Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing prepares the baccalaureate nurse as a generalist, equipped to care for individuals, families, communities and populations across the lifespan at any point on the wellness-illness continuum and across the spectrum of health care environments. Acceptance to the BSN program can be obtained through a pre-nursing guarantee for students entering Hesston College as a freshman or sophomore or through direct admission as a transfer student into the nursing program.

Pre-Nursing Admission Criteria:
To be admitted to the Hesston College Pre-Nursing track and be eligible for the Pre-Nursing Guarantee, students must meet the following criteria:

  • High school GPA of 3.25 or cumulative college GPA of 3.0 based on a minimum of 12 credit hours;
  • Appropriate test score (ACT composite score of 19, SAT score of 1000 or ACCUPLACER Next-Gen Score of 255 in Reading and 255 in Writing – only one ACCUPLACER retake allowed); and
  • Other eligibility requirements include technical standards, social character and legal standards.

Applicants whose native language is not English must also meet one of the following:

  • Earn a score of 525 on the paper-based TOEFL or 70 on the internet-based TOEFL or 5.5 on the IELTS; OR
  • Have earned a high school diploma or GED in the United States.

Pre-Nursing Progression Standards:
Qualified pre-nursing students enrolled at Hesston College are granted a guarantee of admission into upper level nursing coursework provided they meet progression standards:

  • Complete a minimum of 6 credit hours at Hesston College each semester;
  • Complete 50 credit hours of the 60 required hours of the liberal education/support courses for the BSN prior to entering nursing coursework (the 10 remaining hours may only include the humanities requirement, Biblical Literature and elective hours);
  • Achieve grades of C or above in all required liberal education/support courses and a cumulative 2.5 GPA in required Hesston College courses;
  • Meet the program’s technical standards and legal standards for RN licensure and have demonstrated positive social character.
  • For students whose native language is not English, a minimum iBT score of 19 in Reading and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Writing or have earned a high school diploma or GED in the United States.

Transfer Student Admission Criteria: (must meet each qualifier prior to junior year)

  • Have an academic plan to complete 50 of the 60 credit hours of required liberal education and support courses (all but three courses) prior to entering nursing coursework. The remaining three courses may only include the humanities requirement, Biblical Literature and electives
  • Have grades of C or above in all required liberal education and support courses and an overall GPA of 2.50 in required courses based on a minimum of 30 college credits.
  • Have an ACT composite score of 19; or SAT score of 1000; or ACCUPLACER Next-Gen score of 255 in Reading and in Writing.
  • For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum iBT score of 19 in Reading and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Writing; have earned a high school diploma or GED in the United States; or evidence of English language proficiency from an LPN program to be evaluated by the Nursing Admissions Committee.

Priority will be given to current Hesston College students in the pre-nursing track who meet the BSN program progression standards.

LPN to BSN Admission Criteria:
To be admitted to the Hesston College LPN to BSN program students must meet the following criteria:

  • All transfer student admission criteria (previous)
  • Evidence of a current LPN license allowing practice in Kansas and meet Kansas Statewide Nursing Articulation Plan criteria or validate currency of nursing knowlege base; and
  • GPA of 2.75 in practical nursing education program.

BSN Admission with an Existing Bachelor’s Degree Criteria:
A student who already has a bachelor’s degree and is admitted meeting the transfer student admission criteria will be considered to have all general education courses met as long as the following have been taken:

  • Anatomy and Physiology (5)
  • Microbiology (4)
  • Introductory Chemistry or General Chemistry I (4)
  • Pathophysiology (3)(within the last five years)
  • Developmental Psychology (3)
  • Principles of Nutrition (3)
  • Elementary Statistics (3)

These courses must be taken prior to starting the nursing program.

General Requirements

Total credits: 121 hours including 60 hours of general education, support and elective courses and 61 nursing hours.

Grade point average: 2.00 or better in Hesston College courses. Grades of C or better in all courses.

Residency: 32 of final 61 hours must be earned at Hesston College.

General Education course list

Orientation – IDS 101 First-Year Experience.
Communication-written – ENGL 125 College Writing I, ENGL 135 College Writing II or higher.
Communication-oral – COMM 206 Speech Communication.
Quantitative Literacy-mathematics – MASC 105 College Algebra.
Knowledge-lifetime fitness/wellness and Intercultural Competence – NUTR 210 Principles of Nutrition.
Knowledge-social science – PSY 200 General Psychology.
Knowledge-humanities – one course from the general education list.
Knowledge-natural science – BISC 205 Anatomy and Physiology.
Faith Values – RELG 100 Biblical Literature.
Critical Thinking – NURS 490 Integration Seminar.
Additional Course (3) – One course from one of the following categories: social sciences, humanities (from a different discipline than the one used for the humanities requirement above), intercultural competence or critical thinking.

Additional Pre-Nursing Courses

Mathematics – MASC 210 Elementary Statistics.
Social Science – PSY 206 Developmental Psychology and either SOC 203 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 207 Sociology of Families.
Natural Science – BISC 206 Microbiology, BISC 215 Pathophysiology and CHEM 101 Introductory Chemistry (or higher).
Elective Courses to bring total general education, support and elective hours to 60.

Nursing Courses (61 hours)

NURS 300 Nursing Foundations I, NURS 301 Holistic Assessment, NURS 302 Foundations II and Maternal/Child Nursing, NURS 306 Nursing Theories and Professional Practice, NURS 308 Healthcare Ethics, NURS 312 Healthcare Systems, Policy and Finance, NURS 316 Evidence-Based Practice, NURS 331 Clinical Pharmacology I, NURS 400 Acute Care Nursing I, NURS 402 Acute Care Nursing II, NURS 406 Healthcare Informatics, Quality and Safety, NURS 408 Nursing Management and Leadership, NURS 410 Population-Based Nursing, NURS 431 Clinical Pharmacology II and NURS 490 Integration Seminar.

Catalog 2024-25