Heritage University Nursing

Nursing

The best nurses are patient, organized, compassionate and find fulfillment in helping other people. They need to think on their feet and pay close attention to detail in environments that are often fast-paced. By pursuing a career in nursing, you’ll be on the way to a rewarding future full of personal growth, and you’ll have plenty of career options once you’ve earned your degree.

• About The Program
• Your Future
• Degree Offerings
• Faculty
• Course Requirements

About Our Program

The BSN Program Mission

The BSN program mission is to advance the health of multicultural families and communities in rural environments through excellence in nursing education, service, practice and community based research.

The Heritage University Department of Nursing embraces the three key values of the University: “Honoring each person’s human dignity and potential; seeking intellectual growth and challenges; and celebrating the shared spiritual roots of all humankind.” The Nursing Department also endorses the core values of caring, connectivism, autonomy, integrity, and social justice.

**The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Heritage University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Learn More About the HU Nursing Program

Heritage University BSN Program Outcomes

The Heritage BSN degree prepares the graduate to function competently as:

1. Provider of Care
   • The Heritage professional nurse is prepared to provide leadership and assume accountability in the design, delivery and evaluation of safe, holistic nursing care.
   • The Heritage professional nurse plans, implements, and evaluates nursing intervention from an ecological perspective for the individual, family, and community as the units of care.
   • The Heritage professional nurse practices the art of nursing by integrating aesthetic knowing in nursing care.
2. Scholar
   • The Heritage professional nurse approaches nursing with a spirit of inquiry for application of nursing theories that explain & predict the outcomes of care.
   • The Heritage professional nurse explains how knowledge of the physical world and scientific methodology contribute to understanding the complexity of nursing care in the treatment of human response.
   • The Heritage professional nurse explains how nursing’s fundamental patterns of knowing –ethical, aesthetic, personal, empirical & emancipatory –contribute to understanding the complexity of nursing care in the treatment of human response.
3. Leader and Collaborator
   • The Heritage professional nurse utilizes effective written and oral communication and professional behaviors to foster shared decision-making and accountability among team members to optimize outcomes of care.
   • The Heritage professional nurse integrates technological and mathematical knowledge to create a culture of quality and safety to prevent systems errors.
4. Member of the Profession
   • The Heritage professional nurse embodies professional values and responsibilities defined by the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice (ANA, 2015), Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015), Nursing’s Social Policy Statement: The Essence of the Profession (ANA, 2010).
   • The Heritage professional nurse assumes accountability for maintaining professional practice through self-reflection; and demonstrates continuous professional engagement and lifelong learning.
   • The Heritage professional nurse demonstrates courage and resilience from practicing self-care as requisite for creating a culture of safe and effective nursing care.
5. Advocate
   • The Heritage professional nurse participates in the policy processes impacting the health of individuals, families, communities and populations.
   • The Heritage professional nurse works to increase access to care, especially for vulnerable populations, and to overcome social determinants of health.
   • The Heritage professional nurse works to overcome barriers to the provision of culturally inclusive nursing care.
   • The Heritage professional nurse expresses passion for sustainability and justice.

Degree Offerings

Nursing Department

Bachelor of Science Degree, B.S.N.
Nursing

BSN Admissions Guide

Welcome to the Heritage University Nursing Program Admission Guide.  Our hope is that we’ve made the admission, application, and selection process easy to understand. Here’s what you need to know.

NURSING ADMISSION PROCESS

Students interested in the BSN Program at Heritage University are advised to carefully review information about the admission process. This is a multi-step process, depending on whether you are a high school senior, a Heritage freshman who graduated recently from high school, a current Heritage University student, or transferring to Heritage from another University.

PRE-NURSING PATHWAY

Pre-nursing Pathway is for the Heritage University student interested in applying to the BSN program. While in pre-nursing, students take General University Core Required (GUCR) courses, along with pre-requisites for the BSN program. Pre-nursing Pathway students are required to achieve C+ or better in each pre-requisite GUCR to remain in pre-nursing. Pre-nursing students are given permission to register for certain nursing Pathway courses required in the BSN program; and remaining in pre-nursing is contingent on achieving B- or better in each nursing course.

REQUEST PLACEMENT INTO PRE-NURSING PATHWAY

Eligibility for Pre-nursing Pathway is determined by the student’s academic advisor, based on the criteria below.

Recent high school graduates admitted to Heritage as freshmen may request placement into Pre-nursing Pathway if they achieved the following:

• High school 3.00 GPA on a 4-point scale.
• Successful completion of these high school courses: English (4 units); college-prep mathematics (3 units); social sciences (2 units); biology and chemistry (2 units). Each course is to be completed with a grade of 2.00 (C) or better.
• Composite ACT score of 23 or better SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics sum score of 1020 SAT or better.
• Compass score consistent with placement into college level MATH 140 and ENG 101 and/or completion of pre-college level coursework placing students into MATH 140 and ENG 101.

Current Heritage University students may request placement into Pre-nursing Pathway if they have achieved the following:

• Overall minimum college GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Overall minimum college science GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Completion of CHEM 101 lecture and lab or CHEM 110 lecture and lab with grades of C+ or better.
• Current enrollment or completion of MATH 140 and MATH 140L with grades of C+ or better.
• Completion of at least three of the following with grades of C+ or better: BIOL 110, BIOL 111, ENG 101, PSY 101, SOC 101, PHIL 210, UNIV 101

Transfer students to Heritage University may request placement into Pre-nursing Pathway if they have achieved the following:

• Overall minimum college GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Overall minimum college science GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Completion of the equivalent of CHEM 101 lecture and lab or equivalent CHEM 110 lecture and lab with grades of C+ or better.
• Current enrollment in or completion of MATH 140 and MATH 140L with grades of C+ or better.
• Completion of at the equivalent of least three of the following: BIOL 110, BIOL 111, ENG 101, PSY 101, SOC 101, PHIL 210, UNIV 101. C+ or better is required in each of the completed courses.
• Admission to Heritage University.

Students who have completed a Vocational or Practical Nurse Certificate Program are eligible for pre-nursing in the BSN track provided:

• A current valid unencumbered Washington LPN license.
• Overall minimum college GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• A grade of C+ or better in any completed course required for the BSN degree.
• Overall minimum college science GPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Completion of the equivalent of CHEM 101 lecture and lab or equivalent CHEM 110 lecture and lab with grades of C+ or better.
• Current enrollment in or completion of MATH 140 and MATH 140L with grade of C+ or better.
• Admission to Heritage University.

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Have you placed into the Pre-Nursing Pathway at Heritage University?

Congratulations! You are one step closer to completing the requirements for admission to the BSN program! You have been given special permission to take selected BSN courses. You will be invited to join the Heritage University Nursing Student Association (HUNS), and be affiliated with the Nursing Students of Washington State (NSWS). Your pre-nursing academic advisor will meet with you periodically to review your progress toward your goal of BSN admission. Here’s what you have to do to continue in pre-nursing:

• Register for NURS 103 – Pre-Nursing Pathway. Students placed in pre-nursing have permission to take this non-credit course, and are required to attend once a month classes.
• Keep up your GPA. An overall 3.0 cumulative college GPA is required to apply for admission to the BSN program; and you must have a cumulative science GPA of 2.75 or better.
• Keep up your grades. To apply for admission to the BSN program all courses in pre-nursing must be completed with C+ better; and all NURS courses must be completed with B- (80%) or better.
• Stay focused and balanced. Many new college students need to learn how to balance their lives to be successful in a rigorous pre-nursing pathway.
• Stay in touch with your advisor. Keep your appointments with your advisor. We believe in you. We want you to be part of our community. We care about your successes and struggles, and we’re here to partner with you for your success.

BSN Admission Cycle

Students currently enrolled at Heritage University can apply directly to the BSN program by submitting all the required materials to the Administrative Coordinator for the Department of Nursing, Teresa Muguia (Munguia_T@heritage.edu). Transfer students are advised to apply through the NursingCAS application portal. Please consult the CAS Instructions. Students may submit application materials by January 15, for an early application review and possible early admission.

	Application Due Date*:	If submitted by the due date,  Expect a response from the BSN Program by:
Applications due for first round of admissions including completion of HESI 2A:	March 31	April 30
Early Admissions Applications Due for Current High School Seniors requesting admission to the 2nd year (Sophomore year) of the BSN Program:	March 31	April 30
Applications and completion of HESI A2 due for second round of review and consideration for admission.	June 1	July 9
Early Admissions Applications Due for recently graduated High School Seniors for admission to the 1st year (pre-nursing year) of the BSN Program:	August 1 at the latest, although earlier is better.	August 15

BSN Admission Requirements

The BSN program accepts qualified Pre-nursing Pathway students from Heritage University science majors, as well as transfer students who qualify for direct admission to the BSN program.

For Heritage Pre-Nursing Pathway Students

Success in pre-nursing is required for application to the BSN program, however, completion of Pre-nursing Pathway coursework does not guarantee acceptance into the BSN program. Selection of applicants is competitive, and is based on review of requirements for admission to the BSN program.

To be considered for selection, Heritage University pre-nursing student applicants are required to complete the following:

• Required Prerequisites – Each of the following courses must be completed with C+ or better:
  • BIOL 111/111L
  • CHEM 101/101L* or CHEM 110/110L
    *Competency at the level of MATH 96 is required prior to CHEM 101
  • CHEM 202/202L
  • ENG 101
  • MATH 140/140L
  • SOC 101 or PSY 101
• Nursing Courses – Completion of these BSN courses are not required for admission, but Heritage students in pre-nursing have permission to take them. Any NURS courses must be completed with B- or better:
  • NURS 114W
  • NURS 206W
• GPA – Overall College GPA must be 3.0 or higher, with overall science GPA of 2.75 or better.
• HESI Admission Assessment Exam (HESI-A2) – Subjects tested on the exam include: Mathematics, reading, vocabulary, grammar, chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology. Information about the HESI A2 testing will be shared with pre-nursing students during the school year by the Nursing Program Director.
• Complete an Application to the BSN program, available from the Application Portal.
• Sign and submit a waiver for a background check, available from the Application Portal.
• Submit an essay – a two page statement of education, experience, career goals and personal mission as it relates to the BSN role.
• Submit three (3) reference letters on the reference form provided in the Application Portal (one must be from professors and/or employer).
• Admission Interview may be required.

For Transfer Students

Students fulfilling prerequisites at any accredited university or community college are eligible for application to the BSN program. Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance into the BSN program. Selection of applicants is competitive, and is based on review of requirements for admission to the BSN program.

To be considered for selection, Heritage University pre-nursing student applicants are required to complete the following:

• Required Prerequisites – Each of the following college level courses must be completed with C+ or better:
  • 4 semester or 5 quarter credits of Introduction to General Chemistry with lab
  • 4 semester or 5 quarter credits of Organic and Biochemistry with lab
  • 4 semester or 5 quarter credits of Introduction to Biology with lab
  • 3 semester or 5 quarter credits of college Math at the pre-calculus level
  • 3 semester or 5 quarter credits of college English
  • 3 semester or 5 quarter credits of college Psychology or Sociology
• GPA – Overall College must be 3.0 or higher, with overall science GPA of 2.75 or better.
• Success on the HESI Admission Assessment Exam (HESI-A2) – Subjects tested on the exam include: Mathematics, reading, vocabulary, grammar, chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology. Information about the HESI A2 testing can be accessed by clicking on the link, above.
• Complete an Application to the BSN program, available from the Application Portal.
• Sign and submit a waiver for a background check, available from the Application Portal.
• Submit an essay – a two page statement of education, experience, career goals and personal mission as it relates to the BSN role.
• Submit three (3) reference letters on the reference form provided in the Application Portal (one must be from professors and/or employer).
• Admission Interview may be required.

For Graduates of Practical or Vocational Nursing Programs

To be considered for the BSN program, any graduate of a practical or vocational nursing program must hold a current valid unencumbered Washington LPN License, and have met the prerequisites for transfer students.

Helpful tips for transfer students on completing prerequisite courses:

Biology – An Introduction to Biology course will meet the Biology requirement; we recommend that cell biology and molecular genetics content be included in the course. The course must be completed with C+ or better.

Chemistry – To meet the General Chemistry requirement, you may complete an introductory Chemistry course, but it must contain a mathematical component. The course content should contain on-campus labs. A survey chemistry course WILL NOT meets the requirement for Heritage Nursing. To meet the organic and biochemistry requirement, the student may have taken a course in organic and a separate course in biochemistry; or an organic/biochemistry course designed for health science students. The course content should contain on-campus labs.

Nursing Pre-requisite Course Transfer Equivalency
To ensure courses previously completed will transfer to satisfy a nursing pre-requisite, use our Nursing Department Equivalency Guidelines for Local Colleges and Universities. Please note – not all courses may be listed. If you completed a course that is not listed please email a course description or syllabus to contact the administrative coordinator, Teresa Munguia (Munguia_T@heritage.edu).

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Are You Ready to Apply?

Consider applying if you’ve completed or all or most required prerequisite courses with at least C+ or better and will have the remainder of your required courses completed before the program starts.

Application Review

The application portal will open by January 1. Submission of specified documents as determined by the Heritage University BSN Program must be filed by January 15 for an early review. In order to meet the deadline, students may need to begin the collection of materials during Fall Semester prior to the application year. Applicants who complete required courses by program start date will be reviewed, and if selected, will be provisionally admitted, pending successful completion of all admission requirements.

The Department of Nursing will provide information to students about all aspects of the selection process in a timely manner. We give every application the complete consideration it deserves. We encourage you to meet with us for a personal advisement session where we can discuss your ideas and answer your questions. If you are interested in a meeting with a member of the Nursing Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee, please contact the administrative coordinator or the Chair of APRG , Dr. Thome (thome_j@heritage.edu),