Second Degree Program Nursing

The University of Nevada – Reno has a variety of nursing programs available for aspiring nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and other professionals in the medical field. The university offers an accelerated program for students who want to get their BSN degree in as little as one year. Students who want to apply for this program must meet certain requirements before applying.

Requirements for Second Degree Program Nursing Students

Requirements for Second Degree Program Nursing Students

There are specific requirements for those who wish to enroll in a second degree program of nursing. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required, as well as the following:

• Must be at least 18 years old at start of session
• Proof of current CPR (cardios-pulmonary resuscitation) certification by a certified American Heart Association Professional Rescuer or American Red Cross Instructor

A minimum of fifty (50) hours of documented work, observation or volunteer experience in one or more health care settings. Applicants to the Accelerated BSN program must complete the 50 hours prior to submitting their application. The College of Nursing strongly recommends that applicants to the Accelerated BSN program complete at least 25 of the 50 hours in a hospital setting and that they complete all 50 hours with some involvement with patients. UNR students hoping to apply to the Accelerated BSN program should enroll in NURS 595-Volunteer Experience (.5 unit, graded pass/fail) as a way to document their volunteer experience. This course is offered each semester and may be repeated.

• The program requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher
• A minimum of 50 hours of documented work, observation or volunteer experience in one or more health care settings. Applicants to the Accelerated BSN program must complete the 50 hours prior to submitting their application. The College of Nursing strongly recommends that applicants to the Accelerated BSN program complete at least 25 of the 50 hours in a hospital setting and that they complete all 50 hours with some involvement with patients. UNR students hoping to apply to the Accelerated BSN program should enroll in NURS 595-Volunteer Experience (.5 unit, graded pass/fail) as a way to document their volunteer experience. This course is offered each semester and may be repeated.* CPR certification

Must be at least 18 years old at start of session

• You must be at least 18 years old to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is required by all state boards of nursing in order to practice as a registered nurse.
• In order to take this exam, you must also be 21 years old or older.
• In addition, most nursing schools require you to be at least 18 years old before starting your program.

Proof of current CPR (cardios-pulmonary resuscitation) certification by a certified American Heart Association Professional Rescuer or American Red Cross Instructor

Proof of current CPR certification by a certified American Heart Association Professional Rescuer or American Red Cross Instructor is required.

You can contact the following organizations to obtain information on how to become certified:

• American Heart Association – www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/AboutCPRFirstAid/CPR-First-Aid_UCM_307771_Article.jsp
• American Red Cross – http://www.redcrossblood.org/#!certification/c1m31

Completion of prerequisites with a grade C or better

• Completion of prerequisites with a grade C or better

The prerequisite coursework for entry into a second degree program will vary by institution. The required courses are often undergraduate level science classes such as biology, chemistry and math. Most programs require that you complete these courses before applying to the program. Some nursing schools also require additional coursework specific to their discipline in addition to the general education requirements.*

• Prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade C or better

A 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA overall and in prerequisite courses

You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall and in the prerequisite courses to be considered for admission. A 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA is required for graduation from the University

You must also meet all requirements listed in the Admissions Policy section of this catalog for consideration for admission as well as all requirements set forth by The College of Nursing.

A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required for graduation from the University

At the University of Texas, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required for graduation from the university. The same requirement applies to acceptance into the second degree program nursing program. In addition, federal financial aid will not be awarded until you have met this requirement as well as other eligibility requirements which may include citizenship or permanent residency status, SALT loan limits for dependent students and other factors such as veteran status and financial need (if applicable).

Getting into this nursing program requires a lot more than just good grades

Getting into this nursing program requires a lot more than just good grades. While you’ll need to have a GPA higher than the average GPA of your peers, you’ll also need CPR certification and good work or volunteer experience. If your grades are not as strong as you’d like them to be, make sure to find out about other ways that you can get into the program:

• Exams (such as AP exams) can often help boost your GPA and give you an edge over other applicants
• Some schools only require minimum scores on the application exam in order for students to gain entry into their program. This can be a great way for those who aren’t quite at the top of their class in terms of GPAs but are still interested in pursuing nursing as a career path

Second degree program students should be prepared for a rigorous academic experience that requires focus and dedication. The nursing program at UNR is highly respected and will prepare you for a successful career in health care.