Iowa State University offers a comprehensive curriculum and practical learning opportunities to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make a real impact in the field of healthcare. Students are encouraged to draw on their real-world experiences and apply their education to drive innovation and inspire positive change in healthcare settings.

At Iowa State, students enrolled in the nursing program are challenged to:

  • Enhance the role of registered nurses in promoting health and preventing disease.
  • Focus on promoting a culture of health for individuals, families, and communities.
  • Recognize the holistic nature of health, and how medical, social, economic, and environmental factors all play a role in shaping a patient's well-being and influencing health outcomes.
  • Apply nursing science and patient-centered care to address health disparities and improve outcomes for all patients.

The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares the graduate to:

  1. Synthesize theory and concepts from the arts and humanities, natural and social sciences, and nursing in the holistic practice of professional nursing.
  2. Integrate knowledge of historical and contemporary nursing with leadership skills and principles to facilitate optimal patient and systems outcomes.
  3. Translate research findings to support evidence-based, competent, safe, and effective nursing care to individuals, families, and communities in diverse settings across the lifespan.
  4. Utilize current technology effectively and efficiently to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, support decision making and accomplish goals related to the delivery of safe, quality care for diverse individuals, families, and the community.
  5. Examine how healthcare policies, including financial and regulatory, influence healthcare systems, nursing practices and population health.
  6. Incorporate principles of effective communication and collaboration when working with members of the health team, recipients of care and interested groups to improve health outcomes for individuals, groups and communities.
  7. Integrate concepts of health promotion and disease management, health literacy and patient-centered care to improve population health.
  8. Engage in professional, culturally competent, and ethically congruent care that reflects dignity and uniqueness of individuals and groups in diverse populations and locations.
  9. Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism and model the values of advocacy, compassion, integrity, human dignity, cultural competence and social justice while embracing the concept of continuous learning.

The practicum experience is an opportunity for nursing students to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. It provides students with a chance to participate in a local or domestic immersion experience, guided and designed by nursing faculty in the RN-to-BSN program. Students are required to complete at least 45 practicum hours to gain practical experience and enhance their skills.

Fall Semester 1 Credit Spring Semester 2 Credit
NRS 2500 | Orientation to BSN Nursing
1
NRS 4400 | Population and Community Health Nursing
3
NRS 3200 | Essential Concepts for Professional Nursing
3
NRS 4420 | Population and Community Health Nursing Practicum
1
NRS 3400 | Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
4
NRS 4600 | Nursing Leadership and Management
3
NRS 4200 | Promoting a Culture of Health and Wellness
3
NRS 4800 | Advanced Concepts and Professional Nursing
3
FSHN 3640 | Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Disease
3
FSHN 3650 | Obesity and Health
3
FS HN 4300 | U.S. Health Systems and Policies
2
Elective (if needed)
3
Total Semester Credits
16
Total Semester Credits
16

*transcripts will be individually reviewed.

 

Fall Semester 1 Credit Spring Semester 2 Credit
NRS 2500 | Orientation to BSN Nursing
1
NRS 4600 | Nursing Leadership and Management
3
NRS 3200 | Essential Concepts for Professional Nursing Practice
3
FSHN 3650 | Obesity and Health
3
NRS 3400 | Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
4
FSHN 4300 | U.S. Health Systems and Policy
2
Total Semester Credit
8
Total Semester Credit
8

 

Fall Semester 3 Credit Spring Semester 4 Credit
NRS 4200 | Promoting a Culture of Health
3
NRS 4400 | Population and Community Health Nursing
3
FSHN 3640 | Diet and Chronic Disease Prevention
3
NRS 4420 | Population and Community Health Nursing Practicum 
1
Professional Elective (if needed)
3
NRS 4800 | Advanced Concepts and Professional Nursing
3
Total Semester Credits
9
Total Semester Credits
7

 

To access individual course descriptions, please refer to Iowa State University's course catalog. 

You may access the course catalog here: https://catalog.iastate.edu/azcourses/nursing/

  • Up to 65 credits of transferrable coursework may be applied to Iowa State University degrees.
  • Additionally, 32 credits are awarded based on evidence of RN licensure and an official transcript from an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) degree-granting institution.
  • Students must meet general education requirements – equivalent transfer coursework may apply to these requirements.
  • Electives, in addition to meeting general education requirements, are selected by students to meet identified career interests. The total elective credits needed will vary based on individual transfer credits. 
  • The last 32 credits must be earned in residence at Iowa State University, and the final 32 credits must be taken through Iowa State prior to graduation.
  • The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is awarded upon completing at least 120 credits with all degree requirements of Iowa State University and the College/Department/Program met.