 | |||
Below is a typical four-year course of study for nursing students, including major requirements and electives. Your own schedule will vary based on your own interests.
| FRESHMAN/Fall Semester | FRESHMAN/Spring Semester |
| Anatomy & Physiology I (plus lab) | Bio-Organic Chemistry (plus lab) |
| Communications Skills I | Anatomy & Physiology II (plus lab) |
| Humanities: Art and Music | Communications Skills II |
| General Psychology | Sociology |
| First Year Studies Seminar | Open elective |
| SOPHOMORE/Fall Semester | SOPHOMORE/Spring Semester |
| Microbiology (plus lab) | Introduction to Professional Nursing |
| Concepts & Controversies in Nutrition | Pathophysiology |
| History/Political Science (core choices) | Nursing Assessment & Health Promotion |
| Survey of Economics | Human Growth and Development |
| Communication Skills III or IV | Communication Skills V |
|
|
Statistics |
| JUNIOR/Fall Semester | JUNIOR/Spring Semester |
| Foundations of Nursing Practice | Nursing Care of Mothers, Newborns, Families |
| Management of Adult I | Nursing Care of Children and Families |
| Pharmacology for Health Professionals | Nursing Ethics |
| Nursing Research | Health Care Information Systems |
| SENIOR/Fall Semester | SENIOR/Spring Semester |
| Community Health/Health Promotion Theory and Practice |
Transition to Professional Nursing |
| Advance Management of Adult II | NCLEX Licensure Preparation |
| Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients | Preparation for Professional Practice |
| Literature (core choices) | Accounting or Health Services |
| Administration | |
| Open elective |
The BSN degree is a 127-credit program offering two different tracks of study, each designed to meet the student's specific needs.
The Traditional Track is designed for high school graduates without a college degree or R.N. licensure. The first two years of the program involve core courses in liberal arts and sciences, with the nursing courses beginning in the second semester of the sophomore year. Clinical courses begin in the junior year. Students in this track are admitted to the nursing program as freshmen or transfer students but must meet progression criteria to advance to clinical nursing courses.
The Second Degree Track is for students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in another field, such as science, humanities, or business. Students must complete the RMU core requirements plus 27-31 prerequisite credits prior to beginning clinical courses. Depending on the previous degree, varying numbers of these credits can be filled by advanced placement or transfer credits. Once admitted to clinical courses, students can complete the degree in four semesters over 15 months.
Following the completion of the B.S.N. degree, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for practice as a registered nurse.
RMU’s nursing program has a unique focus on business, communications, global perspective, and technology in addition to strong clinical skills, and preparation for the licensing exam to become a registered nurse. Handheld computer technology enables students to store software applications and data at their fingertips. Students also learn to care for patients in state-of-the-art clinical facilities as well as in RMU's up-to-date nursing laboratory, where bedside computers and patient simulators assist in developing clinical decision-making skills. Students also have the opportunity to travel internationally to better understand global health issues.
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty is committed to providing opportunities for you to be fully engaged in your college experience. Our high quality, practicing faculty members are acutely aware of the current health care environment and can provide expert guidance in navigating through the changing milieu of best practice for patients.
Scholarships are available based upon academic achievement.
For freshmen, high school grade point average and ACT/SAT scores are used. For transfer students, the cumulative grade point average of all college courses is used. Scholarships range from $1000 per year up to full tuition. (To calculate your scholarship eligibility, click here.)
Higher education is an investment in your future.
At Robert Morris University, we will work closely with you to show you how to finance your education through a combination of need-based financial aid, scholarships, and financing strategies to make your education attainable. RMU has one of the lowest tuition rates of all private institutions in the state, but we know that financing your education can be complicated, and your family might need help in understanding your options.
Talk to us—we can help!
Email us at finaid@rmu.edu
- Call us toll free at 800-762-0097
- Connect with one of our counselors via Facebook to see what others are learning about college costs
Learn more online: