Nursing (BSN)

Why Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Indiana State?

The School of Nursing admitted the first class of students in September 1962. Since that time, our mission has been to develop students who are competent, caring nursing professionals, leaders, and productive citizens. In the second quarter of 2023, all graduates of Indiana State’s traditional four-year nursing program passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on their first attempt.

Learn All Aspects of Nursing

As a student in Indiana State’s BSN program, you will benefit from a balanced course of study that combines theory and clinical nursing courses, required support and Foundational Studies courses, and electives. You will be prepared for all aspects of nursing, including areas such as pediatric care, emergency room nursing, labor and delivery nursing, oncology care, and home care nursing.

As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for entry into practice as a registered nurse.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

As a student in Indiana State’s Nursing program, you will benefit from faculty who are dedicated to providing quality hands-on learning opportunities through course design, clinical experiences, and service-learning projects. Faculty research and specialties encompass areas such as medical-surgical nursing, infection control, acute care, emergency nursing, mental health nursing, and patient outcomes and safety.

Enrich Your Learning with Great Resources and Opportunities

The School of Nursing’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) provides a quality learning environment to enhance teaching and learning activities. This realistic clinical environment offers an essential bridge between your classroom learning and real-world nursing practice, where clinical judgment, critical thinking, decision-making, delegation, and teamwork skills are strengthened.
You will have opportunities to develop leadership skills by participating in a variety of organizations, including the Indiana State University Student Nurses Association; Lambda Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing; and other University organizations.
Residence hall accommodations include dedicated housing for student nurses.

Admission to the Nursing Program

Students must first be admitted to the University before they are eligible to apply to the nursing major. Admission to the University as a nursing student is not admission into the nursing major. Students complete prerequisite courses in the first three semesters as pre-nursing students before applying to the nursing major.

Admission is competitive. The average cumulative GPA for students who have been successfully admitted into the major is higher than 3.5. Students whose cumulative college GPA is below 2.75, or whose science prerequisite GPA is below 2.5, are not eligible to apply to the major.

Two nursing students, wearing their ISU scrubs, gain knowledge and skills in one of the Nursing Learning Resource Center skill labs at Indiana State University.

What You’ll Learn in the Nursing Program

Indiana State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing combines theory and clinical nursing courses, required support courses, Foundational Studies courses, and electives.

Transfer Credit

Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.

Transfer Guidelines

Career Possibilities for Nursing Majors

Indiana State’s Baccalaureate Nursing Degree Program is recognized as the basic preparation for professional nursing practice. Our graduates are prepared as generalists and, after passing the NCLEX-RN, assume beginning leadership roles.

There are many and varied employment opportunities for registered nurses who have a baccalaureate degree. In hospitals and other healthcare settings, baccalaureate nurses are practicing in ways that utilize their educational preparation and nursing competencies.

Baccalaureate nurses have complex nursing care responsibilities in providing patient care. They supervise other personnel who provide nursing care. They also collaborate with other healthcare professionals in developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive healthcare plans for patients of all ages in various settings.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of registered nurses to grow 6% from 2021-2031, with demand increasing across most types of healthcare settings, including hospitals and outpatient centers.